LED - The Future of Lighting

Since 1879, the year when Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, technology has been rapidly progressing. Now scientists believe that LED lighting is the next generation of lighting technology. LED lights work on the principle of using semiconductors to produce light energy, providing cost effective and eco-friendly lighting choice.

Light-emitting diodes have been around for years. Traditionally, they have been used as indicators on electrical devices, such as standby lights on TVs. Nowadays, even though LED Lights represent area of ongoing research and development, they have already become popular among many architects and designers.

 Do they work to save money?

It is suggested that LEDs can last for up to 100,000 hours (12 years), compared with the 1,000 hours (42 days) of traditional incandescent light bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps' (CFLs) 15,000 hours (2 years).

The technology is also much more energy-efficient, LED lights use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs; therefore you will see a significant reduction in your electricity bills. It has been estimated that for every 60W incandescent bulb you replace, you will save up to £17 per year with an equivalent LED light bulb.

The long lifespan and low energy use make LEDs economically attractive because even though the fittings cost more, the running and maintenance bills are lower.

   

What colors are available?

LED lights are available in a range of colors such as, white, blue, green, yellow, orange, amber and red.
White LED light is commonly described by its color temperature and measured in Kelvins. The warm white LED light (2700K) closely resembles incandescent light and has a slight tone of yellow or orange, which is mainly used in residential design. The natural white LED (3000K) gives a much brighter white light and is commonly used in offices, workshops and other work environments. The cool white LED light (4000K) has a hint of bluish tone to it and it is commonly used in manufacturing industries where bright light is required.

Does Lumen matter?

A lumen is a measurement of light directly relevant to human beings. The lumen scale describes the amount of light, or brightness, that the human eye perceives. An average 100-watt incandescent bulb, for example, produces about 1,600 lumens.

LEDs, which are bright enough to replace incandescent for household use, produce the same number of lumens as standard 40- or 60-watt bulbs and typically only use 9 to 12 watts. The U.S. Department of Energy advises that consumers who want to replace a 60-watt bulb should look for an LED that produces close to 800 lumens; for a 40-watt bulb, look for 450 lumens.

  

Cons and Pros of LED lighting for home use…

Pros

- Lasts up to 10 times longer than incandescent or fluorescent

- Generates little heat

- Does not contain any mercury or toxic material

- Uses less energy, saves money on utility bills

Cons

- Not cheap

- New products are being updated and launched rapidly; there is a chance that your new purchase will become out of trend quite quick

All in all, at Ardesia Design we are big fans of LED lights and think that they're going to be around for years to come and will eventually replace all halogen bulbs. The colours and types of LED's available today are so numerous, making the product very versatile and effective in a number of applications. With the number of new LED suppliers we found at Fuori Salone Milan this year at the Euroluce show, we are unlikely to ever have to use the same light twice!

LED Lights We Like…