LED Bulbs technology has made its way based on efficiency and design. Its characteristics place it above the rest of the lighting systems and that is why these bulbs are beginning to populate our homes.
Of all the types of bulbs that exist, LED bulbs are the ones that stand out above the rest.
They use up to 80% less electricity than incandescent bulbs, do not emit heat, and do not include polluting components.
With today’s technology, the LED revolution is unstoppable and is already steadily transforming lighting in homes, businesses, public roads, household appliances, and even greenhouses.
“LED bulbs are recyclable and, unlike fluorescent bulbs, contain no mercury or other pollutants.”
How long does an LED bulb last?
Traditional incandescent bulbs are a thing of the past (their manufacture is banned in the European Union). They typically lasted around 1,000 hours before they burned out.
Halogen bulbs, which were a breakthrough, can last up to 3,000 hours.
Energy-saving light bulbs broke the mold by exceeding 15,000 hours of service life.
Then came LED technology, with bulbs lasting approximately 50,000 hours. That’s the equivalent of having them on for 5 years without interruption.
How do LED bulbs work?
LED technology is based on the diode. In fact, its acronym stands for Light Emitting Diode.
The diode is a two-pronged electronic component that allows energy to flow through it in one direction only. Being a semiconductor, it allows electrons to pass through and creates electromagnetic radiation in the form of light.
And as this component can vary its intensity, LEDs are capable of generating an almost infinite combination of colors.
Origin of LED bulbs
In 1927, Russian Oleg Losev began experimenting with this technology. But his discovery went unnoticed for decades until it was recognized at the end of the 20th century.
The first LED with emission in the visible spectrum was developed in 1962 by the General Electric Company. Its system changed the lighting paradigm and improved until the Japanese Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano and the American Shuji Nakamura developed the light bulb we know today.
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As a result of their research, Nakamura, Akasaki, and Amano were awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics.
“The development of LED lighting earned its inventors the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics.”
The future is LED
LED technology is already being implemented in homes, businesses, stores, public roads… Its high energy efficiency is noticeable in any bill and its wide range of colors and shapes contributes to the decorative part.
With LEDs, any space can be totally renovated, offering original lighting effects. And a large part of this responsibility lies with LED strips, capable of illuminating almost any area, however, hidden it may be: stairs, furniture, shop windows, plants, or shelves.
Another sector that has not escaped the LED revolution is a government in general and festive lighting in particular (Christmas, local celebrations, etc.).
LED technology is not only applied in lighting. LEDs have swallowed up the liquid crystal displays (LCR) that for years monopolized calculators, digital clocks, televisions.
LEDs have also gradually replaced fluorescent lamps in LCD screens. Thanks to this, the consumption and size of the devices have been reduced, increasing their resolution and illumination.
More efficient LED greenhouses
Another sector in which LED technology has been introduced with force due to its high efficiency is the germination and flowering of plants. They achieve this thanks to their different wavelengths.
What does this mean? That they are able to regulate the color of light by making plants absorb deeply the parts of the spectrum they need most. For example, blue and red colors are beneficial for producing photosynthesis. While more concentrated levels of green light promote growth.
“LED bulbs mimic sunlight and help plants photosynthesize, which is why they are being implemented throughout greenhouses.”
In addition, LED bulbs can mimic sunlight. However, their imitation is not total because they emit less heat than normal bulbs, which justifies their energy savings so that plants are not exposed to excessive temperatures during their development.
All this, together with their greater longevity and lower energy costs, is leading greenhouse growers to switch to LED lighting without hesitation.
