We’re learning more every day about how home LED lighting is better for our pocketbooks and our health, not to mention the planet. But what about a man (or woman’s) best friend? Might our furry, feathered, scaled and gilled friends have an opinion about what type of lighting we use? Yes, as a matter of fact, they do.

It turns out that because animals are more sensitive than humans to certain frequencies of both light and sound, there are specific types of lighting that are not pet-friendly—mainly compact fluorescent bulbs.  According to a 2007 issue of Physics World Magazine, a “tunable ultrasound detector found the low energy bulbs emitting acoustic signals audible by dogs and especially cats.” Many online pet forums are filled with discussions about both dogs and cats having severe aversions to rooms in which CFLs are used. According to an article by WorldNetDaily, a pet owner reports, “My wife and I put a new fluorescent bulb in our ceiling light, and our 10-year-old dog literally jumped up off the floor and starting screaming…She was moaning and growling and barking and looking up at the ceiling.”

The hum emitted by CFLs is caused by their electronic ballasts, which heat the gas within the bulb and cause the phosphor coating on the bulb to emit light. Thankfully, because LEDs use solid-state lighting technology, they do not emit a hum, nor do they flicker, which can cause anxiety and eyestrain problems for both humans and animals.

So if you want to make sure that your house is filled with happy creatures big, small and furry, LED lighting in your home is the way to go. Make the switch, and pretty soon everyone will be smiling as big as this guy.

Thanks to Path With Paws and KECute for the images.

A dedicated reader of this blog might remember a piece about LED TVs, published a few months ago. If not, check it out here. LED TVs were creating a bit of a controversy at the time; consumers were wondering if TVs that used LED lights to project the image (as opposed to the conventional method of using fluorescent tubes) were really worth all the hype. And as I pointed out in said blog, LED TVs are, in fact, worth it. Not only do they allow for much thinner screens, but they also create blacker blacks and sharper color contrast on screen. Top it off with the fact that LED TVs are also more energy-efficient and therefore, a more responsible way to be entertained, and the question becomes, “why not watch LED TV?’

Now, as it turns out, LED TVs have taken it up another notch, thanks to “nano lighting” technology. With nano lighting, the LED panel is covered with nano-sized dots that help to evenly disperse light, the result of which is a clearer overall image. Nano lighting can also enhance the local dimming technology current LED TVs use to create deep blacks and color contrast, thereby improving general accuracy of color and light display. You can learn more about LED TVs and nano lighting from LG, who just made the first HDTV to feature this new technology.

LED TVs are just another example of how LED lighting is continuing to improve our experiences by creating better, more efficient products, whether it’s hidden behind a TV screen or a lamp shade.

Thanks to Electronista for the image.

Perhaps because we’ve all grown so accustomed to conventional lighting fixtures, we don’t often stop to think about the repercussions of using those fixtures, or how things could improve if we tried something different. But when it comes to our children and especially their safety, finding the best and safest option for practically everything in our home becomes a necessity. Well it turns out that both of the most common forms of traditional lighting—incandescent and fluorescent bulbs—present several safety risks to young children.  LEDs on the other hand, especially because they use a 12V power source, are much safer.

First of all, traditional fluorescent, incandescent and halogen bulbs typically run on a 120v or 240v power supply, and most LEDs use 12V. Simply put, 12v LEDs provide a lot less electricity for a child to come in contact with, and are clearly the safer choice, especially in low-to-the-ground installations like stairway lighting and under cabinet designs.

And what about heat? Halogen bulbs are typically found in track lighting and under cabinet lighting applications, both of which are in locations that are easily accessed by children. Halogen bulbs can reach dangerously high temperatures (in the 200F range). LED lights, however, stay relatively cool (around room temperature) and so don’t pose a burn threat even when left on for long periods of time.

Finally, there’s the mercury issue. The toxic substance mercury is found in every other type of lighting fixture besides LED lights–even compact fluorescent bulbs. Most LED lights are made without hazardous materials, and all of Elemental LED’s products come with a RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Materials) certificate, which states that no toxic materials were used to make the product.

Clearly, using 12v LED lighting in your home or office is the safer choice for you, your children, and even your pets. Make the switch today; your family will thank you and you might even thank yourself.

Thanks to Consumer Reports for the image.

