There has been a recent upsurge and campaign of sorts on the benefits of LED lighting over the other forms of lighting, particularly the compact fluorescent (CFL) and incandescent lightings. The last such campaign was when CFLs were being introduced as a better alternative to incandescent tungsten lamps. CFLs reigned for a long time but now it seems their time is up with the introduction of LED tube lighting.
LED Tube Lights: Design
The design and operation of LED tube lights is drastically different from that of the fluorescent tube. These features are responsible for the better performance of the LED tube when compared with the fluorescent tube. The basic design of a LED tube essentially consists of four different parts: the circuit board, power source, heat sink and a shell. Unlike the fluorescent tube, a LED tube is not fitted with a starter or ballast and it contains no gas. LED tubes are semiconductors and are referred to as solid state lighting.
Lower Electricity Consumption
This is a major advantage that LED tube lighting has over the fluorescent tube lighting. As stated earlier, the fluorescent tube was introduced (in 1938) to replace the incandescent tungsten lamp (introduced in 1905) due to better energy utilization. The incandescent lamp consumes a lot of electricity by virtue of its design and this was improved in the fluorescent tube. However, the LED tube is infinitely better than both fluorescent and incandescent lighting in terms of energy consumption making it more cost effective.
Environmental Friendliness
LED tube lighting is also better than fluorescent tube lighting, neon lighting and other similar lighting that usually require the use of toxic substances like mercury. The operation of the fluorescent tube for example requires mercury to seal the two metal connectors or electrodes in the tube. As such, the tubes constitute an environmental nuisance especially when they are improperly disposed of. In fact about 10 states in the US have laws specifically prohibiting the disposal of CFLs with solid waste. This problem however does not exist with LED tubes.
Better Efficiency
LED tubes are infinitely more efficient than either the incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. This is due to a number of reasons including: better energy utility, better illumination, lower risk of health hazards (fluorescent tubes are commonly associated with safety issues), longer life span and lower overall cost. All these attributes are responsible for the upsurge in the demand for LED tube lighting over both incandescent and fluorescent lighting. Furthermore, LED tubes do not produce a lot of heat thereby providing cooler and brightly lit areas.
Considerations with LED Tube Lighting
The biggest challenge for manufacturers is the issue of ventilation but this has been largely combated. Also, it may seem that the initial cost of LED tubes is high but the overall cost in terms of lifespan, efficiency and maintenance is lower than both CFLs and incandescent bulbs. Despite these points however, lighting with LED tubes is gradually replacing the other forms of lighting—a testimony to their worth.
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