LED lights are touted as being the environmentally friendly option compared to incandescent and other types of light bulbs. LED lights are energy efficient, but it’s important to understand why.
How are LED lights environmentally friendly?
Energy Efficient
LED lights are more energy efficient than other types of lighting. In fact, LEDs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
Greater energy efficiency means a lower environmental impact.
What Makes LED Lights Energy Efficient?
There are many reasons why LED lights are so energy efficient. One reason is that LEDs emit very little heat. Incandescent bulbs, on the other hand, emit 90% of energy as heat. Only 10% of the energy consumed is actually used for the lighting itself.
LEDs consumes less energy primarily because of their contemporary design. These lights contain a semi-conductor that generates light. The semi-conductor filters electrical energy and releases light as a result. Light is released directly through the source input without powering a filament or light emitting load.
In other words, instead of powering something else to create light, LEDs make light on their own.
The energy efficiency of LEDs makes them more environmentally friendly than other types of lighting.
Fewer Lights
LEDs emit bright light and distribute light more efficiently, so fewer lights are needed to illuminate a space.
LEDs also emit light in a specific direction, so there’s no need for additional diffusers or reflectors. Not only does this also help reduce the number of lights you need, but it also helps make the lights more energy efficient.
Fewer lights mean less energy consumption and less resources to produce more bulbs. Instead of needing three or four lights to illuminate a room, you may only need one or two.
Longer Lifespan
LED lights are also environmentally friendly because they have a much longer lifespan. There are claims that LEDs can last up to 20 years, but they can last for several years.
Bulbs are often marketed as lasting 10,000 hours, but they often don’t make it quite this far. Still, that is quite a bit longer than incandescent bulbs.
Having to buy fewer bulbs reduces your environmental impact because it reduces waste. Fewer bulbs need to be produced, and they don’t need to be replaced as often as other bulb types.
Less Light Pollution and Less Noise
Because LEDs emit directional light, they reduce light pollution. With LEDs, there is less scattered light and less pollution as a result.
Along with reducing light pollution, they also help reduce noise pollution. Other types of lights, especially HID lights, produce a buzzing noise that contributes to noise pollution.
No Toxic Components
One major environmental benefit of LEDs is that they do not contain any toxic components. CFLs, for example, contain 4-5 milligrams of mercury, which can be hazardous to the environment and human health.
CFLs must be disposed of properly using special waste carriers.
In commercial buildings, fluorescent tube lights are the most common type of lighting used. In addition to being less energy efficient, fluorescent lights also contain toxic chemicals, including mercury, that are harmful to the environment. When disposed in landfills, these chemicals can leech into the environment.
LED lights do not contain any toxic substances, so there’s no need for special waste disposal or to worry about damaging the environment with harmful chemicals.
LED Lights Have Smaller Carbon Footprints
LED lights emit up to 80% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to CFLs and incandescent bulbs. One study found that replacing just one bulb in every home in the U.S. with an LED bulb can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9 billion pounds. Doing something as simple as replacing one bulb can make a difference on the environment.
Incandescent bulbs produce 4,500 pounds of CO2 each year. CFLs emit 1,051 pounds of CO2 each year. LEDs only produce 451 pounds of emissions.
By 2030, three out of every four light bulbs will contain LED technology and lower carbon emissions by 1,800 million metric tons.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an important step in the right direction to protecting the environment.
Variety of Applications
LEDs come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and colors, which makes them useful for a variety of applications. Smart LEDs allow you to control the lighting via a smartphone or other remote control.
LEDs can be found in downlights, strip lights, floodlights and decorative bulbs. Because they can be used in a variety of applications, LEDs are easily adopted and more accessible to both commercial and residential applications. Some LEDs can be used indoors, outdoors or both, making them even easier to adopt.
LEDs are an environmentally friendly alternative to incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lights and other types of lights. Making the switch to LED lights can help reduce environmental impact while reducing energy and replacement costs. All of these benefits can be achieved without compromising on quality and brightness.