Why LED?

Why have LED bulbs become the popular choice of lighting in both domestic and industrial settings? The answer comes down to many factors, including lower costs over the lifetime of the bulb and environmental considerations. LEDs also come with standard bulb cap options, including Bayonet (BC) and Edison Screw Cap (ES).

Why Choose LED - Low Cost

An influential consideration that has led to a global rise in the popularity of LED bulbs is cost. Despite the higher initial unit cost (as compared to that of purchasing a traditional incandescent, CFL or halogen bulb), the considerably longer life of LED bulbs results in significant savings over the lifetime of the bulb.

Bulb Type	Lifespan (Years)	Annual Cost
Halogen	2.5	£16.84
CFL	9	£4.08
LED	22	£3.42

As we can see, the overall year-on-year savings make LED bulbs the cost-effective choice, especially when coupled with the frequent replacement costs associated with shorter life competitor bulbs.

Environmental Factors

There are two major environmental factors that combine to reduce the overall carbon footprint linked to LED bulbs.

• Harmful Chemicals LEDs do not contain harmful chemicals (such as Mercury, which is present in CFL bulbs). Although generally only found in small amounts in competitor bulbs, the presence of harmful chemicals poses a health risk both in the household and upon disposal (where the bulb may shatter).
• Production and Transport On average, the lifespan of an LED bulb exceeds 22 years. This means that fewer bulbs are needed to supply both households and industry with a sufficient number of bulbs over time. Where fewer bulbs are needed, not as many are produced. This reduces the carbon footprint in terms of factory emissions and lowers the pollution caused by transporting the product.

An additional aspect of using LED bulbs (as compared to competitor bulbs) is that of a relatively much lower energy consumption. The diode technology behind LED bulbs means that light is produced as a by-product of a simple electric circuit (i.e. there is no need to power a filament or heat gas in order to then produce light).

Low Heat - Ideal For Enclosed Lighting

Another positive factor relating to the use of LED bulbs is the lower heat output as compared to other market options such as incandescent bulbs, CFL, bulbs, and halogen bulbs. This is partly down to the design of the bulb, in that LED bulbs are generally designed with an integral heatsink. A heatsink disperses heat evenly at close proximity to the bulb, meaning the surrounding temperature at close quarters is maintained at a much lower level in comparison to other options. LED bulbs therefore present a much safer option for use in an enclosed lighting setup in the home (i.e. concealed ceiling spotlights).

LED Lighting - Versatility

The popularity of LED lighting is not merely linked to the positive environmental and financial factors discussed above. LED lighting is also tremendously versatile as a lighting solution in both domestic and industrial settings. This can be seen in the availability of LED strip lighting, where thin rows of lights can be conveniently arranged and powered in confined spaces. A full range of colours is also available, adding an element of design and fun around the home.