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LED lighting provides a number of benefits over other types of lighting, but during the summer season, there are additional benefits to LED lighting. Here are five reasons why LED lighting will make your summer better:

1.) No Heat

Unlike incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs are cool to the touch and give off very little heat. Because of this, they make for a cooler atmosphere in building interiors. When the temperatures become unbearable outside, individuals can get some relief indoors and won’t feel the need to crank up the AC.

2.) Lower Utility Bills

Since LED light bulbs do not emit heat, thus reducing the need for extremely cold AC, it lowers the cost of utility costs. Furthermore, LED light bulbs are extremely energy efficient and consume very little energy, allowing users to lower those utility costs even more. That means more money to spend on fun summer activities!

3.) Keeps the Bugs Away

It’s hard to relax outside on the porch or patio on a warm summer night without the swarm of bugs buzzing near your outdoor lighting fixtures. Replacing those fixtures with LED light bulbs will keep pesky insects away. The reason most insects fly around lighting fixtures is because they are attracted to UV light, and incandescent, CFLs, halogen, and fluorescent light bulbs all emit a tiny portion of UV light. LED light bulbs do not contain any UV light and therefore, do not attract those insects that are attracted to it. Installing LED light bulbs in exterior lighting fixtures will also keep the spiders away. Spiders tend to make their webs in locations near large populations of insects (lighting fixtures) so they can easily capture and feed on them.

4.) Increase Security

LED lights come in a variety of colors, including variations of white light. You can find LEDs that match the glow of traditional incandescent bulbs, or you can find brighter ones. Bright LED lights, also called “cool white,” are ideal for flood lights, parking lots, and other areas security lights are needed. Because these lights are bright, they prevent crime from occurring. Also, because they consume less energy, they are able to be lit for long hours at a time without racking up the costs.  

5.) Low Maintenance

LED light bulbs are extremely durable and have an average life span of about 25,000 hours. They are also not susceptible to shock and vibration, and will continue to operate under extreme temperatures. Just install a LED bulb into your lighting fixture and sit back and relax.

LED lighting is working its way to the top, becoming the number one technology for the electronic devices we use, as well as for streetlights, in the entertainment industry, in office buildings, and so on. There is just one segment LED lighting continues to struggle in: residential use. However, an article from Time Magazine’s business section states that this may be the year consumers make the switch the LEDs.

Incandescent light bulbs continue to hold the rank as most popular light bulb for household use. The main reason incandescent bulbs are so prevalent is because people do not like change. Because incandescent light bulbs or halogen bulbs were the only bulbs available for use in homes for so long, it became the standard. Now everyone is used to their soft, comforting glow and their extremely low price. However, what most people do not realize is that incandescent bulbs consume a significant amount of energy, making them harmful to the environment and causing homeowners to pay for unnecessary electricity costs.  

Those that have realized that incandescent light bulbs are not good have most likely switched to CFL bulbs: the energy efficient light bulbs with the curly-cue shape. While these light bulbs cost more than incandescent bulbs, they consume less energy making them environmentally friendly. They also allow users to spend less money electricity costs, making their money back in just a few short years. But there are several flaws when it comes to CFLs. They emit a harsh and unflattering light--as most fluorescent lights do--and they take a while to actually light up once you have turned on the switch. Some individuals also complain about the buzzing sound coming from the bulbs.

LED lighting, however, combines the characteristics of both of these bulbs. They emit the same warm glow as incandescent bulbs and consume less energy, even more so than CFLs. They also last for decades, rather than just a few years, eliminating the need for replacement. The only reason these bulbs repel consumers is because of their high initial cost. Although, the past few years LED manufacturers have been practicing methods and using technology that made producing the light bulbs less expensive, thus lowering their price. Many 60 watt or 40 watt replacement LED bulbs now cost as little as $10. This allows users to make their money back in just over a year with reduced electricity costs. After that, the use will save a significant amount of money on reduced electricity costs, as well as not having to replace the bulb. Ever.

This year, many individuals will begin to make the switch to LED lighting, especially as the Energy Independence and Security Act moves into its final phase at the start of 2014 to ban the production of all 60 and 40 watt incandescent light bulbs.

