LEDs create light when an electric current passes through a semiconductor. The positive layer has holes that allow electrons to flow in, while the negative layer has free electrons. The researchers found that many common bulbs contain too much blue light and can increase the likelihood of manic symptoms in bipolar patients. This is because blue light triggers alertness and interferes with the sleep cycle.
They’re Cheaper
While it might cost a little more to buy an LED bulb than the incandescent version that blew out when you were just a few pages away from finishing your murder-mystery novel, the new bulb will pay for itself over time due to how efficiently they use energy. LEDs also expel less heat than traditional bulbs, so your AC won’t have to work as hard in summer. All LED bulbs are required to list their brightness (in lumens) and color (in Kelvin) on their packaging, so it’s easy to find a bulb that’s right for your needs.
Better led globes are available with higher CRI ratings, which help make colors look more realistic. These are worth the extra money, McGowan says. Some are even tunable, meaning they have red, green and blue LEDs instead of phosphor-treated blue ones. That can save even more electricity. But these bulbs require a $60 controller and a bit of finickiness.
They’re More Energy-Efficient
LED bulbs do not use a filament, instead they emit light when electric current runs through them. They draw far less energy than traditional bulbs, saving on electricity bills and reducing the need for power plants. They also don’t contain mercury, making them more environmentally friendly. This is important because mercury is a toxic element that can pollute the environment if it gets into waterways and soil. By switching to LEDs, businesses can help ensure that this does not happen.
LEDs use 85% less energy than traditional lighting, and that is great news for the environment. It reduces the demand for power plants, which in turn cuts greenhouse gas emissions. They also produce less heat, which is good for a business that wants to lower its heating costs. Decorative LEDs are available in many different styles, from the classic clear bulb shape to vintage-style bulbs with whorls and zigzags that give them a nostalgic look.
They’re More Durable
LEDs convert electric current to light by sending electrons into higher atomic energy states. When they return to their lower, ground state, light in the form of photons is emitted. The bulbs don’t get as hot as traditional lights, so they can last longer than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. They also don’t contain mercury, so they can be safely thrown away with regular trash.
Unlike traditional lighting, which has filaments inside glass enclosures, LEDs are circuit boards with soldered wire leads that can be vulnerable to vibrations or direct impact. However, this is no more prone to damage than mobile phones or other small electronic devices.
Lighting professionals recommend going with a bulb that has high CRI, which stands for Color Rendering Index and measures how well an LED illuminates colors compared to natural sunlight. However, manufacturers don’t have to note CRI ratings on their packaging and the rating system isn’t always very useful (there are potentially better metrics in the works). Regardless, LEDs usually last much longer than other bulbs.
They’re More Environmentally Friendly
LED bulbs don’t contain toxic materials like halogens or CFLs, so they’re considered more environmentally friendly. Instead of heating a filament until it glows, LED technology passes energy through a semiconductor to create light. LEDs are usually 80 to 90 per cent efficient, meaning that most of the electricity they use produces light rather than heat.
Moreover, unlike fluorescent lights, LEDs do not contain mercury, so they are less toxic to the environment and human beings. They also do not produce UV radiation, which can damage art and other sensitive objects.
Switching to LED lighting can reduce a building’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80%. This helps organizations stay in line with sustainability best practices and future-proof their facilities. It can also help them improve employee satisfaction, as it provides employees with the benefits of natural light and promotes wellbeing. It can even reduce business costs by reducing the amount of electricity used by your building’s light bulbs.
What’s Next?
As LED bulbs become standard, consumers can choose between warm and cool options, high CRI alternatives and even far-red horticultural versions. But how do you know which bulbs will deliver the best light? LED bulbs may look like regular lightbulbs, but they’re not. They contain toxins that are dangerous to touch or breathe. If you break one, experts recommend sweeping it up while wearing gloves and a mask and disposing of it as hazardous waste
