led bulbs
Diane Macdonald/Getty Images
You're probably familiar with the green move of switching your incandescent light bulbs to CFLs, but do you know that an even better move - a move we'll all be making in the near future - is a switch from CFLs to LED bulbs?
LEDs are ultra energy efficient compared to CFLs, however their expensive price tag and dim shades of white have kept them from hitting the mainstream. But as scientists make more breakthroughs in LED technology, they're going to become part of our lives beyond just small lights in digital alarm clocks, holiday string lights, or flashlights. They'll be our main source of illumination in homes, businesses, vehicles...everywhere.
How LEDs Work
Discovery's How Stuff Works has already lined up a great explanation about how LED lightbulbs work. "An LED is what's called a "solid-state lighting" technology, or SSL. Basically, instead of emitting light from a vacuum (as in an incandescent bulb) or a gas (as in a CFL), an SSL emits light from a piece of solid matter. In the case of a traditional LED, that piece of matter is a semiconductor.
Stated very simply, an LED produces light when "electrons move around within its semiconductor structure."
The problem with LEDs so far is that they tend to be much dimmer than incandescents or CFLs, and much more expensive. However, science is on the task and LEDs have become as bright as 60 watt incandescents while using around 7.5 watts of power. And with advancements in materials available for manufacturing, the price is dropping as well.
Why LEDs Are Greener Than Other Bulbs
It mainly comes down to energy efficiency. Incandescent bulbs waste most of their energy on heat, not light. A much higher percentage of energy going into an LED bulb is converted to light, which means less energy is needed to make the bulb function. Beyond efficiency, LEDs simply last longer, outlasting even CFLs. The newest LED bulbs to be developed - gallium nitride based bulbs - will last as long as 100,000 hours (equivalent to 60 years) and are three times as energy efficient as CFLs. They're expected to hit the market by 2012 and be priced at just $3.
LEDs In Our Future
As scientists continue to improve LED lighting options, we're going to see better shades of white - a common complaint among people switching to energy efficient bulbs. Sharp is working on an LED bulb that adjust to 7 different shades of white, depending on the users preference.
WATCH VIDEO: Choose the color of your LED light with just the touch of your finger.
With shading, efficiency, and cost becoming more consumer friendly, LEDs are increasingly going to be found in homes and businesses. One man has already retrofit his entire house in LEDs, and businesses like Starbucks are already swapping out signage and indoor lights to LEDs. Even cities are switching street lighting to LEDs.
And a little farther off in the future will come the next generation of LED lights - OLEDs. OLED lighting is even more energy efficient the LEDs and can be printed as flexible sheets. OLEDs will revolutionize lighting as well as displays like televisions and computer screens. But it will still be a few years before they're even close to being affordable for the average consumer.
