The Benefits of Using LED Lights for Green Building

Reasons LED lights should be considered an essential element of Green Building.

Did you know that LED lights use 80% less energy than incandescent lighting, yet it is often overlooked as a lighting source, even in green building? LED lights should not only be the first choice in green building products, LED lights should be considered an essential element! Let’s begin with some environmental benefits of LED lights:

• LED lights over 50,000 hours. That’s about 25 times longer than incandescent lights.
• LED lighting produces 500% more light per watt. A brighter future, indeed.
• LED lights do not emit significant UV or IR radiation. IR is back to the heat issue, and UV is something most try to avoid.
• LED lights do not contain mercury which is common in fluorescents.
• LED lights have lenses that focus the light into a pattern of equal distribution adding to energy savings as light is not wasted bouncing in unneeded directions.
• LED lights do not produce as much heat. This can save on energy and maintenance costs.

There are other aesthetic benefits of LED lights other than the obvious environmental reasons. For instance, the color temperature can be precisely controlled.

There are costs benefits of LED lights as well. LED lights are often considered expensive and can cost 10 times as much incandescent lights. The truth is that the price of LED lights should not be considered a drawback. Once energy and replacement costs are figured in, the LED lights actually save money. Simply consider the cost of 24 extra replacements of the incandescent light, then factor the extra energy use and it’s really not even close. It’s clear the LED light ultimately saves money. Stop thinking short term and demand the LED lights part of your commitment to building a green future.

Finally, the real benefit of LED lights is that they are cool. Not only do they burn cooler, the technology and design of LED lights are as forward thinking as the technology behind them.