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10 Reasons to Say Yes to LED Lights
More and more homes are opting for LEDs as an alternative to the standard bulb. Find out why
Rashmi Haralalka
20 March 2017
Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about writing, especially interior design, home decor, and home improvement. I believe that details are not just details... they make the design. Connect with me on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rashmi-sharda-b79b8119
Email: rashmiharalalka@gmail.com
Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about writing, especially... More
Till a few years back, LED lights were mostly used in automobiles. But thanks to their many advantages and newer applications, LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are now being used in interior spaces all over the world. They are overtaking the conventional incandescent bulbs and even the compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs. From energy efficiency to aesthetic appeal, these lights offer more possibilities and benefits than their predecessor light sources. Here are the reasons why LEDs could be the smarter lighting option out there.
Cost-effective and energy efficient
With an LED bulb or tube, 80 per cent or more of the electrical energy is converted to light. On the other hand, incandescent light bulbs or regular tube lights are known to be only 20 per cent energy efficient – 80 per cent of electricity consumed gets lost as heat, resulting in higher electricity bills.
The one-time cost for these lamps is higher than the average incandescent bulb or tube light. But if you do the math, the enhanced energy efficiency levels make LEDs a more budget-friendly choice in the long run.
With an LED bulb or tube, 80 per cent or more of the electrical energy is converted to light. On the other hand, incandescent light bulbs or regular tube lights are known to be only 20 per cent energy efficient – 80 per cent of electricity consumed gets lost as heat, resulting in higher electricity bills.
The one-time cost for these lamps is higher than the average incandescent bulb or tube light. But if you do the math, the enhanced energy efficiency levels make LEDs a more budget-friendly choice in the long run.
Focused light dispersal
LEDs come with the benefit of focused light dispersal. These accent lights work very well for the study or dining table or when you want to channelise the brightness or light to a restricted area. Take a hint from this image, where dangling rustic lamps focus light on the dining table, without it being too bright or too diffused.
Tip: LEDs may change colour slightly due to age or even temperature. So even if purchased together from the same company, two white light bulbs may develop different colour characteristics after a few years.
Learn about the right way to light up your house
LEDs come with the benefit of focused light dispersal. These accent lights work very well for the study or dining table or when you want to channelise the brightness or light to a restricted area. Take a hint from this image, where dangling rustic lamps focus light on the dining table, without it being too bright or too diffused.
Tip: LEDs may change colour slightly due to age or even temperature. So even if purchased together from the same company, two white light bulbs may develop different colour characteristics after a few years.
Learn about the right way to light up your house
Adjustable dimming range
LEDs feature micro-controllers so you can dim or brighten them for dynamic control of light, colour and distribution. Especially useful in living areas or drawing rooms, LEDs give you the flexibility to move from soft settings to a brightly lit space at the touch of a button.
LEDs feature micro-controllers so you can dim or brighten them for dynamic control of light, colour and distribution. Especially useful in living areas or drawing rooms, LEDs give you the flexibility to move from soft settings to a brightly lit space at the touch of a button.
Tip: Accentuate some areas of the house with coloured LEDs to create contrast (which have a dimmer adjustment, too). You can use these underneath the kitchen countertop or even the windowsill or ledge.
Withstand extreme temperatures
LEDs are built with sturdy components and can withstand extreme temperatures – both hot and cold. You can use them above the kitchen stove on the backsplash or for outdoor spaces like the terrace or balcony, as they function quite well both in the extreme summer heat or in near-freezing temperatures.
Withstand extreme temperatures
LEDs are built with sturdy components and can withstand extreme temperatures – both hot and cold. You can use them above the kitchen stove on the backsplash or for outdoor spaces like the terrace or balcony, as they function quite well both in the extreme summer heat or in near-freezing temperatures.
Long-lasting and durable
Experts say the average life-expectancy of an LED light is about 100,000 hours. On an average, they can provide us with 11 years of continuous operation (being lit) or 22 years at 50 per cent operation. This means reduced hassles of replacing conked-out bulbs and tubes.
