Engage with LED Lighting


You’ve probably heard us as well as a growing number of other companies describing LED lighting as a “green solution”, “energy efficient”, “long-lasting” and maybe even “cost-effective”. But what do these words actually mean?

It helps to first understand how Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting works: a simple electron conversion process creates light, and this process offers a number of benefits:

  • Energy efficient: LED turns nearly all of the electrical energy it uses into light. This is even more efficient than Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL).
  • Green solution: LED lighting is by far the greenest and safest lighting solution in the world
    • 。 No toxins like mercury are used in LED lighting.
    • 。 LED lighting product comprises mostly aluminum alloys, and the small amount of plastic and sometimes steel casing or small metal components are all recyclable. The electronic components including LED represent less than 5% by weight and easily be separated during disposal or in the recycling process. All materials used are environmentally safe, presenting no danger to the Earth or humans
    • 。 LED is also a cold light, keeping interior temperatures lower by 1-2 degrees, which is enough to put a dent in office air-conditioning usage and cost
    • 。 No UV or IR emissions, so its harmless to your skin.
    • 。 No flickering, and light intensity is kept at comfortable levels, protecting your eyes.
  • Long lasting: Every Optiled LED product is guaranteed to last 35,000 hours, while CFLs last only 8,000 – 15,000 hours
  • Cost effective: Because of higher energy efficiency and longer life spans, LED lighting is the most cost effective solution in the long term.

Let’s look at how LED lighting compares to the other lighting technologies


Technology

Efficacy

How it works

Pros and cons

Lifetime

Tungsten Filament Light Bulb (Incandescent bulb)

15 lm/W

When the bulb is powered on, the tungsten filament is heated to around 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,200 degrees Celsius) to emit visible light. (source)

This bulb offers the lowest initial cost, but is highly inefficient—just 5% of the energy used is converted to light, while the remaining 95% turns to heat.

1,000 hours

Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL)

60 - 90 lm/W

When powered on, the electrical current stimulates mercury vapor in argon or neon gas to produce plasma and emit short wavelength ultraviolet rays, which in turn excites the phosphorous coating inside the bulb, emitting visible light.

CFL save about 60% on energy and last 10 – 20 times longer than a tungsten bulb, but the mechanism for creating light is far more complex, driving up initial cost and increasing chance of failure. Furthermore, CFL contains mercury vapor, highly toxic to humans and dangerous to the environment. CFLs require proper disposal, which can further drive up costs.

8,000 - 15,000 hours

Light-Emitting Diode (LED)

40 - 120 lm/W

LED contains semiconductor components which emit visible light by electron conversion processes.

LED lighting is the ultimate green solution for energy-conservation and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

Although the initial cost is higher than other lighting, LED lighting is up to 90% energy saving and has up to 17 times longer lifetime than halogen bulb. LED is also a cold light, emitting almost no heat, which can help reduce air conditioning costs. LED lights do not contain poisonous substances such as mercury.

35,000 hours