Traditional bulbs generate light by creating heat while LED light bulbs produce light by the passage of currents through a semiconductor material. They are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.
Like everything in society, LED lighting also has its drawbacks. Read on to find out the pros and cons of LED lighting.
Advantages of LED Lighting:
1. Long Life Span
LED bulbs have an exceptionally long lifespan compared to traditional bulbs with an average lifespan of about 50,000 hours. When broken down into days, a good quality LED bulb could stay lit for about 2,083 days straight which is almost 6 years.
For businesses that operate an 8–10 hour day, you’ll only need to change your light bulbs every 14-17 years. On the other hand, incandescent bulbs only last 1,500 hours at best. LEDs also perform better than fluorescent or CFL bulbs which typically last from 6,000 to 15,000 hours. When it comes to long life, there’s no better lighting solution out there currently.
2. Energy Efficient
Modern LEDs are the most energy-efficient lighting solution for businesses currently on the market. Waste in the form of generated heat is greatly reduced as 90% of electricity can be transformed into light. This means that less energy is needed to light an LED bulb, thus lowering monthly energy bills for your business.
In contrast, incandescent light bulbs only have the ability to use 10-15% of the power efficiently while the rest is wasted as heat.
3. Durable & Resistant
LEDs are far more resistant to breakage and other physical trauma as they’re based solely on semiconductor materials. The outer layer of bulbs is made from aluminum and plastic, which makes them very durable and resistant. They don't contain any glass, neon tubes, or filaments that could be easily damaged.
The sturdiness and resistance of these bulbs mean less money is spent on replacing broken or damaged lights.
4. Safe for Employees
In the 21st century, the safety of employees in the workplace is significant to the running of your business.
Firstly, LED light bulbs aren’t as hot as traditional bulbs due to low heat production (3.59 kJ/h or 3.4 Btu/h). Employees can rest assured that there’s no risk of getting burned as these bulbs can be safely touched even after long hours of remaining lit.
Secondly, LEDs don’t contain harmful contaminants which makes them less toxic than other commercial lighting solutions. Fluorescent lights, on the other hand, may contain mercury and PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) which can cause long-term side effects if exposed.
5. Eco-Friendly
Another benefit of LED lighting is that it’s also very eco-friendly. As mentioned, there are no toxic materials present. Approximately 95% of materials used to produce this commercial LED light can also be recycled. Businesses can greatly lower their carbon footprint by switching to LED lighting today.
6. Save Money
After upgrading your business lighting technology, you’ll see a great reduction in monthly energy bills. Thousands of euros can be saved on electricity costs by making the switch to LED bulbs. Because bulbs can last up to 50,000 hours, money also doesn’t have to be spent on regular replacements.
7. Easily Controllable
LED lighting systems are easily controllable and implementable thanks to their digital nature. Managers and employees can control the colour and dimming capability of the light.
On a larger scale, the lights have the capacity to build massive lighting systems utilising thousands of diodes working in full synchronisation, as well as creating smart, remotely controlled lighting for a home office.
Disadvantages of LED Lighting:
As with most other technologies, LEDs have some, although few, drawbacks. Although technological advances have helped with the elimination of some of these, there are cons of LED lighting that still exist.
1. Compatibility
Most LED lights can be dimmed but some fixtures aren’t dimmer compatible. This most affects businesses such as restaurants and bars as these industries depend on this feature to set the mood and ambiance.
For LED lights to function correctly, they must be supplied with a constant flow of electricity at the correct voltage to ensure the bulbs don’t overheat or fail. A business’s current electronic drivers may therefore be incompatible, and the correct electronic drivers must be installed.
2. Mixed Quality
The market is often flooded with LED products due to their rise in popularity. Even within different batches of the same product, low-quality bulbs are still widely distributed. As the LED market is also still largely self-regulated, this contributes to the overall chaos. At this point, the only true solution to this problem is sticking to the products of renowned lighting manufacturers.
We've seen how LED lights are now the most cost-effective, long-lasting, and eco-friendly option for illuminating private and public business spaces. Their disadvantages are largely overshadowed by their advantages, which will soon fade away thanks to the constant development of technology.
If you’re interested to find out more about how LED lighting can benefit your office or business, don’t hesitate to contact us today!