"The light bulb has gone digital...not only can you turn them up or down, you can turn them colorful."
CNN Headline News - 16th December 2002
Why bother with LED lighting? "Normal" lights have served us faithfully for generations. But remember: they rely on an incandescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes to produce their light, technology first invented by Thomas Edison and Nikolai Tesla, way back in the nineteenth century. Technology has taken some giant leaps forward since then and tiny Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are now set to become the standard source of illumination for the 21st Century.
What's so fantastic about LEDs ? Why all the fuss ?
1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY: LEDs consume far less energy than standard light bulbs, leading to greatly reduced energy costs. LEDs also require far less energy to manufacture than other light sources, reducing the environmental impact of artificial lighting still further.
2. LONG LIFE: Even in hostile conditions, the typical working life of an LED can be several tens of thousands of hours. Most incandescant bulbs expire after just a couple of thousand hours, in the case of domestic bulbs and in as little as a few tens of hours for torch bulbs. Also LEDs don't suddenly burn out like tungsten sources - they slowly fade over time, giving ample opportunity to plan replacements (which will be rare - several years with normal use)
3. RELIABILITY: The filament in a normal bulb is a very fragile object, easily broken by a sudden shock or "soft" drop. An LED is encased in virtually unbreakable high strength optical grade resin. There is no glass or filament to break, making LED light sources perfect for rugged or demanding environments or installations where access is difficult.
4. ECONOMY: Despite their apparent initial high price, the use of LED lighting can offer significant savings in the long term, particularly in terms of reduced energy and maintenance costs.
5. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY: Switching to low energy, solid state lighting benefits the environment. The low power requirements of LED light sources make them ideal for solar or wind powered installations.
6. BETTER SAFETY AND SECURITY: The low level of heat produced and low voltages used by LEDs make them a far safer source of light. No glass to break, no hot filament, no gas or candle flames and no noxious fumes.
