Among the top five questions that people often ask is How do LED lights work? LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights, unlike standard light bulbs do not have a filament. Rather, they work by an electrical current that flows to a semi-conducting device; the result of this electrical current is light. The way this process works is that electricity causes electrons in the diode to rapidly move, then, as they are passed from one material to the other, they release heat and photons, or light rays. The direct result of this change in the way light is created is a rather significant decrease in the amount of energy that is spent on lighting LED bulbs since heat is not integral to the process.
Energy Hogging Light Bulbs
In contrast to LED lights and other energy efficient bulbs, incandescent bulbs require the highest amount of energy in order to operate. This is because they contain a filament which must be heated up to create light. Not only does the actual process involved with lighting incandescent bulbs consume higher amounts of energy, but the extra heat that is produced in the room the lights are used in can cause the temperature to rise. As a result, cooling systems need to work twice as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature, thereby consuming more energy.
Other Energy Conserving Light Bulbs
CFL light bulbs, which are a form of fluorescent lighting, have become quite popular in American households because of the energy saving benefits they offer. However, there has been a lot of talk about the mercury they contain. This could pose a public health risk due to the improper disposal of these light bulbs. As a result many people have switched from CFL bulbs to LED bulbs, not only because they save even more energy, but because they do not contain mercury.
Energy Savings from LED Lights
LED Lights save energy because they do not require as much power to function. They also remain cool so there is no extra heat produced in the process of lighting them. In addition, LED light bulbs last a lot longer than other bulbs, in fact, up to 100,000 hours of continuous use, which is about 10 years. This decreases the amount of light bulbs that end up in land fills, making them a very good choice in terms of the environment and waste reduction. LED lights use about 80% less electricity, or battery power in battery operated devices, than any other form of artificial light.
Because so many consumers have questioned how LED lights work, many manufacturers of other types of lights are trying to get in on the action. It is the recent popularity LED lights have gained that is prompting many manufacturers to create different products that utilize LED light technology. In addition, CFL light bulbs can now be seen with mini LED night lights included in them. The labels on these CFL bulbs include LED night light in bold letters on the packaging, which can cause a consumer to mistake the light bulb for an LED bulb. For this reason consumers should pay special attention to reading the entire label when purchasing LED lights.
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