With all of the Blue-Ray, DVR, TiVo and On Demand options out there, taking a trip to the movie theater is becoming much less popular. (Unless, of course, you’re like me and you’ll pay $15 any day of the week to see Johnny Depp in 3D.) If you’re spending less time at the theater and more time at home, why not give your media room a movie theater makeover using LED strip lights?

I was pleasantly surprised when I moved into my new home a few months ago to find that the previous owner had already done that very thing.  A switch on the wall illuminates dimmable LED strip lighting installed behind the crown molding on the living room ceiling.  Home LEDs have never been so useful! The LED strip lighting in the living room provides the perfect amount of unobtrusive light for movie watching. And the bluish-white hue the LED strips emit even reminds me of true movie theater lighting.

LED strip lights provide the ideal way to create ambiance in your home media room, or in practically any room of the house. Currently we’re using a low output LED strip light to create a home theater vibe in the living room, but LED strip lights come in high density, brighter, waterproof and color-changing options as well—there are limitless home LED application options!

Personally, I’m just thankful someone was thinking ahead by installing those LED strip lights before we moved in.  It sure is nice to be able to refill my popcorn bowl without having to interrupt the theater atmosphere by turning on a light.  Now if you’ll excuse me, Johnny Depp’s big scene is coming up…

Until recently, Amazon Kindle users faced a pretty serious dilemma. While they loved their sleek gadget for its lightweight, go-anywhere feel and huge storage capabilities, they were dissatisfied with its inability to light up in the dark. See, unlike backlit devices like the iPad, the Kindle uses technology called E-ink, which looks more like real paper and is easier on the eyes. Another great perk to shunning a backlight is battery life: the Kindle’s batteries can last as long as one month, an unheard of luxury in our over-charged and always charging culture. Unfortunately, however, e-ink does not light up, so Kindle users have been, well, left in the dark. That is of course, until LED lights came along and saved the day.

On its third generation release of the Kindle, Amazon got smart and put out what they’re calling Kindle’s Lighted Leather Case. The case not only protects the device from damage, but also comes equipped with an LED light that pops out of its right hand corner when you need it, and stays conveniently hidden when you don’t. Other lighted cases can’t do the same, and are bulky and unwieldy to travel with. But, thanks to LED lights’ streamlined design, cool temperatures, low wattage and energy efficiency, they are the perfect complement to an e-book like the Kindle. LED lights enhance the product’s strengths (easy-on-the-eyes e-ink technology and battery life), while eliminating its weaknesses (no backlight).

Personally, I’m a fan of anything that encourages people to read more, and if it takes a cute little gadget and a chic LED light to do it, that’s more than all right by me.

Thanks to Amazon.com for the images.

RGB LEDs made a big appearance as Target unveiled its fall clothing line to an expectant audience in New York on Wednesday. But instead of sticking to the traditional runway show format, the retail giant decided to do something a little different, something they called the “Kaleidoscopic Spectacular.” And spectacular it was, let me tell you. After booking 155 south-facing rooms in NYC’s Standard Hotel, Target designers then lit each room with RGB LEDs.  More than 60 dancers and models revealed the clothing line by dancing and strutting in front of the windows, creating a colorful, giant kaleidoscope effect that stretched up to the sky. What’s more, the RGB LEDs also had color-changing capabilities, and were programmed to strobe, fade and flash in different tones throughout the show.

Thanks to the color-changing LEDs, the skilled dancers and the massive amount of choreography that went into producing the show, the affect was stunning. What’s more, the LED light and dance show provided an entertaining and breathtaking backdrop to a traditional runway show occurring on the street below, presumably so that those interested could get a real up-close-and-personal look at the clothing. I have to admit, if I had been there, I doubt I would have been able to take my eyes off of those hotel windows. What a creative idea, thanks once again to RGB LEDs!

Thanks to The Wall Street Journal for the image.

The Octavio Frias de Oliveira Bridge in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is one of the most beautiful bridges in the world.  True, the staggering 138-meter tall, X-shaped tower standing at the center of the structure is impressive, to say the least. But what would the bridge and its main architectural feature (the X-shaped tower) be without bright LED lights? That’s right, the bridge owes much of its beauty – or at least the fact that its beauty is visible – to color changing LED lights.

First of all, the interior of the tower is lit with color changing RGB LEDs that can emit an almost limitless range of tones, using a fading affect to gently switch between different colors. Or, city officials can choose to depict only one or two colors to commemorate certain holidays or special events.

