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Advantages of LED Lighting
LEDs
offer numerous benefits due to their mode of operation:
Energy Efficiency
LEDs
are highly efficient. In traffic signal lights, a strong market for LEDs, a red
traffic signal head that contains 196 LEDs draws 10W versus its incandescent
counterpart that draws 150W. Various estimates of potential energy savings range
from 82% to 93%. With the red signal operating about 50% of the day, the
complete traffic signal unit is estimated to save 35-40%. It is estimated that
replacing incandescent lamps in all of America’s some 260,000 traffic signals
(red, green and yellow) could reduce energy consumption by nearly 2.5 billion
kWh.
Long Life
Some LEDs are projected to produce a long service life of about
100,000 hours. For this reason LEDs are ideal for hard-to-reach/maintain
fixtures such as exit sign lighting and, combined with its durability, pathway
lighting. This service life can be affected by the application and environmental
factors, including heat and if being overdriven by the power supply.
Range of Colors
LEDs are available in a range of colors, including cold white light.
White light can also be produced through color mixing of red, blue and green
LEDs. In addition, through the innovative combination of various-colored LEDs,
dramatic color-changing effects can be produced from a single fixture through
dynamic activation of various sets of LEDs. These fixtures can be individually
controlled via a PC, DMX controller or proprietary controller to generate
effects including fixed color, color washing, cross fading, random color
changing, strobing and variable strobing.
No UV Emissions/Little Infrared/No bugs
LEDs produce no UV radiation and little heat, making them ideal for
illuminating objects, such as works of art, that are sensitive to UV light. No
mosquitoes or bugs are attracted to the cold light.
Durable LEDs are highly
rugged
They feature no filament that can be damaged due to shock and
vibrations. They are subject to heat, however, and being overdriven by the power
supply. If they burn 10 hours per day, they will surely last 7 years.
Small
Size/Design Flexibility
A single LED is very small and produces little light
overall. However, this weakness is actually its strength. LEDs can be combined
in any shape to produce desired lumen packages as the design goals and economics
permit. In addition, LEDs can be considered miniature light fixtures;
distribution of light can be controlled by the LEDs’ epoxy lens, simplifying the
construction of architectural fixtures designed to utilize LEDs. A controller
can be connected to an LED fixture to selectively dim individual LEDs, resulting
in the dynamic control of distribution, light output and color. Finally, DC
power enables the unit to be easily adaptable to different power supplies.
Other benefits of LEDs include:
- Lights instantly
- Silent
operation
- Low-voltage power supply (increased safety)
- No moving parts, no glass
- Dimmable and programmable, in many cases
- Super-fast turn-on, unlike compact fluorescents
- Lightweight and compact
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