Are You a Good Fit for LED?
We are aware that many of our clients are researching LED technology on their own. In a way, the majority of us in the sector are working in the same direction. Although LED technology has been around for a while and we at Bulbs.com have been closely monitoring its development, what LED will look like as a common, efficient, and dependable everyday lighting option is constantly changing. Here are some suggestions for what to look for and avoid when thinking about switching to LEDs.
Let's examine the advantages.
The main benefits of LEDs are their incredibly high energy efficiency and long lifespan. The amount of operational hours required for an LED to emit 70% of its initial light output is used to calculate its useful life. The estimated usable life of premium LEDs in well-designed fixtures is 30,000 to 50,000 hours, which is substantially longer than the 1,000 hours of a typical incandescent bulb and the 8,000 to 10,000 hours of a comparable CFL. LEDs normally don't "burn out" like incandescent lamps do. Instead, they gradually grow darker over time. In areas where lighting is crucial, this can be useful. Moreover, they often consume 2-3 times less energy than most CFLs and less than a sixth of that of their incandescent or halogen counterparts.
In terms of the environment, the decrease in electricity use results in a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, LEDs offer an advantage over CFLs in that they don't contain mercury. The environment will benefit greatly from the reduction of hazardous emissions from the production of electricity as well as the elimination of mercury's potential entry into the waste stream once the bulb has been disposed of.
The longer rated life also correlates to cheaper maintenance costs when employed in a commercial setting. It's common to solely consider the price of the bulbs and the electricity when calculating the cost of a lighting arrangement. Although though they are unquestionably significant, HVAC and labor costs also factor into the calculation. Less time and money are spent getting someone to change your lights when they last longer. Commercial clients can also view their increased longevity as a plus, particularly in environments subject to vibration or other pressures. At Bulbs.com, our warehouse's loading docks are illuminated by LED technology. For those who are not familiar, the inside of the trailer is lit during loading and unloading by a dock light that is positioned at the dock's entrance. These lights are put through a lot, yet since the conversion more than a year ago, we haven't needed to replace a single one. Generally speaking, LEDs are dimmable, giving them still another advantage over conventional CFLs. One final thing to keep in mind is that since LEDs don't release UV or IR radiation, they're perfect for settings like retail stores, art galleries, and museums where those emissions can cause fading or damage.
Up-front cost and quality assurance are the main worries.
Although the cost of LED replacement bulbs has steadily decreased, they are often still significantly more expensive than equivalent CFLs. Due to their higher initial cost, they are currently not the greatest option for achieving the best ROI (return on investment) and energy savings ratio.
When looking for LEDs, quality assurance is the other important factor that need careful consideration. There are a lot of businesses entering the LED manufacturing and retailing sectors who are much more concerned in earning a quick buck than in offering a dependable product that lives up to the expectations of the user, similar to many emerging items with a high publicity factor. This was evident when CFLs initially gained popularity in the market, and it is happening once now. A lot of the fantastic LED products we've tested and found to be reliable are available in our LED selection. Also, we examined other LED items and discovered that they fell far short of our expectations. Naturally, BENWEI won't carry those items, but it's crucial for you to be aware that they do exist. There are already initiatives in place to eliminate subpar products and assist customers in selecting LEDs with knowledge. The U.S. Department of Energy has taken steps to achieve this goal, including developing testing standards (LM-79 and LM-80), developing a Lighting Facts label to standardize product attributes for easier comparison, and going to the market, purchasing products that are readily available to consumers, and evaluating how well they live up to manufacturer claims (such as with the CALiPER program). To produce a uniform label akin to the Nutrition Facts labels presently mandated on food items, the Federal Trade Commission has also launched its own Lighting Facts program. By mid-2011, the FTC mandated this label for the majority of consumer lighting devices, but it is currently unclear how the two labels will operate together.
Also, it's crucial to use the majority of LED bulbs in open, well-ventilated fixtures. Although the bulbs don't produce a lot of heat, if the electronic parts inside them become too hot, the bulb may prematurely die. This can also be a problem with CFLs, but since LEDs have a higher initial cost, it's even more crucial to install them only in fixtures with good ventilation.
I hope this information will be useful to you as you decide whether to switch to LED lighting.
If you still have questions about our expanding lineup of LED products,don’t hesitate to get in contact with one of our BENWEI Lighting Specialists