The outside of the bridge is illuminated using bright white LEDs, which highlight the suspension cables and the exterior of the tower.

And of course, motorist safety was also an important concern for the bridge’s lighting designers. To ensure optimal driving visibility on the bridge, a system of140W bright LED bulbs was installed throughout the entire structure. And because of LEDs’ ability to provide directional light, the drivers are getting the light just where they need it: on the road. Other lighting options waste energy and light by emitting a non-directional glow that spills over into areas that don’t need to be lit.

Needless to say, Sao Paulo government officials are pleased not only with the beautiful aesthetics of the bridge (thanks to LED lights!), but also with the fact that the energy efficient LED lighting system is saving them 58 percent on their energy bill, according to LEDs Magazine.

It’s clear that in the lighting industry, LEDs are bridging the gap between style, affordability and energy efficiency every day.

Thanks to LEDs Magazine for the image.

Wind Cave National Park near Rapid City, South Dakota is one of the region’s most popular tourist attractions, and is home to one of the world’s longest and most complex caves.  There are over 134 miles of mapped passages within the Wind Cave, making it the 3^rd longest cave in the United States, and the 4^th longest cave in the world. The cave is also home to 95 percent of the world’s “boxwork,” which is a rare rock formation that resembles cobwebs or honeycombs. Until recently, however, visitors to the cave were not able to fully appreciate its splendor, because the cave was lit with an antiquated incandescent lighting system that was installed in the 1950s.

Thanks to a recent $2 million overhaul of that lighting system, however, the Wind Cave and its visitors are now basking in the energy-efficient glow of LED lights. The benefits of making the switch are many, including

• Energy savings: park officials will save over 80 percent on their energy bill by switching to LED lights, which require up to ten times less voltage. Furthermore, the LED system is easier to power down than the incandescent system was, and so the park will be saving money by keeping the lights off during slower months.
• Visibility: because of its versatile nature (think LED strip lighting and LED bars for narrow crevices, LED puck lighting for hard-to-reach areas, and LED wall washers to up-light larger sections of the cave), LED technology is perfect for lighting the Wind Cave. With all of these different fixtures, the intricate features and formations on the cave walls can be better illuminated.
• Waterproof LEDs will not be damaged during damp months in the cave.
• LEDs stay cool, so they will not encourage algae growth on cave walls, a problem that had been occurring while using the old incandescent system.
• Natural Lighting: one of the park’s goals for installing the LED system is to create a more natural glow. “The LEDs help draw out the true colors of the cave, giving the guests a more authentic experience,” park spokesman Tom Farrell said, according to the Rapid City Journal.
• Less Maintenance: LEDs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent lights, and so the park will also be saving money in replacement and maintenance costs.

I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly inspired to check out the Wind Cave the next time I’m anywhere near South Dakota. And now I know that thanks to LED lights, the trip will be well worth it.

Thanks to Rapid City Journal for the image.

The Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) is an Oakland-based organization with the mission of educating high school students about climate change, inspiring them to take action to help reduce carbon emissions and cool the planet. This summer, one of ACE’s programs was called the Connect the DOTs Biobus Tour, which involved driving throughout California on  a bus powered by recycled vegetable oil. The tour hosted solar-powered concerts, multi-media presentations, and supported ACE’s DOT (Do One Thing) program. In the DOT program, participants pledge to “do one thing” for climate change, and by doing so, are eligible to win prizes, like a trip to Disneyland. The biobus, called The Bluebird, is a great example of how guilty pleasures, like road tripping, can become guilt-free with a little innovation and hard work. The bus has a range of 1500 miles on 200 gallons of recycled veggie oil, usually found at fast food restaurants. There are two solar panels on the roof, which power all of the lighting, refrigeration, laptops, cell phones and concerts hosted by the bus. And of course, the people at ACE have made sure to choose the most eco-friendly fixtures for outfitting the interior of the bus. There are reclaimed bamboo hardwood floors inside, the refrigerator is STAR energy rated, and all of the lights are either compact fluorescents or solar-powered LEDs. The tour began on July 17 in Los Angeles and finished on August 7 in San Francisco, stopping at summer camps, beaches, skate parks, and other locations along the way.

It’s just another example of how LED technology is the lighting solution of the future, especially if we want that future to include healthy people, and a healthy, cool and biodiverse planet.