We are going to explore some of the most common questions that people have about LED lights. The following sections will be dedicated to answering these common questions and trying to provide as much information as possible about each topic. This is a great way to learn more about LED lights and how they can be beneficial for your home.
What does LED stand for?
LED means “light emitting diode”. A diode is a semiconductor, and an LED is a specific type of semiconductor combining a p-type and an n-type semiconductor.
What are LED lights?
LED lights are a little bit different than your traditional type of light because they are significantly more efficient than traditional incandescent lights. LEDs generate light when voltage is applied to the semiconductor described above. As it passes through, the electricity is converted directly into light with very little wasted energy. Some reports have stated that LED bulbs use three or four times less energy than a traditional older light bulb.
How durable are LED lights?
The really nice thing about LED light bulbs is that they seem to last forever and they’re really low maintenance. If you used a standard LED light for about eight hours every day, then you could expect it to last over a decade. It is not uncommon for LED lights to last for as long as 20 years or more. In rare cases, you might experience some LED lights failing after five or ten years.
Do LED lights generate a lot of heat?
Contrary to what you might think, LED Lights can give off an extensive amount of heat externally. They get hot relatively quickly, but they are designed to prevent the internal portion of the bulb from overheating. The heat is typically re-directed via the heat sink to the air surrounding the bulb, keeping the bulb much cooler than an incandescent light bulb. The caveat here is that if the bulb is enclosed in a small space there won’t be enough air to dissipate the heat and it will overheat and burn out rather quickly.
Will LED lights save you money?
Due to their ability to efficiently turn electricity into light, and their longer life spans, LED lights offer significant savings over traditional incandescent lights. A typical incandescent light uses 90% of its energy to create heat, highly inefficient, and one of the reasons they are so hot to the touch. According to Energy Star, a comparable 9 watt LED bulb with a brightness of 800 lumens will cost roughly 25% as much as a 43 watt halogen with the same brightness over the course of a year. Depending on how many lights you have, this can turn into substantial annual savings.
Are LED lights recyclable?
While LEDs do not contain any dangerous components that could cause harm, it is recommended that you find someone that will recycle them. There are some waste management businesses that are specifically created to recycle the components within an LED light bulb.
The fact that LED Lights can be recycled is another significant reason that many people are starting to switch over from their older, less-efficient light bulbs and enjoying the many benefits of LED lighting.