| The Increasing Quality and Economy of LEDs |
| Written by Heather McKee | |
| Tuesday, 15 January 2008 | |
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LED bulbs are longer-lived and consume less energy than compact fluorescents, and they do not contain mercury. So why aren’t we using them already? There are two main complaints with LEDs: They are way too expensive, and they have an impractical spotlight type quality. But the University of Glasgow has a new process that they believe addresses both of these complaints. Researchers have developed a more efficient (and thereby more economical) nano-imprint lithography process to pit the surface of the LED bulb with microscopic holes. These holes allow more light to escape from the bulb – for the same amount of energy. The light will also be more diffuse and less spotlight-like. Before anyone sniffs at the triviality of light bulb research, it should be reported that the Department of Energy estimates that 22% of electricity generated in the United States is used for lighting. Via U of Glasgow and Metaefficient Comments
(8)
Too Dim
written by EV , January 15, 2008
We have a couple of places we would be willing to pay a small premium for, to put an LED light in over a fluorescent. Unfortunately, the LEDs are about half as bright as they need to be. The lights for the outside of our house are 60w equivalents, yet we only find 25-30w equivalents. The fluorescents take so long to warm up to full brightness in winter we are considering going back to incandescents for them.
...
written by RhapsodyInGlue , January 17, 2008
Stating that LEDs consume less energy than fluorescents is rather misleading. I'd be happy if you could prove me wrong, but I've done extensive searching for LEDs to replace standard bulbs and haven't found any that provide more lumens per watt than CFL. I'd read some press releases about advances that may change that fact a year or two down the road, but we should be careful not to oversell the technology that is actually what consumers would be able to purchase.
thank goodness
written by kd , January 21, 2008
i'm really not liking the lighting that we get from all our new, efficient, expensive lightbulbs. they are indeed very spotlight like. i'm still a halogen fan. where do they lie on the efficiency spectrum ?? Low i bet considering you can probably heat a tent in winter with the heat they throw...
great news - i'm not liking this first new solution. but i guess i'm stuck with them for 10 years since they are so efficient. being green is stressful & takes sacrifice ;) great blog! kd (a fellow nerdfighter - of course!) dftba :) oh, and is there anything green we can do with ikea sized bag of old light bulbs that i have jammed in a basement corner right now?
led street lights
written by sampath , January 26, 2008
our company doing energy conservation project on esco basis.we need energy saving fittings and led street lighting.waiting your reply.
thanking you p.sampath website: www.epicenergy.biz (EPIC ENERGY LIMITED,INDIA)
for Australia readers
written by Raymond , January 26, 2008
http://www.longlifelighting.com.au will be stocking this range as soon as it is available. Samples being manufactured at the moment.
Let Eco Be
written by Djarada , January 27, 2008
This last Winterval, I bought two fairy light strings on step down adapters.
They where expensive, but extremly bright in the blue spectrum,so far my 17yr old daughter pefers the light they give off and as we use fairy lights to light several corners of our appartment I´m interested as to how long the LED´s will last. All the new traffic lights here in Berlin Germany, are LED`s and as I can´t stand the fact that street lights burn all night for no particular good reason, I would be very pleased to see them in use there. As to rob, LEDs are great for rear cycle lamps thoughSo why don´t you use LED fairy lights as with them the light is dispersed over a wider area of your choice and not all concentrated in the one dispenser.I´ve tried to cycle though a park with LED´s, it´s crap.The fluorescents take so long to warm up to full brightness in winter we are considering going back to incandescents for them. Infact when the situation desires it this would be a better solution in future, or?
Still rather new...
written by Kyllein , January 27, 2008
LED's are still rather new as area lighting. One commentor pointed out that a led flashlight still isn't all that good to see with.
That's because most led's come in what it essentially a spotlight format lens structure. Redoing the front lens into a Fresnell composite (on a lathe with a tiny cutter) made them into floodlights very easily. As to why they are so hard to see by, white led's are actually blue with a hint of yellow in them. Not full spectrum by any standard. LED's are point-source lights; ie: dots of very bright light. We are used to diffuse light for general lighting. There are two ways of doing this: 1, re-shape the lens-front of the led capsule. Remember, they're still primarily made as indicator lights. 2, Use a reflector to diffuse the light. I have a pair of led lanterns that do the latter, and they are quite good at general illumination. There are also newer "warm white" led's that more mimic incandescent light. What's needed is going to be reshaped lenses and reflectorized lamps. Then they should start living up to their promises. | |
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Compact fluorescents are the poster children for the energy efficiency movement. But in a not-so-far-away future, LEDs may give them a run for their money. We recently wrote about this in a 
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I have a LED torch and while it's very bright and the batteries last for ages, it's next to useless for finding things in the loft, or shed.
I don't know quite why this should be, but despite brightly illuminating an area, it's very hard to see with. Several friends have also mentioned this drawback with LED torches.
LEDs are great for rear cycle lamps though.