Are LED Lights Better Than Normal Lights?
From 2023, all light bulbs sold in Singapore are likely to be as energy efficient as a light emitting diode (LED) bulb. The move is part of the Republic’s efforts to go green. The National Environment Agency (NEA) said it is making the first step towards this target to phase out those with low energy efficiency, such as tungsten halogen lamps, which is one of the least energy efficient lamps sold in Singapore. Why is Singapore government promoting LED lights? Is it really better than regular lights?
Types of Lights
First of all, we need to know that in general, there are three types of lights available in the market, which are: –
1. Incandescent bulbs
Incandescent light bulb or lamp is a source of electric light that works by incandescence, which is the emission of light caused by heating the filament. They are made in an extremely wide range of sizes, wattages, and voltages. The vacuum prevents oxidation, which would essentially mean the filament would burn up very quickly.
It is a simple technology but fragile, with a short lifespan. It is also far more inefficient than either of the other options, much of the energy is wasted as heat. The heat also causes its own problems as it can burn anything that comes too close.
2. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL)
CFL were the first generation of energy-saving light bulbs. They use the technology of the fluorescent tubes that companies commonly use to light offices, stores and factories. The tubes are folded to make them compact enough to be direct replacements for incandescent bulbs, although some versions require special fittings. This type of light bulb can last longer and use far less energy than incandescent light bulbs for the same level of light intensity.
3: LEDs
LED stands for light emitting diode. LED lighting products produce light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent light bulbs. When an electrical current passes through a microchip, it illuminates the tiny light sources (visible light) which we call LED light.
Pros and Cons Of LED Lightings
In this era, LEDs are transforming every aspect of artificial lighting. You will now find them everywhere, from home, to store, to cars, to sports stadiums. They are sweeping the market. It definitely happens for some reasons. Below we will list out the benefits of LED which explain why LED light is better than normal light.
Cons:
1. Higher Initial Cost
There is only one major disadvantage of LED lighting, which is the purchase cost. An LED light bulb costs something like 14 times as much as it does to purchase an incandescent light bulb, and nearly four times as much as a CFL. However, many LEDs have an expected life of 50,000 hours. This is about 50 times longer than the life of an incandescent bulb and perhaps 10 times longer than a CFL. Don’t forget we are in the early stages of this lighting revolution. The price of LEDs is foreseen to continue dropping as the take up of this new technology increases.
Pros:
1.Energy Saving
LEDs generally consume very low amounts of power. Most LED lighting retrofit projects result in a 60-75% improvement in the overall energy efficiency of the facility’s lighting. Depending on the existing lights and the particular LEDs installed, the savings could be more than 90%. They are considerably cheaper to run per hour because of their energy efficiency.
2. Easier Maintenance
Easily the most significant advantage of LEDs when compared to traditional lighting solutions is the long lifespan. The average LED lasts 50,000 operating hours to 100,000 operating hours or more. That is 2-4 times as long as most fluorescent, metal halide, and even sodium vapor lights. This is because LEDs have no working parts that will burn out or break over time. With this, we can avoid unnecessary replacement work, which means less hasssles for owners. Less frequent replacement also means lower maintenance costs in terms of labor charges and cost for part replacement.
3. Improved Safety
Safety is perhaps the most often overlooked advantage when it comes to LED lighting. LEDs emit almost no forward heat while traditional bulbs like incandescents convert more than 90% of the total energy used to power them directly into heat. Therefore, LEDs are much cooler than incandescent lights, reducing the risk of combustion or burnt fingers. Not only that, LEDs are made with epoxy lenses, not glass, and are much more resistant to breakage. Additionally, because LEDs consume less power they can operate effectively on low-voltage electrical systems, which means it is generally much safer in the event if something goes wrong.
4. Instantaneous Turn On
LEDs turn on and off instantaneously. There is no warm-up period like in the traditional lights as it does not need heating time. Additionally, frequent switching doesn’t cause degradation in the device as well.
5. Environmental Friendly
LED lights contain no toxic elements. Most offices currently use fluorescent strip lights which contain noxious chemicals such as mercury. This will contaminate the environment when disposed of in landfill waste. Besides,
Besides, LEDs are “directional” light sources, which means they emit light in a specific direction, unlike incandescent and CFL, which emit light and heat in all directions and often illuminating areas where light isn’t required (such as the ceiling). This means that fewer LED lights are needed to achieve the same level of brightness given off by fluorescents and incandescent lights. Fewer lights will reduce energy consumption and will therefore be a benefit to the environment.
Obviously, the pros of LED are compelling and outweigh the single con. In short, with LED lights, Singapore residents are able to benefit from greater durability, better light quality and lower energy consumption, which results in cost savings for families in Singapore in the long run.
If you would like to replace your HDB traditional lightings to LEDs, check out our price on LED ceiling lights. And if you still have questions, give Winway Home Services a call at +65 9734 1593. We’re happy to help!