East Coasters brace themselves as they prepare for yet another apocalypse-type event. This time, it is Swarmageddon—as some are calling it. Billions of cicadas will emerge from the ground in just a few short weeks, and will take over many of the East Coast states for the first time in 17 years.

Cicadas are a type of insect, closely related to the cricket, that live a majority of their long life underground, emerging only to mate. While there are several different species in North America alone, the species about to surface are called Magicicada, and their generation is being referred to by scientists as “Brood II.” In 1996 they were laid as eggs, and since then have been living underground, feeding off of fluids from the roots of plants and trees. This spring they will emerge from the ground in the states of Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia, in order to mate and lay eggs for about six weeks, then will disappear for another 17 years.

The reason so many are panicking is because female cicadas can lie up to 600 eggs while alive, outnumbering humans 600 to one. The two inch long insects will soon blanket yards, trees and buildings, causing some individuals to feel squeamish. Because there will be so many of them, they will undoubtedly accidentally land on humans. If seeing or running into these bugs doesn’t bother you, their loud buzzing sound might. Their chirping sound can get as loud as 100 decibels!  

Although the cicadas may be annoying and disgusting, they are harmless to humans. Homeowners can keep them away from their homes by changing all exterior light bulbs to LED bug lights. Bug lights emit a yellow color of light that insects cannot see, and therefore, are not attracted to. Many insects can only see ultraviolet (UV) light, a type of light that comes from the sun and moon that we humans cannot see. Many types of light bulbs emit UV light, including incandescent bulbs, which is why insects are attracted to them. LED light bulbs do not contain any UV light, and to reassure that insects will not be attracted to the lights, the bug lights emit a yellow color that the insects cannot see. LED lights also consume significantly less energy than any other type of light bulb, making them environmentally friendly. They will also lower electricity costs, as well as replacement costs, with their 30,000 hour lifespan.  

You’ve got to love it when technology not only catches up with consumer needs but blows right past into territory not previously imagined.

Such was the case when the recent Lightfair Exposition showcased five great new product types that are guiding the way to future lighting applications.

One of the main complaints from consumers is the desire to have LED bulbs come down in prices while looking more like traditional incandescent light bulbs. One of the highlighted products at Lightfair is a $13 LED bulb called the Cree 60W Warm White Dimmable LED. It looks a lot like an incandescent bulb, and lights up like one, too. Except that it uses about 1/6 of the energy and lasts 15,000 hours. There is also a ten year warranty. That’s quite a consumer package, making it a more likable option for consumers.

Philips is a company that is always innovating, and their latest introduction in the lighting spectrum is an LED web-enabled system that lets you switch the color of the Hue LEDs to bright from warm and even change colors--all from your smart device, home computer or other. Whoa!

We’re accustomed to thinking of washers and dryers with Whirlpool, but a company named Elec-Tech International is leveraging the Whirlpool name into the lighting market with a line of LEDs. The main promise is that consumers will soon be able to better understand the terminology and use of LED bulbs. That’s what Whirlpool hopes to accomplish, anyway. Every market needs its problem solver to make things easier for the public to understand. Apple computers anyone?

Samsung is an electronics giant that is also cutting down confusion over LED bulb terminology and usage. To do that, Samsung will group its products into Essential Range LEDs that replace 60-watt bulbs and last 15,000 hours. Performer Range LEDs are dimmable and last 25,000 hours and Optimum Range LEDs even cast light in multiple directions like an incandescent bulb. The prices on each of these bulbs are tiered as you’d expect.

Tech geeks and basic homeowners alike will appreciate the Maestro Occupancy Sensor CL Dimmer. The sensor in the device turns on the light only if there’s not enough natural light coming into the room. The sensor knows if you’re in the room, however, and won’t turn off lights if you’re reading or watching television. All for only $54!

If the standard sodium vapor light above your roadway seems an extra bit sad-looking lately, perhaps it is because that old orange light is in danger of being replaced very soon.

