Why LED Lighting Is Here to StayEUGENE CHRINIAN

Why LED Lighting Is Here to Stay

LED lighting, known for its energy efficiency, is poised to significantly reduce energy usage across the United States. As the prices for LED bulbs have dropped and production methods have improved, LED lighting has become one of the top trends in home design.

Advocates for energy savings are pushing LED lighting across the board. According to a 2014 report issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), projections show that the continued adoption of LED lighting could reduce the consumption of lighting energy by 40 percent in 2030 alone, which translates into a savings of about $26 billion at current energy prices. The DOE envisions a “huge opportunity” for more savings as LED use increases. The report states that the DOE is “committed to helping our country realize this potential.”

Architects and designers have responded to improvements in LED lighting, making it one of the top lighting trends in 2017. Here’s more about LED lighting and how to incorporate it into your home:

What is LED (light-emitting diode) lighting?

LED lighting is different from incandescent and CFL lighting, which have been staples of indoor lighting for years. LED produces light more efficiently by passing an electrical current through semiconductor material. Any heat produced from the process is absorbed by a heat sink.

LED is available in a number of colors—including green, red, and blue—and it can be found everywhere from traffic signal lights to a computer’s power button. To create the white or yellow light that is common in home decor, colored LED is combined with a phosphor material that changes the light’s color. This allows it to be installed in bulbs and other lighting fixtures that are often found in homes. Well-designed LED lighting can outlast traditional lighting, as it is often more durable and versatile.

LED lights are more efficient because they emit light in a focused direction. Traditional light bulbs emit heat and light in all directions. While this can be problematic if the lighting doesn’t naturally mimic traditional bulbs, improved engineering has created LED bulbs that emit light around.

Jump on the trend

While LED prices have dropped, they are still more expensive that traditional bulbs. LED bulbs can cost between $6 and $10 per 75-watt equivalent bulb, while an incandescent bulb can cost as little as $1. However, the investment is worth it. LED bulbs can last 25 times longer than traditional bulbs and can be as much as seven times more efficient, according to the DOE.

Many are already embracing LED lighting, as new designs incorporate the bulbs in all aspects of home lighting. The DOE estimates that LED lighting will comprise 75 percent of all lighting sales by 2030, so why not embrace LED lighting now? Following are a few ways that you can use LED lighting:

Light up dark recesses

One of the main ways that designers are incorporating LED lighting is in recesses in kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices. LED light strips have become especially popular, as they are easy to fit over and under cabinets and shelves and can provide easy-to-install lighting for otherwise dark spaces.

Homeowners are also finding new ways to use LED strips in places that previously could only be lit with a flashlight. Amazon.com is seeing a surge in the sales of motion-sensitive, under-the-bed LED strips, which come on when someone gets in or out of a bed. The lighting is soft, which allows one to navigate through the room safely without waking anyone else who is in the bed.

Light up furniture

White Christmas lights can create a soothing ambiance, which is why some homeowners leave them up year-round. A similar atmosphere can be achieved with LED strip lights, which can often be hidden under counters, frames, and other furniture and architectural features.

For example, you can recreate the look of old Hollywood starlets’ lit mirrors by running an LED strip between a bathroom mirror and its frame. If you like to entertain, you can attach LED strips under your couch and chairs to give your living room the look of a high-end Las Vegas club. A motion sensor attached to LED strips can illuminate the back of refrigerator shelves and reduce the chance that overlooked food will go bad.

Light up the outdoors

LED lights are ideal for outdoor settings because they are efficient and last a long time. They make excellent spotlights and accents, and they can be used to light walls and walkways. LED lights can be installed in sconces and lanterns for safety or in the ceilings of porches or patios. Daytime sports can be played into the night with LED lighting on outdoor basketball or badminton courts, as well as spotlights illuminating yard games such as horseshoes, bocce, or cornhole. Placing LED lights along driveways, walkways, and steps will ensure that your guests leave and depart safely.