What are Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs?
LED lights have been around for about 50 years, but only in the last decade have they evolved into the technological powerhouses they are now. By using about 85% less electricity than previous styles like incandescent lights, halogens, fluorescent lamps, and CFL lights, LEDs are truly making great strides in our environment and efficiency ratings. The quick development from the LED producers has made it easy to make the switch for budget and eco reasons.
But because the initial lights that switched to LEDs were commercial-grade (think parking lot lights and warehouse lights), designers were limited with their options for smaller commercial projects and certainly home designs until more recently.
Who has been using LED lighting?
Today, you would find it quite difficult to locate a home that doesn’t have any LED lighting, and the trend is that more homes will convert to all-LED in the near future. In less than 10 years, the number of LEDs installed has gone from about 500K to 450 million. And that number is only going to continue to grow.
Don’t LED lights cost a lot?
As companies improved their LED technology and demand increased, prices started to come down. One of the reasons more designers and homeowners weren’t using LED before was due to the high cost of purchase on the front end. Even though they could see significant savings in electricity bills over time, the return on their investment was too far away to justify a more immediate high cost of purchase.
These days, the price of an LED bulb can be found for less than $5. Then there are rebates to help bring the costs down even more. Once you factor in the reduced maintenance costs (LEDs last up to 50,000 hours compared to about 1,000 hours with traditional lighting options) it is easier for homeowners to make the switch now.
Where can I use LED?
Fortunately, there are many design options available with LED products. Besides LED plug-in lamps throughout the house, some of the most common lights are recessed LED lights is in the kitchen and living room. These lights tend to come with a dimmability option which gives homeowners even more options for saving money when they only use what they need instead of having these highly-used lights on at 100% all day. Other options include LED strip lighting for under cabinets to light countertops and LED wall packs to light walkways, garages, and outdoor entertainment spaces.
The most important factor is ensuring you connect with a highly-qualified electrician who specializes in LED products. Look for someone who can help you design your project from start to finish so you can avoid any hassles with your design.
Author bio – Gilbert Cabrales has been with CS LED since its inception in 2008, first as an employee and then as a valued partner. Gilbert has vast experience in both lighting and electrical work and has a unique method for collaborating with his clients. He doesn’t stop at the sale. Instead, he works to truly connect with his clients and remains a resource throughout the lifespan of each one of their lighting projects. From design to implementation and beyond, you can count on “Gil” to deliver LED expertise and true partnership capabilities.
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