In case you haven’t noticed, there is a mini revolution going on in lighting. You may be seeing fewer and fewer standard light fixtures (like incandescent and fluorescent) and for good reason. The LED light socket is changing the way many people look at lighting and here are eight things about LED you may not be aware of.
1. LED is becoming more popular than you think.
In 2012, the amount of LED light installations in the United States hit 49 million and continues to grow daily. By the year 2030, total lighting sales could reflect as much as 75 percent LED light.
2. LED is nothing new.
LED was first invented back in 1962 by a man named Nick Holonyak while he was in the employ of General Electric.
3. Good for food
Recent studies have shown LED light breeds fewer bacteria than either fluorescent or halogen style lighting.
4. Incredible efficiency
Did you know a standard light bulb only converts about 10 percent of the energy it burns into creating light? On the other hand, a simple light within an LED light socket can convert nearly all of its energy to light.
5. Change bulbs less
You will not have to spend a lot of money on replacement bulbs when you change to LED. In fact, some bulbs have a life expectancy of 50,000 hours. You could turn the bulb on and leave it on 24/7 for over 5 and one half years, and it will still be burning. This is as much as 25 times the average life of a standard light bulb.
6. Low Voltage
LED does not run on standard household current. In fact, most bulbs only require a few volts. Standard power is connected to a special transformer which drastically lowers the current. Low voltage is a safe alternative to higher voltages.
7. Traffic lights
Did you know many traffic lights are now LED because of the many benefits this kind of light provides? In fact, LED light is easier to see in poor weather conditions, because the light is distributed more evenly than standard lights. However, the big reason is energy savings. A few years ago, Chicago made the changeover and cut electric costs by 85 percent.
8. Good for the environment
LED lighting is more than 95 percent recyclable. This makes LED an eco friendly option. In addition, the bulb burning inside an LED light socket does not contain any mercury. Think of all the landfill space, changing over to LED can free up.
