Rapid Growth of Energy Saving LED Lights

As the legislation ban of Incandescent bulbs in the US and Europe, a large-scale adoption of energy efficient LED lights are forecasted in the next five years, it is expected to generate more than 4 billio units by 2016 in the lighting market. Consumers are now realizing the long-term savings associated with LED light bulbs over competitive options such as halogen and compact fluorescent bulbs.

Lighting accounts for approximately 19 percent of the world's energy use at present, according to most studies. IMS Research forecasts that in 2016 about 15 percent of all lighting on the market will be based on LED lighting technology, which would reduce global energy consumption of lighting by at least 20 percent.

LED Grow Lights Will Be Great Help for Your Plants

Nowadays, energy efficient and low cost LED lights are being more and more popular, and they are used in different applications: street light, eye-catching decoration at night, illuminating for home or commercial. And the LED lighting can also be healthy, said by Dean Kopsell, a professor with U.T.'s Plant Sciences Department.

"We found out that they can really dramatically increase plant physiology, increase mineral nutrient levels, and also increase antioxidant levels, which are very important for us in the diet," said Kopsell.

Kopsell said plants only need a small percentage of sunlight rays, but under LED lighting, researchers can intensify the light plants do need, saving them energy. He said while LED lights come in all colors, blue and red are the most important to plant growth.

"We're looking at the important impacts of red and blue but more importantly we're adjusting the ratios of red and blue," said Kopsell. "So on a normal day, we're taking the percent blue that would normally be in sunlight, and we're increasing that by three or four fold, and we're really improving the nutritional and mineral and antioxidant levels in the crops. "

90W UFO LED Grow Lighs, Red, Blue and Orange, $98.50

Kopsell and Dr. Carl Sams studied the impacts on herbs and specialty vegetables, like kale. He said the already healthy crop produced even higher levels of nutrients, like calcium, potassium, iron, and even anti-cancer components.

The LED lights also emit less heat, especially compared to high pressure sodium lamps found in greenhouses, which are usually 1,000 watts each.

"You can see they've got a yellow tint, because they have yellow light in them. They're hot and can wilt the tops of the plants closest to the light," said Kopsell. "But you don't have that detrimental heat impact under blue and red LEDs."

LED or CFL Light Bulbs?

With the phased out of 100 watt Incandescent bulbs in 2012, followed by 75 watt in 2013,  40- and 60-watt in 2014, it is said that Incandescent light bulbs will no longer be available in 2015. The customers are now left with two choices: LED and CFL, which to choose?

The difference between LED and CFL
Whether you use five bulbs or a dozen or two, many of us are in need of more information about the new bulbs that are now on the market. The Edison incandescent style used a much higher wattage, got hot to the touch and were less economical compared to the modern CFL and LED bulbs. (more detail comparison info of Incandescent, CFL and LED)

As the old light bulbs are phasing out, we need to familiarize ourselves with the variety of bulbs now at the stores to bring light to our homes. Bulbs that are not designed for dimming should not be placed in fixtures that have a dimmer switch. Also, the type of CFLs or LEDs being used with a dimmer switch need to be a dimmable version. Be sure the dimmer switch and light bulbs are compatible.

LED or CFL, that's a question
In my opinion, I prefer LED to CFL, expecially after I read this article. LED lighting does not have to cycle up or down when turned on or off, where as CFL lighting does cycle. The process of frequent cycling degrades the longevity of CFL bulbs which is one reason they don't last as long as expected. Places where the light is frequently turned on and off may be good locations to use LED bulbs. Where the lighting stays on for extended periods may be places to use CFL bulbs you already have.

In locations that generally attract bugs due to the ultra violet rays, LED bulbs may be more practical. Although they get warm, these bulbs stay cooler and do not get hot. The heat dissipates from metal heat sinks located at the base that fan the heat from the light source. The cooling element also helps to assure the longevity of the bulb.

iLUX 10W A19 LED Bulb, Dimmable, 60-watt Incandescent bulb equivalent, 820 lumen, Omini Directional, Warm White, $13.99 per bulb.

LEDs are the best economical and energy-saving choice
The declining price in LED bulbs is helping to make them more affordable for the general population (You can easily get light bulbs under $10). The manufacturers have been tweaking to improve how the bulbs function for a number of years now. LEDs are much healthier than CFLs and the ratio of watts to hours of use is very economical in comparison. The longevity of LED bulbs also extends beyond the life expectancy of other forms of bulbs.

It's the Little Things That Count for Green Living

If you are one of the many people out there who wants to help protect the earth from pollution, then learning how to green your home is a project that will be very rewarding, and may even get you compliments from others who are also similarly ecologically minded. There's always a myth circulating the net that living green is always going to cost a lot more than regular product purchasing and regular as any environmentally conscious individual can tell you, green living is a great way to save money in the long run if you do it the right way. The one rule you have to remember is that it's the little things that count the most. To change the way your home runs without too much trouble, here are some quick and easy green living 101:

Start re-using your old goods.
Jars, bottles, and other used items can be repurposed and reused for a variety of different arts and crafts. Every jar and bottle that you reuse is a jar or bottle that does not end up in a landfill.

Consider starting up a new hobby or two.
Hobbies like gardening or starting your own compost heap are very green-friendly, and can help put your family on the right track to a health-conscious lifestyle. This also helps cut down on the amount of waste that ends up in garbage dumps that could potentially help the environment.

Start switching your light bulbs.
Normal incandescent lights can actually be very detrimental to the environment, and not only because of the waste that they leave behind once they have stopped being useable. They eat up energy, too! If you want to get the most out of the lights that you have in your home, make sure to invest in some best quality LED lights that are energy-saving and eco-friendly. They can often mimic daylight if used the right way, and they also have the added benefit of being excellent accent lights that last for years at a time.

Consider switching your detergents.
Your laundry detergent, as well as your dishwashing detergent, might be some of the least environmentally friendly items that you use almost every day. If you want to avoid causing potentially dangerous chemicals to leak into your local rivers and oceans, you may want to consider switching your detergents to some Earth-friendly options instead.

Recycle whenever you can.
It may seem like nothing, but one can that makes it to the recycling bin is a can that does not end up taking space in a landfill for the next hundred years. Every can that is correctly sorted will make a huge impact one day or another. Reduce, reuse, and recycle!

Every day that you go about your housekeeping tasks is a day where you can start showing mother Earth how much you care. So, why not start with changing all the little things, and then make a decision on whether or not you are ready for the bigger things later on?