Uses and Benefits
Light-emitting diodes – commonly referred to as LEDs – have come a long way from the early days in the 1960s when they emitted a low-intensity red light and were only used to form seven-segment displays in electronic equipment. Advances in LED technology soon led to greater light output, faster switching, improved robustness and reliability. Now LED lighting is used for a diverse array of applications and has become a popular choice for domestic, commercial and industrial properties.
Modern LED lights can provide a high power white light or a range of colours for design effects without the need for colour filters. They emit more light per watt than incandescent light bulbs but can be very small, offering a huge choice of installation placing. They light up very quickly and unlike fluorescent tubes, are not adversely affected when frequently switched on and off.
Though still relatively expensive to install initially compared to conventional lighting technologies, this cost is coming down all the time and it is more than offset by the much longer life of LED lights – up to five times that of fluorescent tubes and 50 times that of incandescent bulbs.
With today’s emphasis on sustainable architecture, the big advantage of LEDs is their lower energy consumption and high efficiency. The lighting contribution to a building’s carbon footprint can be reduced by as much as 85% by swapping all incandescent bulbs for new LEDs.
Where to buy led lighting
- Environmental Street Furniture - Valley Business Centre, 67 Church Road, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, BT36 7LS, 0845 606 6095
- Apollo Lighting Ltd - Unit D9 Cross Green Approach, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 0SG, 0113 2405511
- Tryka L.E.D. Ltd - Unit 3 Station Works, Shepreth, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 6PZ, 01763 260 666
- Anglia Lighting - Sandall Road, Wishbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2PS, 01945 47 47 47
- Ringtail - Unit 470,Ranglet Road, Walton Summit, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 8AR, 01772 336335
- AB Audio Visual Ltd - AB Audio Visual Ltd, 10a Westmead Avenue, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2SL, 01945 476973
- Starlite - Stafford Park 12, Telford, Shropshire, TF3 3BJ, 01952 292441
- The Lighting Company - Unit 9, Vennland Business Park, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5DX, 01643 707 505
- InterLED Lighting Ltd - Brindley Close, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 6EN, 01933 418499
- Optime Lighting Ltd - Optime House, 14 Wallace Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 0SE, 01462 441 920
- DFx Technology - Unit 8B, Witan Park, Avenue Two, Station Lane, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 4FH, 01993 705151
- Azad Electricals - 106 Plashet Road, London, Greater London, E13 0QS, 020 8552 1476