7 Things Interesting Facts About LED Lights

Over the recent years, the use of LED lights has been increasing—all thanks to its efficient characteristics such as its long life span and its resistance to breakage. LEDs have been used in lighting bulbs, LED signs, TVs, display cases and even, in toys.

But think you know everything about LED lights? Well, here are some of the 7 interesting facts about them that you might have not heard yet:

#1

LED or light-emitting diodes are actually a type of solid-state lighting that uses a semiconductor to convert electricity into light.

Such process makes it seven times more energy efficient than conventional incandescent lights and cut energy use by roughly 80 percent.

#2

Unlike incandescent bulbs, LEDs uses energy far more efficiently with little wasted heat.

That's why compare to the former, LED lights doesn't heat up much.

#3

Quality LED bulbs can have a long lifespan of about 25,000 hours

—which means they last more than 25 times longer than other traditional light bulbs. Statistically speaking, that is a life more than three years if they run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

#4

LEDs contains no mercury unlike other traditional light bulbs.

And recently, according to the study of the Energy Department, LEDs have a much smaller environmental impact than incandescent bulbs. According to the same study, "they also have an edge over compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) that are expected to grow over the next few years as LED technology continues its steady improvement."

#5

These days, LEDs is use in a wide range of applications including traffic lights, led signs, vehicle brake lights up to TVs and display cases.

This is because of their unique characteristics such as its compact size, ease of maintenance, resistance to breakage, and its ability to focus its light in a single direction.

#6

When was LED invented? Well, the first visible-spectrum LED was invented by Nick Holonyak, Jr. while he was working for GE in the year 1962.

Since then, the technology has rapidly advanced and costs have dropped tremendously, whilst making LED a viable lighting solution. As a matter of fact, between the year 2011 and 2012, global sales of LED bulbs has increased by 22%. It was estimated by the year 2030, LEDs will account for 75% of all lighting sales.

#7

In the year 2012, about 49 million LED lights was installed in the US and has saved about $675 million in its annual energy costs.

By switching entirely to LED lights, US can save around $250 billion in energy costs and reduce electricity consumption by nearly 50%--which means less carbon emission.