LED lighting for roadways is creating a revolution of sorts across the nation. One of the main reasons LED roadway fixtures are replacing high-pressure sodium vapor lamps and fluorescent bulbs, is that LED fixtures save on energy usage. The high-pressure sodium vapor lighting commonly used in cities across America requires 130 watts of electricity. By comparison the newest LED roadway lighting uses just 42 watts. That’s 67% less electricity. Imagine that, if a city spent $1M on energy in one year, and could save $670,000 of that expenditure, why would they not make an investment in new lighting?

The answer is that LED lighting still costs a bit more upfront than other forms of road lamps. But the appeal of a light fixture that generates less heat, uses far less energy and lasts over 30,000 hours, resulting in less maintenance fees, is sweeping away those concerns.

So now you know why your local high-pressure sodium vapor bulbs sees its prospects starting to dim.

Major energy companies and utilities are even forming coalitions to purchase stocks of LED bulbs and use them to replace standard sodium vapor and fluorescent bulbs as they wear out. Alliant Energy, a utility with customers throughout the Midwest, has announced plans to replace up to 92,000 worn out bulbs with LEDs.

Xcel is a utility with customers in the southwest and it too is planning a phase-out of worn out lighting to replace with energy-efficient LEDs.

Many utilities and municipalities have been keeping an eye out for success in pilot programs, and as positive reports have come in one-by-one, the move toward LEDs is less a leap in faith than gravitation toward a standard that is becoming more affordable as a result of increased demand for LED bulbs.

As the world changes to LED bulbs we are even likely to see a change in the appearance of the earth itself from the atmosphere and in space. Newly designed LED lighting aims light better at the ground surface, and as a result, less wasted light reflects and escapes the application for which it was intended. Less light pollution is good news for stargazers and also for migrating birds, and even insects attracted to other forms of lighting.

That’s a lot of good news packed into three little letters: LEDs are here to stay, and that’s great news on a lot of fronts.

The durability and efficiency of LED lighting is being put to the test by the City of Cleveland. Conventional street lighting will be replaced with energy-efficient LED streetlamps.

The test will be conducted for two years and will be designed to assess how LED street lighting performs through all types of weather, which in Cleveland can range from intense, heavy snow to high winds to muggy summer heat. All these temperature extremes and rough treatments by the elements can cause lamp failures, raising expenditures considerably when bulbs need to be replaced.

The test of LED lighting by Cleveland will therefore consider the benefits of bulbs that potentially hold up better under weather extremes. The actual goal is to find a lighting source that does several things, including reduced energy usage, longer lasting performance and durability. Achieving all three measures would be the Holy Grail of lighting solutions, along with managing upfront cost.

The upfront cost is slightly higher for LED street lighting. The new LED bulbs run between $250 and $750 depending on their size and application. Traditional bulbs such as sodium vapor lamps or fluorescents streetlamps cost between $150 and $250. But those cheaper bulbs last about four years before needing to be replaced. LED bulbs provide for a lifespan of about 25 years, if no damage to the bulbs occurs. Hence the Cleveland test.

The mathematics are simple. Replacing $150 traditional sodium vapor bulbs every four years will result in a total investment of $940 over a 25 year period, or $37 per year. That doesn’t factor in the costs of installation crews doing the work of course.

LED bulbs by contrast that cost $250 will amortize at a cost of $10 per year for 25 years. A bulb that costs will still amortize at a cost of $30 per year.

In part then it is a question of maintenance and durability at test in Cleveland. But one more factor enters the question as well. Tests have shown that LED bulbs use approximately 90% less electricity, generating less carbon emissions as a result, and, of course, saving on utility bills. That energy savings can be a huge factor for many communities. There is potential to save hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of even one year if LED bulbs are used, because they use between 40% to 90% less energy than the various forms of traditional streetlights.

With municipal budgets crimping everywhere, it is no wonder cities like Cleveland are putting LED bulbs to the test. The Holy Grail of a durable, energy-efficient and quality lighting source is in reach.  

The other factor is light quality. How do LED streetlights compare to fluorescent, sodium vapor or halogen bulbs? Residents in Cleveland will provide feedback on those issues while the city measures bulb performance and cost efficiency.

