Pros And Cons Of Using LED Light For Your Home LED lights, as the name suggests, stand for light-emitting diodes. This is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electrical charge passes through it. It emits visible light as well as invisible infrared and ultraviolet lights.
These days, you can see them in Christmas lights, alarm clocks, TVs, and new LED light bulbs are becoming more widely used for an energy-saving lamp which is equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb.
LED or light-emitting diode bulbs are a great alternative to traditional incandescent lighting because they use less electricity than incandescent bulbs and they last longer. An MR16 LED bulb can be used for spotlighting in the home, which is commonly found in the kitchen, hallway, or dining table.
They are also perfect as night lights because of their low energy consumption (20-25 watts) and long life (10+ years). Read on – Pros And Cons Of Using LED Light For Your Home:
1. LED bulbs can last up to 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs and 50 times longer than compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).
2. A study shows that a 5-watt MR16 LED bulb emits the same amount of light as a 40-watt incandescent lamp, while a 9 to 11 watt LED bulb emits the same light as a 60-watt incandescent lamp.
3. Compared to other lighting sources, LEDs are more energy-efficient and release less heat. 1 kilowatt/hour of electricity can illuminate up to 50 LED bulbs compared to only 5 incandescent lamps or 1 compact fluorescent lamp.
4. A LED bulb has a lifespan of more than 25,000 hours which is equivalent to 22 years of continuous use at 3 hours/day with your regular incandescent bulb.
5. LED lights are free from mercury and can be easily disposed of in a landfill which is safe for you and the environment.
6. There are no hazardous substances inside LED lamps. They do not contain mercury, lead, or metal halide gas which is harmful to the environment and human health.
7. When working for longer periods, traditional light sources may emit large amounts of heat that can cause damage to objects in their surroundings. However, this problem does not exist with LEDs because they generate little to no heat.
8. LED bulbs can be easily dimmed with a separate control box which allows you to adjust the brightness of the lamp according to your needs or set it up for different scenarios, such as movie viewing or reading.
9. LED units are sensitive to quick changes in voltage which can be a health hazard. For example, when quickly turned on or off, incandescent bulbs flicker and generate negative ions while CFLs take time to start up and emit a buzzing sound. In contrast, LED lights do not flicker or generate any foreign particles because they adapt instantly to the change in voltage.
10. Finally, LED lights are recyclable and can be reused without any loss of function or brightness even if they have been turned on for more than 100,000 hours.
1. Compared to incandescent bulbs, LED bulb costs more because it requires a high initial price for the manufacturer to make the newer technology available to everyone. In time, this will be a price advantage because of its long life. Quality LEDs are expensive. You might be tempted to buy LEDs that are cheap but do not expect them to last for long.
2. LED lights are not suitable for use in enclosed fixtures due to heat management issues. They are also not designed for high-wattage task lighting, but rather directional lighting that highlights objects or particular areas.
3. Because creating white light using LEDs is complex, it tends to make the light appear yellow or blue which is not compatible with normal lighting.
4. You may need to get used to the color tone of LED lights. They are usually very bright and do not produce a warm glow like incandescent lighting. There is also a slight delay when turning on the lamp which some people find annoying, while this does not happen with CFLs or incandescent bulbs.5. There are still few choices in color temperature that can affect the mood of the room it is used in.
6. The high-intensity light given off by LEDs can be irritating to the eyes if you are working or reading under them for long periods, especially if you are sensitive to brightness or glare.
7. LED bulbs do not come with a standard size and shape that fits into the usual light bulb sockets; therefore, LEDs are limited for applications requiring standard lamping or replacement bulbs.
8. LED lighting is relatively new and people are not familiar with it yet so they do not know how to use them. If you have a family member or friend who uses LED, ask them to install the unit for you.
9. The color of a LED lamp is slightly different from its incandescent counterpart so it may not be an appropriate choice if you are very picky about how your home looks or if you have guests coming over. You have to try out the LED unit in your home to see if the color suits you.
10. LED bulbs are too bright for certain areas in your home, such as the dining room or living room where you usually do activities that require lower lighting. You can try using them somewhere else like in a hallway, bedroom, etc instead.
11. Although LED lights do not flicker or give off any harmful particles, they can cause seizures in people who are hypersensitive to this kind of lighting. If you or someone in your household has epilepsy, it is best not to install LED lights at home.
12. Compared to other light sources, LEDs do not emit warm colors which may be undesirable if you want a cozy atmosphere. For example, LED lights can cause people to look pale and lifeless.
While LED lights may be more expensive than other types of lighting sources it is worth the investment. It is also important to know what you would require in your home and how LED lights would fit into your lifestyle and needs before you go out and purchase any bulbs.