As parents and responsible homeowners, we are charged with ensuring the future of our kids as well as doing our share for the betterment of society. In recent years, that responsibility has never been more daunting. Environmental concerns, such as the impacts of climate change, have overshadowed every other concern for the simple reason that it affects not only us today but the future generations as well.
As governments and other organisations strive to find practical solutions, we ordinary citizens must also do our share. Our own energy consumption contributes to the total demand and as demand increases so does the need for more power plants. These plants, especially coal-fired ones, emit tons of harmful gases into the atmosphere every day. Thus, cutting down on our own energy use could have a significant impact towards addressing the problem.
In a typical household, lighting accounts for a substantial part of energy use. The traditional incandescent bulb is soon to be phased out in the US and parts of Europe because of its inefficiency as a light source. A typical incandescent converts only up to 20% of its electrical energy into light, wasting the rest as heat. Another alternative light source, compact fluorescent light or CFL, has been proven as much more efficient. However, CFLs have also been shown to have health and environment risks because it contains significant amounts of mercury as well as emitting enough UV radiation to cause migraines and sleep abnormalities.
The latest lighting alternative introduced was LED. Touted as the future standard of lighting, LED or light emitting diode has proven that it is far more cost and energy efficient. Though the technology has been around for decades, it has only been recently that manufacturers became more aggressive in producing LED-based lighting.
To full appreciate why we need to adopt LED lighting technology in our homes, let’s have a look at its major advantages and benefits.
- Durability – due to its design and characteristics, LED bulbs are able to withstand impact and pressure, which makes them suitable for use in outdoor locations or rooms with lots of activity. LEDs are also able to operate at extreme hot or cold temperatures without failing.
- Energy efficiency – LED bulbs convert 80% of its electrical energy into light energy, giving you lesser wattage for the same amount of light.
- Long-lasting – a typical LED bulb is rated to last between 30,000-50,000 hours of light, 50 times more than the lifespan of a typical incandescent bulb and 5 times more than CFLs.
- No health and environment risks – CFLs contain 3-5mg of mercury that is necessary for it to work. The amount is significant enough to have lasting effects on people, especially children, when continuously exposed to it. There is also not enough policy in most countries regarding its proper disposal. A majority of used CFLs are thrown into landfills where the mercury contained within could potentially seep into the water table and into rivers and other water sources. In addition, CFLs have been recently proven to emit significant levels of UV radiation that is known to caused migraines and other health issues. A typical LED bulb also does not contain any toxic materials and is fully recyclable.
- Flexibility – because of its design and size, LEDs can be formed into any shape or fit into any container making it a favourite of home designers and artists.
- Cost-effectiveness – because of its durability and longevity, LED lighting essentially pays for itself in the long run despite having a higher initial expense than conventional lighting. The most immediate effect could be seen in your next electric bill, and since it doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, you are most likely to buy only one LED bulb for every 10-15 conventional bulbs you used
LED technology clearly has greater benefits than conventional lighting. Adopting this would mean not only helping save the planet but ensuring your children’s health and future as well.
Marketing Director of www.IllustraLighting.com
Cassandra is a marketing professional with over 15 years of extensive experience leading corporate marketing and internal communications for multi-national companies in diverse industries.