The adverse health effects produced by various forms of artificial lighting has been the subject in order to ascertain whether human beings are helping or harming their cognitive, emotional and physical well-being in indoor and outdoor environments.

Studies of light effects on children

As published and reviewed on the website e-How.com, the work of Dr. Warren Hathaway, a lighting researcher, studies how children perform under exposure to different types of lighting. In a review of Dr. Hathaway’s work by e-How contributor Greg Fish, the findings were remarkable in what they reveal about how lighting potentially affects each and every one of us.

In summary the findings were as follows:

1. Children with regular exposure to moderate amounts of natural light are taller than those who spend most of their time under artificial lights.
2. Children who spend most of their time under artificial light, even when more active, are prone to getting fat.
3. Children with excessive exposure to artificial light may get more cavities.

If these findings are true, as we shall examine further, then artificial lighting itself is something of a danger to the health of many people.

Fluorescent and sodium vapor lighting

The degree of harm also varies with the type of artificial lighting to which people are exposed. Dr. Hathaway’s study showed that natural lighting improved learning ability in children, allowing them to learn more easily.

But children who worked under high-pressure sodium vapor lights fared far worse, scoring the lowest in academic achievement tests. Sodium vapor lights also are linked to higher absentee rates from school.

Fluorescent lighting is also apparently “no bargain” when it comes to effects on human health either. The list of negative health conditions linked to exposure to fluorescent lighting reads like a Who’s Who of modern disease. Aggression, ALS, ADD, autism, cancer, reduced concentration, dyslexia, eye irritation, eye strain, fatigue, headaches, hyperactivity, learning difficulties, lupus, reduced muscle strength, MS, nausea and xeroderm pigmentosum. And that’s just a partial list of problems stemming from too much exposure to fluorescent lighting.

The future is now with LED lighting

Artificial lighting alternatives are now being studied as possible replacements for so-called traditional forms of lighting including incandescent bulbs, fluorescent and sodium vapor lights.

One of the leading forms of light alternatives is LED bulbs. Research on the relative health benefits of LED bulbs is proceeding at a fast pace, because the markets and applications for these types of bulbs is growing at an exponential rate. On the negative side, there is some evidence that LED bulbs can have adverse effects on people with Electro-hypersensitivity, Lupus and other conditions.

Yet there is also direct evidence that LED bulbs have direct health benefit applications and possible indirect benefits in terms of controlling light spectrums where indoor and outdoor lighting play roles in aesthetics and imitation of natural light. LED bulbs seem to show particular promise in some of these areas. 

LED Light Therapy

In a page titled The Cosmetic and Healing Benefits of LED Light Therapy, the website O2Planet.com states of LED light therapy: “One of the most acclaimed and documented treatments for aging, healing wounds, improving skin diseases such as eczema and treating brain tumors and compromised skin cells (such as in the mouths of cancer patients), LED light therapy is fast becoming a revolution in health care.”

It continues: “LED light therapy is a non-invasive procedure done with panels of red and/or infrared lights that deliver low-level pulses of light up to three times brighter than the sun to activate skin cells. It works like photosynthesis for the skin – it converts light energy already found in skin cells to promote healing and anti-aging effects.”

The clinical backing for such treatments comes from the FDA, which allows advertising for these types of treatments.

Broader spectrum lighting benefits

The broad-spectrum benefits of LED lighting include less flickering than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs, reducing eye strain and health risks such as headaches and even nausea generated by “traditional” lighting. LED bulbs also run silently, reducing noise emitted by light fixtures and bulbs, cutting down on the constant hum that can be distracting at home or in the workplace.

LED bulbs also run cooler and last longer, so their net environmental impact and carbon footprint tends to be much lower than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs, for example.

Tuning LED bulbs to particular light wavelengths holds great promise in applications such as outdoor lighting where municipalities are replacing hard white fluorescent bulbs and sodium vapor lights in streetlamps with LED bulbs that can mimic, with greater intensity of course, the light emitted from the moon.

