DID YOU KNOW? Light Emitting Diode (LED) Technology has been around since 1927 when Russian scientist Oleg Losev created the first LED – although the phenomenon of Electroluminescence was discovered by H.J. Round of Marconi Labs in 1907. Sadly Losev’s discovery was logged as insignificant and ignored or used for menial devices for decades.

Because of this LED Lighting technology has become something of an urban legend: a fairy goddess who provides a guiding light to the select masses, but who will disappear suddenly or set fire to your homes. LED Lighting is approached with curiosity and a lot of apprehension.

Because of this we at MC Home Depot would like to take a stab at some of the prevailing myths about LEDs.

MYTH: LED Lights are NOT Efficient

FACT: LEDs are up to 85% more efficient and fluorescent and incandescent light because 95% of the energy entered into a LED light is transformed into light. So not only do they require less electricity to generate light, they are also cooler than most traditional lights because only 5% of the electricity entered into an LED light is transformed int

o heat. A single 8-watt LED Bulb can generate the same amount of light as a 15-watt fluorescent bulb or a 100-watt incandescent light.

 

LED Lights can be as bright as you want

 MYTH: LED Lights are NOT Bright

FACT: An 8-watt LED Bulb can generate around 1,600 Lumens – the same amount that a 100-watt inc andescent light bulb will generate. This is one of the most common myths about LED Lights because Traditional lights are measured or marketed by the amount of power that goes into them, instead of in Lumens – which is the unit of measurement for brightness. People have grown accustomed to the idea that the more watts a light needs, the brighter the light it will generate – and in the past this was true. So today, you actually need less power to generate a comfortable level of brightness.

MYTH: LED Lights have hazardous chemicals inside

FACT: Today’s LED Lights are made of semiconductors. Whatever phosphors they may have are inside the semiconductor material and cannot leak into the environment. Traditional Lights though are notorious for containing mercury and other inate gasses in a pressurized (explosive) environment.  When destroyed or thrown away, these chemicals from traditional lighting leak into and poison the environment. LED Lights are greener because they last longer and are easier to dispose of.

MYTH: LED Lights last forever

FACT: Sadly this is not true. A well made LED light will last 50,000 hours (7 whole years). While the “bulb”itself will not die out, unfortunately LEDs are run by circuits and semiconductors that will erode with time. Eventually these will burn out or cause the LED lights to dim. But look at the bright side! 7 years have to go by before you need to buy a new LED light.

LED Lights come in all shapes and sizes

MYTH: LED Lights are Expensive

FACT: While LED Lights are indeed initially more expensive than your Traditional Lights, note as discussed above that:

  • You won’t have to replace one for seven whole years
  • You require less power to get the same (or more) lumens – so what? An average of 15% of your electric bill is due to lighting.
  • There is less strain on the environment due to reduced electricity generation requirements and because disposing of LEDs is not as dangerous as the disposal of Traditional Lights.

If you’re still on the fence about LED Lighting, why not come on over to MC Home Depot and give them a try? From October 16, 2018 to October 31, 2018, you take advantage of our special sale on Lights and Electrical paraphernalia in any MC Home Depot Outlet!

Check out some of the LED and Traditional Lighting options from Landlite by clicking here. 

MC Home Depot Lights & Electrical Sale