LED info

Light emitting diodes, commonly known as LEDs, have been in existence since the 1960's. Early versions could be found in flashlights, Christmas lighting, as well as toys and electronics. The technology continues to evolve, and as it does LEDs are becoming a replacement option in many different situations.
At first glance, the primary drawback to LED lighting is the price, which is substantially higher than traditional incandescent or mini-fluorescent lighting. According to Jode Himann, CEO of Calgary LED manufacturer Nemalux LED Lighting, when comparing costs, it's important to consider what you are comparing.When it comes to cost in residential applications, it depends on the individual application, but it also depends on what you are comparing it to. Mr. Himann noted "You could compare it to a Home Depot solution and it's not going to be cost competitive. If you go to a lighting designer or someplace locally that just sells lights, then you are getting closer."
Mr. Himann gave the example of a recessed light that Nemalux sells for about $200. It has a brightness of about a 60-watt incandescent. Replacing a recessed light in your kitchen wouldn't be cost competitive since you could just replace the bulb for far less than $10.
The cost becomes more competitive in new home building because you include the fixture and the light, the maintenance over time and lower electricity costs. "If you hire a contractor to build a new home for you, they are going to charge between $100 and $150 for each light, and then you add in the beauty plate, and for a recessed light the beauty plate can be up to $90. In my opinion the benefit you get out of LEDs versus the initial cost makes it a worthwhile decision." said Mr. Himann.
In addition to the appeal of low energy usage and longevity, LEDs have the benefit of providing a "warm" light versus "cool" light, along with the availability of using different colour temperatures in different settings. There are also health benefits to be enjoyed, as LEDs are beneficial in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder by helping to balance the production of serotonin and melatonin within the body.
Besides, there is also the benefit to the environment, not only through reduced energy usage, but also because LEDs do not contain Mercury.
"There are many other things you can do with LEDs both inside the house and out. You can have a single LED that provides enough illumination to really light up an area, or you can focus the light and do a bunch of different architectural things to really bring out the character of the house. They are also very popular in home theatres and entertainment rooms." said Mr. Himann
As with any new technology, there are problems the consumer needs to be aware of. Mr Himann indicated that some LED fixture manufacturers currently on the market have built an Edison bulb with LEDs that doesn't function as expected. If you have a home wine cellar, using LEDs will ensure there is no UV damage to your collection.
"As soon as you plug it in, it's very, very bright, but then 1,000 hours later it dims significantly," said Mr. Himann. "Others, when you turn them on will dim after thirty seconds and you can lose up to 25 per cent of the brightness. The lifetime of the LED is adversely affected as well. Those products, in my opinion, taint the market negatively because the consumer will spend $100 to $200 on a bulb and not get what they expected."
Mr. Himann, and many others in the industry, is confident that LEDs are a technology that will only become more popular. As demand increases, prices will continue to drop, meaning that the future of LED lighting in the home will be bright indeed.