There are different types of lighting lamps that you can choose to lighten up your home, office or business place. One of them is LED lighting. LED lighting is becoming more popular today than all other types of lighting for a number of reasons. They are more durable, environment friendly, and energy efficient compared to other types of lamps such as fluorescent and incandescent. In fact, some countries have banned incandescent lamps due to the dangers they pose to the environment and opted for LED lighting.
However, since every product has its downsides, LED lights are not left out. They have some drawbacks that every Singaporean should understand before opting for them. So, in this article, we shall look at both pros and cons of LED lighting to help you make an informed decision on whether to buy them or not.
Pros
There are several benefits that come with LED lamps. They include:
1. LED lights can lower your energy bills
So far, LED lamps are considered the most energy efficient. Studies show that their energy efficiency is between 80 per cent and 90 per cent, which is really amazing. Unlike incandescent and CFL lamps, they are designed to manage heat as much as possible. It is estimated that LED bulbs use 80 per cent of energy to produce light, while the remaining percentage is released as heat. This is actually opposite for incandescent lamps in which a greater percentage of energy (about 90 per cent) is released as heat while the remaining percentage is used to produce light. Indeed, a homeowner or business person can save a lot with these types of lamps.
2. Long Service
Their lighting lifespan is incredible. They can last for approximately 100,000 hours without dimming. This means about 14 months without worrying about maintenance or replacement! Fluorescent lamps can only last 20, 000 hours.
3. LED lamps are more durable than other light sources
The main reason for their durability is the kind of materials they are made of. Acrylic and polycarbonate are the materials of choice for LED light manufacturers. They are very durable and light weight and can withstand vibrations. This is why LED lights are the lights of choice in vehicles and traffic lighting.
4. Eco-friendly
LED lamps are not hazardous to environment as they don’t contain mercury. This is one area where they completely beat incandescent lamps which contain this toxic metal. This means that their disposal is also easier than incandescent lamps. Also, they can be recycled hence minimizing wastage of resources.
5. LED lamps are excellent in retail applications such as displays
This is because they don’t wash out other colors.
6. LED lamps don’t burn out but only lose brightness when their lifespan ends
This mean that you can know when their lifespan has expired hence get prepared to replace them.
7. LED lights provide direct illumination
They can be used when you want to illuminate a certain place in your office such as your working area.
8. They have a capability to illuminate a large area as they have a lot of power
It doesn’t matter how large your office or living room is when you choose LED lighting. It will give you the light you need.
Cons
LED lights have a few drawbacks. Some of them apply to some few types of LED lamps without Energy Star rating.
1. Initial costs.
For some people, buying LED lamps can break the bank. Even though the price has dropped, it’s still a burden for some people. However, you don’t have to worry about this high purchase price as it’s compensated by their energy efficiency in a short period of time.
2. Another problem of LED lamps is flickering.
This happens to those lamps without Energy Star rating. They are poorly designed hence with time, they begin to flicker, change their color, and eventually become dim. However, when you buy lamps with this rating, you will not experience these problems as the lamps are well designed to give a bright light for a long period of time.
3. You may need to hire an electrician to install them.
This is because they must be supplied with the right voltage and constant current. So if you thought you can just hang them in your office, think again.
4. They are known to shift color when exposed to high temperatures or when they age.
The perception of light can also be altered especially when you are using two different types of LED lamps.
5. Another problem is installing the fixtures. Again, you may not have the skills to do this hence require an electrician. The fixtures should be correctly placed to manage heat generated by the lamps. If not well managed, the heat can destroy the lamps because of overheating.
6. Some LED lamps may be hazardous. If you thought you’re completely safe by opting for LED lamps, you may not be lucky. Some LED lamps contain some toxic metals like nickel, arsenic, and lead.
7. Blue wavelength. LED lamps emit blue wavelengths. While this light may not harm any person at daytime, it can be disruptive at night. It is believed that it can damage the eye retina.
8. The weight of the heat sink may make LED lamps heavier than some other types of light sources.
Conclusion
It is true that LED lamps are very beneficial in our daily lives. They are eco-friendly as they don’t have some metals like mercury and can be recycled. Also, LED lamps are durable owing to the strong materials they are made of. They can last longer than other types of lamps while saving you on energy bills. Additionally, they can give you a warning signal when their lifespan expires by reducing their brightness. Other lighting lamps will suddenly burn out when they expire and this can happen when aren’t prepared to replace them. However, LED lamps have their limitations. It can be expensive to buy and install them and their blue wavelengths may hurt your eyes. Now, you know the pros and cons of LED lighting. The above pros and cons will help you choose your preferred type of lighting, all depending on your specific needs.
