| Light Emitting Diode or LED lighting has been in | | | | light for reading or spotlighting in the home. Its |
| existence for many years, mainly in niche applications | | | | powerful light output also makes it great for outdoor |
| like small trinkets and indicator lighting. However, due | | | | floodlighting and path illumination. These bulbs are now |
| to LED lighting being highly energy efficient, not to | | | | available that can replace most halogen or fluorescent |
| mention technologically superior over other light | | | | light bulbs used in the home. |
| sources such as incandescent and fluorescent lighting, | | | | Although LED lighting may not be useful for all home |
| it is forecasted to reach beyond electronic | | | | lighting needs, replacing a few bulbs would have a |
| applications into commercial and home lighting as well. | | | | noticeable affect in the amount of electricity used. |
| In a recent report by Global Industry Analysts it is | | | | LEDs are already used in signs and videos in many |
| predicted that the market for fluorescent and LED | | | | indoor and outdoor sporting events and concerts. |
| lighting could climb to $97 billion by 2010. The spike in | | | | LED video displays and signs are often preferred |
| growth would be mainly from construction and | | | | because of their higher brightness, which is critical |
| industrial development industries. | | | | when people are viewing a sign or video from a long |
| As more individuals become aware of the energy | | | | distance. Added advantages of these video displays |
| efficiency of LEDs, the price of such items as LED | | | | are their capacity to incorporate curves and 3-D |
| bulbs will decrease in price. Currently, the price of one | | | | design. This makes LED displays technologically |
| LED bulb is substantially higher than the price of | | | | superior to currently available large screen displays. |
| incandescent or fluorescent lighting. However, the | | | | Research and developers in the consumer electronics |
| initial price for the bulbs would more than pay for | | | | space are eager to take advantage of this |
| itself in the long run. On average, one incandescent | | | | overwhelmingly useful technology in future products. |
| 60-watt bulb lasts 1,000 hours whereas one 2-watt | | | | Other uses for LED lighting include flashlights and key |
| LED light bulb lasts 60,000 hours. Therefore, one | | | | chains, automobile taillights and interior lights, and |
| would need to purchase 60 incandescent bulbs for | | | | LED-based projection televisions. LED lighting is also |
| every one LED light bulb. | | | | being used in the military for LED flashlights that |
| Home LED lighting is a cut above the rest when it | | | | work with night-vision goggles, UV-LED canteen |
| comes to energy efficiency. As compared to | | | | water treatment devices and the sterilization of |
| incandescent lighting, LEDs wins hands down where | | | | surgical equipment. |
| energy consumption is concerned. For every 60,000 | | | | With LED lighting being more energy efficient and |
| hours of usage, incandescent lighting uses | | | | technologically superior to many other light sources, |
| approximately 3,600 kWh of electricity where LED | | | | numerous applications are sure to evolve. Future |
| lights use 120 kWh. Bottom line: energy efficiency | | | | generations can expect to consider LED lighting as |
| equals a significant cost savings. LEDs gives off | | | | the standard light source for most lighting applications. |
| directional light. Therefore, it is useful as a source of | | | | |