What Does LED Stand For?
LEDs are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to incandescent and compact fluorescent lights due to their long life and low operating costs. LEDs are also one of the greenest light sources available due to technological advancements that make them one of the most environmentally friendly light sources available. However, have you ever pondered what the acronym LED stands for?
What Does LED Stand For?
The abbreviation LED refers to ‘light emitting diodes.’ And, while there are several reasons why LEDs are superior, like the fact that they consume 75% less energy and last 25 times longer, one of the primary reasons they are gaining popularity is their ever-declining price tag. At virtually the same price as traditional incandescents and compact fluorescent lights, the stunning, seemingly cutting-edge technology of LEDs is really the result of a century-old scientific anomaly that was turned into a multimillion-dollar product line by a slew of scientists and engineers.
A Suggestion
Infrared LEDs were initially referred as as’semiconductor radiant diodes,’ as they are composed of a chemical called gallium arsenide. When an electric current was sent through this semiconductor material, electroluminescence occurred: light was emitted. Later, by incorporating more elements into semiconductor materials, scientists and researchers were able to develop LEDs with red and yellow colours, as well as larger and brighter LEDs. Though they were originally limited to emitting a single color or frequency of light, recent advancements in LED technology have enabled them to emit a wide range of colors, including the lighting spectrum’s holy grail: broad spectrum white light comparable to sunlight and inefficient incandescent lighting.
Ingenious Construction
Much more efficient than incandescent bulbs, an LED bulb equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb can produce the same amount of light using just 10-watts, with the added benefit of producing very little heat. While LEDs are not indestructible, they do have an unusually long life: Without a heated filament or strange gases, bulbs may endure more than three years when left on 24 hours a day. And they’ve achieved their pinnacle: The versatility of LED lighting across a range of applications and settings, from refrigerators to your front porch, has prompted many homeowners and business owners to upgrade to LED lighting.
A Sizable Following
LEDs are expected to account for 75% of lighting sales by 2030. LEDs are expected to contribute 10% of the cost of the typical energy bill over the next two decades, resulting in a 50% reduction in lighting energy usage and a whopping $250 billion in energy savings. LED use is predicted to lower carbon emissions by 1,800 tons over the next 20 years… if Americans make the transition.
What Are You Using LEDs to Illuminate? How to Determine Your Color Temperature:
Kelvin temperature is used to determine the colour of LED lights…
- Not more than 2,000: The soft glow of bulbs less than 2,000K is similar to candlelight, making them ideal for ambient lighting.
- 2,000-3,000K: This temperature’s warm white, slightly yellow-hued radiance is ideal for living, dining, bedrooms, and outdoor living areas.
- 3,100-4,500K: This bright white light is great for job illumination in kitchens, bathrooms, offices, and other industries.
- 4,600-6,500K: This range’s brilliant blue-white light emulates sunshine and is frequently used in show areas and workstations that require high illumination.
- 6,500K+: This vibrant blue tint is frequently seen in business settings.
- Variable: Dimmable, color-changing smart bulb alternatives enable homeowners to customize their illumination fast and easily with a compatible mobile device or Alexa/Siri/Google Home.