LED lighting has had a major impact and is only becoming more and more prevalent as environmental pressures escalate.
It has infiltrated homes and businesses across the world, with those who have yet to make the switch being left behind both financially and environmentally.
The rise to prominence of this lighting type certainly cannot be ignored. The industry reached a global value of $51 Billion last year.
Explore our article on ‘6 Amazing Benefits of Energy Efficient LED Lighting’ and discover how it can transform your business.
What is LED Lighting?
Let’s begin with the basics and first break down what exactly LED lighting is.
LED stands for Light-Emitting Diode.
What is a Diode?
A diode is an electrical component that consists of two electrodes (an anode and a cathode) that allows electricity to flow in a single direction i.e. from the anode to the cathode.
How Do LEDs Work?
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are an incredible piece of ingenuity, relying on energy rather than heat to produce light.
In one of these lights, you can expect to find two conductive materials that are consistently in contact with one another. The first of these materials become charged with energy once the diode comes into contact with electricity. Light is created when this energy passes through to the second conductive material in the form of electrons.
LEDs have come a long way recently, with the highest performing lights consuming 85 percent less energy than incandescent lights. – Roy Baker, Director of Business Change, SSE Airtricity.
LED Lighting vs Other Lighting Sources
There are vast differences between LED and the other commonly used lighting sources.
Most Common Light Bulbs:
- Incandescent Light Bulb
- CFL Light Bulb
- Halogen Light Bulb
- LED Light Bulb
Incandescent Light Bulb
The incandescent light bulb is the ordinary, traditional bulb that we all know very well. It has been around since the dawn of the light bulb itself and has evolved very little since.
Here’s a snapshot of how they compare to LED light bulbs:
- Incandescent light bulbs generate light through heat whereas LEDs use energy to produce light
- LEDs are 85% more efficient than ordinary bulbs
- Incandescents can last just 750 hours. LED bulbs, on the other hand, can last a staggering 25,000 hours on average
- Light from LEDs is emitted directly. In comparison, the traditional bulb consumes significantly more energy due to it emitting light in 360 degrees.
Halogen Light Bulb
In existence since the late 1950s, halogen bulbs are not too far removed from the traditional incandescent bulb. The greatest similarity is that they both use heat to make light. As previously stated, LEDs use energy instead.
Here are some other differences between halogen and LED lighting:
- Halogen bulbs use halogen gas to improve light output and energy usage
- While halogens are approximately 25% more efficient than regular incandescents, LEDs are still far more efficient
- On average, halogens last about 23,000 hours less than LED lights
CFL Light Bulb
CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) bulbs were borne out of traditional fluorescent technology and prior to LEDs were viewed as the most efficient alternative to traditional bulbs.
CFLs use a combination of fluorescent coating, gas, and UV light to manufacture light. As electricity comes into contact with a CFL, mercury and argon stored within the bulb dispense an invisible UV light. CFLs are lined with a fluorescent coating which creates visible light when it interacts with the invisible UV light.
Here is some further insight into how they fare against LEDs:
- CFLs consume roughly 70% less energy than regular bulbs, a vast improvement but still 15% less efficient than LEDs
- CFL lights can take a while to illuminate fully due to the transfer of UV light occurring
- Typically, CFL bulbs last approximately 8,000 hours compared to the 25,000 hours lifespan of the LED bulb
6 Amazing Benefits of Energy Efficient LED Lighting
1. Energy and Cost Efficiency
The measuring stick for determining the energy efficiency of a light source is something called “useful lumens”. Each of these indicates how much light the source emits for every unit of power it consumes.
LED lighting has by far the highest useful lumen output, with a staggeringly small amount of the energy it uses going to waste.
A case study conducted by the SEAI on Sligo Park Hotel revealed that the hotel made 187,000 kWh of energy savings in one year following a full LED lighting upgrade.
In the long run, these sort of energy savings equate to significant cost savings. While the initial installation costs can be quite steep, the scope for return on investment is extremely high.
Take the Sligo Park Hotel case study for example again. Those annual energy savings translated to annual cost savings of north of €10,000.
2. Lifespan
As was made apparent earlier in this article, LED lighting has by far the longest lifecycle.
Durability, low levels of heat being produced, and overall efficiency enable LED lights to last thousands of hours longer than their alternatives.
This means that once your business’s lighting upgrade is complete, it will be a very long time before you have to worry about getting them replaced.
3. Colour and Temperature Control
Another unique selling point of LEDs is the extensive variety of colours and colour temperatures on offer.
Unlike other lighting types, LED bulbs do not require the use of artificial filters or gels to generate different colours and shades.
They also have an incredibly high Colouring Rendering Index (CRI). This means that LEDs are very proficient at revealing the true colour of the objects they illuminate.
At Eclipse, we are experts in the field of connected LED lighting and interactive office scene management. This allows employees to customise and control the light colour and intensity that they are exposed to.
4. Environmentally Friendly
The requirement for companies to become more eco-friendly continues to grow in prevalence. Ireland aims to be carbon-neutral by 2050, and businesses will have a significant part to play if this is to be achieved.
LED lighting solutions can go a long way in helping organisations achieve their sustainability targets. This can largely be attributed to their aforementioned lengthy lifespan, low energy usage, and absence of harmful substances such as mercury.
Additionally, the majority of an LED light bulb can be recycled.
Ultimately, when a business chooses to upgrade to LED lighting they are taking a notable step in reducing their CO2 emissions.
5. Employee Wellbeing and Productivity
Your people are your biggest investment, and LED solutions can help you get the best out of them.
Poor office lighting can have an adverse effect on your staff. For instance, certain types of lighting can be a trigger for ailments such as migraines.
Effective lighting sources such as LEDs, on the other hand, have been found to decrease depression, and improve mood, energy, and alertness.
The interactive lighting systems we offer here at Eclipse take the above a step further, offering the likes of individually personalised lighting via a mobile app. Employees can alter between different light recipes, where appropriate, for concentration and brainstorming.
6. Minimalistic Design
LEDs are extremely small and versatile, making them a dream for interior design. The extensive range of design possibilities they offer will help you to light your organisation your way.
Whether they are bunched together to form a more traditional bulb or lined up in a series, LEDs offer both subtly and performance.
At Eclipse, we are passionate about highly minimalistic interiors and believe that any building control or lighting system should seamlessly integrate into its surroundings.
We hope you enjoyed our article on ‘6 Amazing Benefits of Energy Efficient LED Lighting’. Read about some of our award-winning work here. Make sure to follow us on LinkedIn to keep up to date with everything going on in Eclipse.
If you know like to know how we can help you to transform your office environment with Smart LED Lighting, contact us today!