Artificial lighting is a necessary and vital part of modern society, and the new technology of LED bulbs holds much promise to revolutionize the costs and health benefits of lighting in nearly every application of artificial lighting. LED lights are even being used to essentially invent new ways to use light because of their long-lasting bulb life and energy-sipping technology.

That makes for a bright and healthy future for LED bulbs, and the people who use them.

Today, April 22^nd, is Earth Day, a global holiday concerning environmental protection.  It is a day to remind individuals about the earth’s current state, as well as to encourage them to aid in environmental protection through a number of actions. There are many ways individuals can participate in Earth Day.

While joining an environmental group or organization on a project is greatly appreciated, many do not have time to participate in such activities. There are other simple ways people can give back to the earth. One simple way to become environmentally friendly is to replace old, burnt out light bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs.

LED light bulbs are the least energy-consuming light bulb available today. They operate through a technology called solid state lighting (SSL), in which electrons pass through a semiconductor in order to produce light. Very little heat is produced throughout this process, which saves energy. On the other hand, incandescent light bulbs operate by passing electricity through a filament that glows when it becomes very hot. According to Energy, 90% of this energy is released as heat, therefore, wasting a large amount of energy. CFLs operate by a series of gases that ultimately emit ultraviolet light.

While CFLs may reduce energy consumption in comparison to incandescent bulbs, they waste more energy than LED light bulbs. Also, one of the components of CFL lighting bulbs is Mercury, a toxic chemical. Therefore, if one of these bulbs is broken or damaged, it will leak this chemical, making it hazardous to humans, as well as the environment.

Reduced energy consumption results in decreased CO2 emissions. According to designrecycleinc.com, using 30 LED light bulbs per year releases 451 pounds or carbon dioxide per year, whereas using 30 CFLs releases 1,051 pounds per year, and using 30 incandescent bulbs releases 4,500 pounds per year. If every household or building switched to LED lighting, it would significantly cut down on worldwide CO2 emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that adoption of LED lighting in the U.S. by the year 2027 could result in a 33% reduction of electricity demand, and prevent 40 new power plants from being built!

LED lighting provides many other benefits than environmental friendliness; however, one of the reasons they are so attractive is their environmental impact. Because they consume less energy, they also lower electricity costs. Households that use 30, 60 Watt equivalent LED bulbs per year, could see an annual operating cost of around $32.85 per year, whereas 30, 60 Watt incandescent bulbs per year rack up an annual cost of around $328.59, according to designrecycleinc.com.

Individuals should take this Earth Day to really think about switching their light bulbs to environmentally friendly LED light bulbs and enjoy participating in environmental stewardship, as well as saving money.

UL listing for lighting is one of the standard assurances of quality, predicted function, light quality and applications.

The UL website describes itself as a “global independent safety science company with more than a century of expertise innovating safety solutions from the public adoption of electricity to new breakthroughs in sustainability, renewable energy and nanotechnology.”

That means UL keeps abreast of inventive and adaptive trends in commercial and consumer technology with a mission of being “dedicated to promoting safe living and working environments, UL helps safeguard people, products and places in important ways, facilitating trade and providing peace of mind.”

Given these parameters, it is perhaps important to review a few reasons why a UL listing is considered so valuable for so many products.

UL Listing and LED Lighting

As lighting technology such as the LED (light-emitting diode) branch of lighting has evolved, UL assesses each product for its claims and “packaging”-- another term for how the light bulb is encased and connects to a power source. All these components of course combine to affect the function and safety of a lighting source.

Consumers like to expect that light bulbs of any type will perform to their specified claims, especially in a safe and effective manner.

The UL site further states that, “UL certifies, validates, tests, inspects, audits, and advises and educates. We provide the knowledge and expertise to help navigate growing complexities across the supply chain from compliance and regulatory issues to trade challenges and market access.”

LED Bulb Overview

The UL web site describes LED bulbs and their packaging as “assemblies of one or more LED die that contain wire bond connections and may include an optical element and thermal, mechanical and electrical interfaces.”

Those are semi-technical terms to describe what we buy when an LED bulb of any configuration is purchased at the store.

