LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are small solid-state lamps used mainly for signaling and circuit board applications. The first commercial applications were limited to single bulb applications such as circuit board signals and instrument panels. They were also used as replacements for incandescent and neon indicator lamps, for seven segment displays, and various laboratory devices.

The use of LEDs, however, is growing as the benefits both in energy consumption and cost savings are realized. Newer applications include traffic lighting, exit signs, TV’s, watches, home fixtures and even Christmas light displays. These applications are achieved by clustering large amounts of LED’s into one housing and provide many benefits over previous lighting options.

A current goal of most organizations is to reduce their carbon footprint and become more environmentally responsible about consuming resources. Implementing LEDs in new and creative ways can reduce emissions of CO₂ and also provide payback in longer life and lower power bills.

In buildings and renovations where LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is desired; using LED lighting on exit signs, elevator indicator lights, room lighting and all possible applications will help meet the required reductions for energy use and consumption.

The environmentally green benefits of LED usage include but are not limited to the following:

• Extended Life Cycle: LED bulbs last up to ten times longer than compact fluorescent bulbs and far longer than typical incandescent bulbs.

• High Efficiency: LEDs use between 1/3 and 1/30 the amount of energy of CFL and incandescent lamps. An LED being a solid-state device also lasts approximately ten times longer than the other options available. This saves on maintenance and replacement costs.

• Durability: Unlike other lamp types, LEDs do not have internal filaments that can be damaged or broken in the same circumstances in which another bulb type would be need replacement. Since they are solid LEDs hold up much better to jarring or an occasional bump.

• Reduced Heat Generation: LED applications will produce less heat than other bulb types, thus requiring less cooling in the system.

• Safe Disposal: Unlike compact fluorescents, which contain mercury or the old incandescent bulb that breaks into shards of glass, the LED can simply be removed and thrown away. No Biohazards or cut fingers here!

• Lower Carbon Footprint: Led usage can reduce your carbon footprint by close to 60% over other bulb types.

• Cost Effectiveness: LEDs for circuit board and signaling applications are inexpensive to implement. The cost for LED clusters is slightly more to purchase initially but the power savings over time and the long life of the lamps allow you to see a return on your investment in a short period of time.

• Variety of Use: The variety of uses for LEDs is endless. The ability to quickly modulate allows LEDs to be used with fiber optics and free space optic cabling systems where normal bulb types cannot be implemented. They can also be used in combination with phototransistors or diodes to provide circuit isolation. This is especially important for medical applications. The infrared abilities of LEDs allow them to be used in many remote applications from your computer mouse to emergency communications equipment.

• Lower Machine Power Usage: LEDs can be used as machine vision systems. For applications such as process lines that require bright illumination and barcode scanners currently using laser lighting; an LED will reduce power consumption when used in place of other lighting types.

By simply taking another look at your applications and implementing LED strategies, you can see payback in your power bill, receive certifications for being conservation leaders and be environmentally responsible at the same time.