May

15

Alternative Light Sources For The Home

Posted by cameron

May 15, 2007 |

I decided to write this post after reading an excellent review of LED technology at PaulTech.com. You can read it here. LEDs have been around for decades. They found early use as indicators in electronics because of their small size, with initial colors of red and green. Today you can buy them cheaply in many colors including white. LEDs are now finding their way into all sorts of consumer applications. LEDs are made of semiconductor materials and were invented after the simple diodes and transistors of early solid-state electronics. These were the forerunners of computers, which contain millions of transistors today. The advantages LEDs have over regular incandescent bulbs are many:

  1. By their nature a single LED is small; larger applications can easily use them by simply using many of them.
  2. They are efficient light emitters causing them to consume less power for an equivalent light output.
  3. They run cool. I have concerned myself with the heat given off by recessed floodlighting in my own home. I can even buy flood LEDs now. I have yet to see that particular shape in fluorescent lighting.
  4. You can buy colors if you want to accent something or provide a different atmosphere.
  5. They are less susceptible to vibration or shock damage. They don’t have those flimsy little filaments that always break or burn out.

Right now the down side is cost. For example a 60-watt flood for my recessed lighting cost around $50 each.

This past Christmas I decided to take my first small step towards “greening” my home by replacing my outside Christmas lights with LED strings. Although they were somewhat more expensive I was very pleased with the light output.

Fluorescents appear to have a much narrower range of applications. The manufacturers are clearly targeting the incandescent light bulb replacement market. I have my first fluorescent light bulb in my hallway with good results. I was concerned I might get a stark white light similar to a workshop or office. It wasn’t the case. I am now getting 60 watts of light but burning an equivalent of a 15-watt incandescent light bulb. I am encouraged to continue. Only time will tell if it lasts the 5 years plus, as stated by GE. Current cost is about $4.75 per bulb.

It is clear to me that LEDs have a far greater potential than fluorescents. As this technology finds greater acceptance in the many applications open to it I think the fluorescent solution will fall back. The emergence of super-bright LEDs will greatly increase the potential for these in the home.

Here are a few links where you can see some of the items available today in LED lighting:

The LED Lighting Company

LEDtronics

Super Bright LEDs


Comments

5 Comments so far

  1. Little Miss Know it All on May 16, 2007 10:09 am

    You can find the flourescents much cheaper–I know Walmart usually carries them at 3 for $7.99. We buy a three pack every month, and have been slowly replacing all the light bulbs in the house with them, even in the bathrooms in the vanities. (they make them in round shapes for vanities and chandelier lighting) I keep some incandescents there mixed with the flourescents, b/c of the color issues. We use the flourescents in our basement recessed lighting. Not as pretty as a flood bulb, but since we have two young kids who insist on turning every single light on we have, its a good solution for now. There’s that half second gap between flipping the switch and the light coming on, but with the drop in our electric bill, its been well worth it.

    I’m eager to see something in a low energy use for outdoor spots, compared to the traditional spot or halogen spot.

  2. Billy on May 16, 2007 11:35 pm

    While fluorescent bulbs may have the advantage right now, LEDs are certainly gaining steam. For one, LED lighting is very capable for such a small bulb. There is a reason traffic lights are switching from the older, single bulb configurations to the newer, LED “blob” lighting style: They’re more visible and reliable by far. Also, the failure of a single bulb is a negligible loss of brightness; not enough to affect anything, unlike loss of a regular bulb (which could paralyze an intersection).

    Fluorescent bulbs also have unspoken reliability issues. My computer “room” is lit by 5 fluorescent banks. I recently chose to replace one bank of lights, and two others are burnt out. This may be an extreme case, but I suspect no such thing would happen with LEDs.

  3. Little Miss Know it All on May 18, 2007 10:54 pm

    Since you’re my green compatriot, maybe you’ll know–do they have electrical outlets in the US that have power switches on them? We see them standard in British homes. Since an appliance continues to draw up to 40% of its electricity even when not in use, turning off the power outlet is the best option. If its cost effective, I’d like to start replacing old outlets with these switch outlets. Any ideas?

  4. Cameron on May 19, 2007 2:11 pm

    I know the switched outlets you mean, I was raised over the pond. I don’t think I have ever seen them here either. Only solution I know is to pull the plug.
    btw thanks for the tip about WalMart prices.

  5. Little Miss Know it All on May 21, 2007 1:18 pm

    I know I can use a power strip for the same purpose, but it would be simpler to have a switch on the outlet. Thanks!

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