The LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology was invented in the early 19th century. However, it was only incorporated into integrated circuits by Hewlett Packard in February 1969. Afterward, LEDs started to become part of most electronic devices. Nowadays, you can see LEDs almost everywhere, either permitting or assisting you with your everyday activities. It’s highly efficient compared to its previous technologies, such as mercury or halogen-based lighting. If you are also considering an upgrade for your office, ensure you go through the advantages and disadvantages of LED first.
Advantages of LED Technology
The technology has practical application in consumer electronics such as lighting systems, TVs, and mobiles. Since they are so widely used, there must be some benefits to LED lights and displays. Here are several:
1. Consume up to 90% Less Energy than Regular Light Bulbs
Spending up to 90% less power compared to traditional bulbs, LED lights also emit little to no heat. Thus, they aren’t an added expense during the summer months. LEDs are also dimmable and can last reliably for over 50,000 hours of use, with an average lifespan of about 15 years. LEDs quickly pay for themselves over time when you add in the cost savings from a significantly reduced energy bill and a long life cycle. However, their high initial price tag means it may take some time to convert consumers who only want the cheapest solution and aren’t ready to make a full switch just yet. Luckily, this price difference is becoming less noticeable as years go by.
2. More Eco-friendly
If everyone in the United States replaced just one regular bulb with an LED, you could save enough energy to illuminate all the streetlights in New York City for four years. This is great news considering how many millions of lights there are across America and worldwide. It also means that less electricity will be consumed overall, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Therefore, this technology will help protect our environment. Additionally, since LEDs last longer, they can help cut waste by reducing both lead and mercury pollution. Those two pollutants, produced from mining and processing raw materials, are used to create traditional bulbs.
3. LED Lights Bulbs are Available in a Varied Range
One of the advantages of LED technology is that they’re flexible. You can choose from traditional incandescent bulb shapes or opt for more unique lighting options like chandeliers and sconces with LEDs built right into them. LEDs come in almost every size imaginable, from regular 60W replacement lamps to higher output 300W specialty lights designed for commercial spaces. You can opt for a bigger size for places where you require lots of extra bright light, so there’s an option no matter what your needs may be.
4. LEDs are Available in Different Colors
LEDs come in various color temperatures, so you can choose the one that’s right for your lighting needs. Warm LED light bulbs have an orange tinge, while cooler options offer more of a purer or whiter shade. This is similar to sunlight streaming through windows on a bright summer day or moonlight shining down from above at night. For example, if you want to mimic natural daylight indoors by using artificial lights throughout the house, opt for warmer colored LEDs with 2700K temperature ratings — they closely resemble natural sunlight. If you prefer something less harsh yet still dazzling, you can opt for the cooler colored lighting with a 5000-6500K temperature rating.
5. Lights Based on LED Technology are Innovative
LEDs have the power to be programmed with different functions and colors and even provide valuable information. For instance, if employees need bright light but not all of them arrive before or leave after sunrise, consider LEDs that can change color. This way, they know when it’s time for a break or lunch. Also, think about how good LED lighting could be in an office setting or any production environment. After all, there are many pros to keeping workers alert during long hours. This also provides enough brightness without any harsh shadows on faces, something traditional incandescent bulbs don’t excel at.
6. Longer Lifespan
LED is a new technology. It is much more powerful than its predecessor, the fluorescent tubes or the earlier iteration of the incandescent bulbs. They glow brighter, provide greater lighting, are cheaper to install, and lastly, they have a much longer lifespan. Studies show that an average LED can last up to 50000 hours with proper care. It is 40 times that of incandescent or 04 times that of fluorescent tubes. It is so because the design can provide a good heat sink.
Disadvantages of LED Technology
Whether displays or lighting systems, there are several drawbacks of LED Technology. Some of them are as follows.
1. LEDs cost more
One of the biggest disadvantages to LED lighting is that they’re typically a little pricier than their incandescent counterparts for each bulb. Luckily, as we mentioned, prices keep dropping in recent years. However, since LEDs last longer, they could save you money over time and help offset some initial costs. Their use reduces your energy bills on an individual basis and across entire buildings or communities. Besides being dimmable and shatterproof, there are plenty of other advantages LED technology offers. Therefore, while this type of lighting may be slightly costlier upfront, consider all potential long-term savings when investing in it instead.
2. Reduced Efficiency Overtime
One of the other obstacles to LED lights is that they’re not quite as bright or powerful as traditional incandescent bulbs. This could make them a poor choice for tasks where lots of light counts — cooking, reading, writing, and crafting. After all, it might take more than one bulb to accomplish what you need with a single form of another lighting technology. This isn’t a typical problem during everyday use, but if you want brighter lighting, consider halogen lamps instead. They’re available in even higher wattage (up to 600W) and offer greater levels of warmth too.
3. Light can Appear Dim and Yellowish
One of the biggest complaints about LED lighting is that it often appears very dim or has a strange yellowish tinge. This is something you may want to consider before choosing one for your home. If the light output, color clarity, and brightness are all important factors, LED lights may not be what you need from artificial lighting. However, some people don’t mind the wattage since they’re still brighter than most other types of lamps on average. In contrast, others enjoy mood lighting more during activities such as reading or watching movies by candlelight with LEDs.
4. Light-emitting Diodes Can’t Provide Warmth
Light-emitting diode technology is renowned for producing light with very little heat and energy use. They do not produce as much light and heat as traditional incandescent lamps, and some areas may require additional fixtures or larger bulbs than was needed beforehand. On the other hand, LEDs fall short on efficiency wherever you require both heat and lighting. For example, people in damp or cold areas still prefer traditional lighting systems. The heat produced by incandescent bulbs can help people stay warm and dry.
5. Health Concern
Recent scientific studies have shown the blue light from LEDs to be a safety concern if exposed for a longer duration of time. The blue or cool-white LED light can exceed the prescribed safety levels and has been categorized as a blue-light hazard that can be quite damaging to the human eyes. It has also been filed under ANSI / IESNA RP-27.1-05: to be considered for safe practice.
The scientific reason behind this phenomenon is that the cool white light has a high color temperature, which emits proportionally more blue light than what we encounter naturally outside. Thus, these light rays can cause more light pollution. Even an international organization, the Dark-Sky Association, discourages the use of white light sources with a color temperature of above 3000 K.