While the intro on LEDs in this post, and maybe more, may be a bit basic for some of our readers, I found this pitched guest post quite interesting and I learned quite a bit about LEDs from it, so thought it would make for a good CleanTechnica share — check it out:
Today, most people think of LEDs as those little dome-shaped lighting devices that put out just enough light to back-light a watch. While you would have been correct 10 years ago, LEDs have come incredibly far in the past decade. Not only that, but today’s LEDs are no longer sold only as individual little diodes used as an indicator light on your lawnmower, but as energy-efficient, long-lasting general replacement bulbs for many common incandescent light sources. Today, people are using LEDs for everything from lighting calculator screens, to lighting basketball arenas. Here are a few new types of LED items that you might not be aware of, and even the casual environmentalist would love.
LED Strips:
These innovative light strips consist of high-powered LEDs mounted on a super-thin flexible circuit board with an adhesive coating on the back. People use these LED strips for everything from accent lighting for their vehicles, to under cabinet lighting in their kitchen, and even for general lighting for rooms!
LED Bulbs:
Gone are the days where you have to be an electrician and possess a working knowledge of ohms and resistors to use LEDs. Today, using LED technology is as simple as screwing in a light bulb. With a wide assortment of common lighting, including MR16s, PAR type flood/spot bulbs, and standard 60W-equivalent LED bulbs (which achieve an incandescent 60W bulb’s brightness while only consuming 9W of power) available today, these easy-to-use and easy-to-install LED bulbs are powering the wider adoption of LED technology.
Automotive LED Bulbs:
That’s right, even your vehicle now can benefit from long-lasting, durable LED technology. LEDs turn on faster, have more color, and last way longer than standard automotive bulbs. Like standard household replacements, these Car LED lights generally just fit into the pre-existing socket.
Although these are the main categories consumers are adopting the fastest, there are other areas as well, including landscaping lighting, general accent lighting, and marine and RV lighting. There is good reason to adopt these technologies. According to the U.S Department of Energy: “Widespread use of LED lighting has the greatest potential impact on energy savings in the United States. By 2027, widespread use of LEDs could save about 348 TWh (compared to no LED use) of electricity: This is the equivalent annual electrical output of 44 large electric power plants (1000 megawatts each), and a total savings of more than $30 billion at today’s electricity prices.” As you can see, there is good reason people across the country are quickly taking to LEDs as their go-to light source.
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