LED Lighting - the future is now

I'm sure by now everyone has heard of L.E.D. lighting as it's quickly becoming an increasingly available and popular alternative to the standard "incandescent" light bulbs of the past 100+ years.  We're seeing a lot of different types pop up and now we're even being required and/or rewarded to use them in building projects.

Without being over-technical, some of the basics of L.E.D. lighting are as such.  LED stands for "light-emitting diode" and the way it works , in the simplest of terms' is that electrical current is passed through a semiconductor die (like a filament) where it is converted to luminescence, and thus... "let there be light".  In order to be effective for space lighting, a lot of tiny LEDs need to be grouped together in one fixture to provide adequate lighting output since they're relatively weak on their own, and have thus been manufactured as such.  Although they have been used for about 50 years for lighting signage, electronic indicators, etc, they have been developed more recently to fit into our screw-in type household lighting fixtures.

The biggest advantages to LEDs over incandescent are obviously related to lifespan and energy consumption.   They can last 25-50 times longer than an incandescent and use far less energy, both of which can be realized monetarily in replacement costs and energy bills.  We're probably more familiar with the CFLs (or compact fluorescent - the "curly", helical bulbs) that have been promoted as a similarly efficient alternate to incandescent, but LED even holds a few advantages over them.  First, CFLs take a few minutes to "heat up" and achieve full brightness after being first switched on after a short period of time.  LEDs have the ability to heat up instantly and provide 100% luminescence immediately.  Also, CFLs have been known to have their internal ballasts overheat and even catch fire in rare cases, mostly from misuse, but a safety concern nonetheless.  LEDs do also produce heat due to electrical resistance, but the better quality products are equipped with a built-in heat-sink to absorb the heat and shut down the device before it becomes a danger, making them safer.  Further, CFLs can last longer than incandescent, but still pale in comparison to the longevity of LEDs.  LEDs are also available in varying color temperatures, which basically help eliminate that cold "blue" or "white" tone and can provide a warmer "yellow" light, if so desired.

If you weren't already convinced, there are 2 more credible reasons to choose LED bulbs.  One is that there are incentive programs offered for purchasing this lighting type - either by the local power utility (ComEd in Metro Chicago), the state, or sometimes even on a federal tax level.  These can be researched further at www.energystar.gov or other deeper internet research.  Also, the current building codes are written to require that 75% of light fixtures in any residential construction project be of a "high-efficacy" type, which LEDs would satisfy.  This is a state of Illinois mandate, known currently and adopted as the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code, so applies all across the state and is checked heavily by local municipal enforcement authorities.

One minor drawback to LEDs is their initial cost, which can seem quite high.  But when considering the lack of replacement cost with other types (one bulb can last longer than a standard 30-year home mortgage, depending on usage), it is a worthy investment - especially for recessed lighting and other areas where changing a bulb is a hassle (e.g. over a staircase), and considering any reimbursements as well.  They can be purchased at your typical hardware store or discount department stores, but I have found a good resource for quality products from a local wholesaler at www.goledbulbs.com, run by a local electrician.  Feel free to contact cj architects for further info!

"Its obvious that we don't know one millionth of one percent about anything"
~Thomas Alva Edison