One of the principal concerns of UL is to help determine and guide the appropriate and safe use of technologies such as LED bulbs, which are known for their ability to generate directed light, often in quite bright configurations. Recently the technology has migrated to applications such as car headlights. It is the goal of organizations such as UL to help govern and direct these applications to safe ends. One can only imagine what unlimited or unregulated lighting applications could generate in car headlights, blinding oncoming drivers and causing accidents.

UL tests the safety profile of such LED applications for auto, home, industry, commercial, streetlamps and grow lights, to name a few evolutions in LED purposes.

UL asks questions and tests lighting products to find out if LED light is safe in terms of optical radiation to the skin and eyes and helps to determine what safety standards need to exist for LED light safety.

UL ENERGY TESTING

One offshoot of the UL testing process is energy efficiency, and ENERGY STAR® is “a voluntary labeling program” developed in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.) This collaboration provides energy efficiency and marketing rules for products that meet energy efficiency standards. As one of the most energy efficient forms of lighting on the market, these factors are important to the overall acceptance of LED lighting, which is currently higher-priced compared to some older lines of electric light bulbs, yet the long life (30,000 to 50,000 hours) of LED light bulbs is known in some cases to effectively amortize the baseline costs against the costs of shorter life bulbs

SAFETY REGULATIONS

One of the most important facets of LED testing is safety, and the official word on safety is often UL standards. UL itself notes that it “wrote the standard on Solid State and LED Lighting, UL8750, and actively participates in global standards development activities.  Plus, our industry-leading team of primary designated engineers drives consistency, integrity and engineering quality in establishing and applying our certification requirements.”

That means when you purchase an LED product with a UL listing, it meets certain standards of acceptable usage in many types of categories.

UL states: “Using our knowledge garnered from more than 100 years in certifying products, our product safety evaluations involve a comprehensive review of important safety issues such as electrical shock, fire hazards, and even performance when it's inherent to a product operating safely.”

Those are valuable assurances whether an LED bulb is use for commercial or residential purposes. If UL did not already have a 100 year history of product testing, the organization would likely need to be invented for reasons of sheer safety and protection. That’s why the UL listing on a product means something to you and the person selling the bulbs.

It has been proven that LED lighting is superior to other types of lighting because it provides many benefits—predominantly energy efficiency and cost reduction. There have been studies done that show LED lighting increases the well-being of humans, such as increased productivity and alertness in the workplace, and the ability to alter people’s moods. Similar studies have been completed with cows at dairy farms, in which the cows “preferred” the LED lighting over fluorescent lighting, demonstrated by their ability to produce more milk while living under the LED lighting. Several months ago, a zoo keeper in Finland noticed a positive change in the animals’ behavior after the zoo had installed LED lighting.  

According to www.midwestenergynews.com, a poultry farm in Minnesota is currently undergoing a study involving the use of LED lighting. Lakewood Turkey Farm is teaming up with The Minnesota Project in order to study the effects of LED lighting. The purpose of the study is to measure the cost savings of LED lighting in order to encourage governmental aid and support of LED lighting in farms, and other rural areas, over fluorescent lighting. However, Mike Langmo, the farmer, has noticed that since the LED lights—which are dimmable and controlled by a separate device—have allowed the turkeys to successfully gain weight, more so than before. He stated that the turkeys carry out a more routine lifestyle and also fight less, which ultimately leads to better weight gain, possibly stemming from less stress.

While the study is not focusing on the direct impact of LED lighting on the turkeys, they are hoping to find if the turkeys have a reaction to the new lighting. Langmo has two barns, one of which had LED lighting installed, enabling a comparison between the turkeys, amongst other things. However, the effect of LED lighting on the turkeys’ well-being is difficult to measure due to outside factors. But, some research has shown that “a specific wavelength of red light improves reproduction in turkeys.”

Regardless of the results of the study, Langmo is pleased with the switch to LED lighting. Because of the reduced energy consumption, as well as the lowered electricity costs, Langmo was able to add more lamps in the LED barn to make the environment more favorable for the workers. Even with the addition of more lamps, he is still able to see lowered electricity bills, and expects to make his return on investment in just a year and a half, making the switch to LEDs well worth it.