No overheating
As LEDs have lower heat dissipation, they are usually not too hot to touch, which is a boon with floor lamps as they tend to get overheated with regular bulbs. LEDs help maintain a safer surface temperature, which reduces risks of burns.
See how this home uses light and shadow
Experts say the average life-expectancy of an LED light is about 100,000 hours. On an average, they can provide us with 11 years of continuous operation (being lit) or 22 years at 50 per cent operation. This means reduced hassles of replacing conked-out bulbs and tubes.
No overheating
As LEDs have lower heat dissipation, they are usually not too hot to touch, which is a boon with floor lamps as they tend to get overheated with regular bulbs. LEDs help maintain a safer surface temperature, which reduces risks of burns.
See how this home uses light and shadow
Work even in low voltage
LEDs are the preferred choice for outdoor lighting since they can work even on a low-voltage power supply. In India, they are a boon indoors as well as they stay lit despite the frequent power fluctuations.
Do not emit harmful rays
LEDs produce little infrared light and almost no UV or ultraviolet emissions (which are known to cause cancer). So, you can use them around UV-sensitive objects like paintings or antiques. Also, you can use the water-friendly LEDs for a jacuzzi, which will light up the tub without the risk of harmful radiation.
LEDs are the preferred choice for outdoor lighting since they can work even on a low-voltage power supply. In India, they are a boon indoors as well as they stay lit despite the frequent power fluctuations.
Do not emit harmful rays
LEDs produce little infrared light and almost no UV or ultraviolet emissions (which are known to cause cancer). So, you can use them around UV-sensitive objects like paintings or antiques. Also, you can use the water-friendly LEDs for a jacuzzi, which will light up the tub without the risk of harmful radiation.
Eco-friendly and recyclable
LED lights are made up of materials that are recyclable, like glass, aluminium, etc. They do not contain toxic materials like mercury, which restricts the recyclability factor for CFLs or tubelights. Also, using one LED bulb replaces 25 incandescent bulbs, proportionately reducing the resources used and production costs. So the carbon footprint of an LED bulb is much smaller and it is more eco-friendly.
Tip: You can also consider using solar-powered LEDs along the pathway or in the garden (think lamp-posts). These can function on even small amounts of sunlight, which is another green thumbs-up for LEDs.
LED lights are made up of materials that are recyclable, like glass, aluminium, etc. They do not contain toxic materials like mercury, which restricts the recyclability factor for CFLs or tubelights. Also, using one LED bulb replaces 25 incandescent bulbs, proportionately reducing the resources used and production costs. So the carbon footprint of an LED bulb is much smaller and it is more eco-friendly.
Tip: You can also consider using solar-powered LEDs along the pathway or in the garden (think lamp-posts). These can function on even small amounts of sunlight, which is another green thumbs-up for LEDs.
Instant switch-on
Don’t you hate waiting while your regular tube lights flicker to life when you switch them on? Well, LEDs brighten up immediately when powered on and the waiting time to reach maximum output is vastly reduced in comparison.
The lifespan of an average incandescent bulb goes down when switched off and on too often – the LEDs have the upper hand here too; their emission levels do not get affected by such treatment.
Read more:
How to Bring Gold Into Your Home
9 Ways to be More Eco-Friendly in The Kitchen
Tell us: Have you tried using LEDs in your home? Share in Comments below.
Don’t you hate waiting while your regular tube lights flicker to life when you switch them on? Well, LEDs brighten up immediately when powered on and the waiting time to reach maximum output is vastly reduced in comparison.
The lifespan of an average incandescent bulb goes down when switched off and on too often – the LEDs have the upper hand here too; their emission levels do not get affected by such treatment.
Read more:
How to Bring Gold Into Your Home
9 Ways to be More Eco-Friendly in The Kitchen
Tell us: Have you tried using LEDs in your home? Share in Comments below.
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