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| LED ENERGY SAVERS |
Light-emitting diodes, more commonly referred
to as LEDs, are semiconductors that emit light when an electrical current is
applied to the component. Even though LEDs have been around since the early
‘60s, it is only in recent years that white LED bulbs have become more commonly
used as a substitute for other industrial and household lighting systems. Their
rising popularity is due, in part, to the positive impact they have on
energy-efficiency. Find out how LED lights are saving the planet, one
lumen at a time.
Efficacy
In the United States, EISA (Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007) banned the
production of incandescent bulbs in order to move towards a more
energy-efficient country. The act, passed by the Department of Energy (DOE),
requires less electrical output per number of lumens (units of emitted
visible light) produced, compared to previously used incandescent light bulbs.
Under title 24 of the California Energy Code, stricter building
standards and energy-saving requirements were also passed, which include
lighting. In compliance with these energy codes, the phase-out of standard
incandescent bulbs has caused a higher demand for fluorescent and LED lights,
especially in labs and cleanrooms where saving energy is critical for
budget-conscious facilities.
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| LED BULB SHAPES |
According to a DOE article, fluorescent and LED lights produce a higher
amount of lumens at a lower wattage than an incandescent; when comparing
performance, standard A-19 incandescent bulbs produce 10-17 lumens per watt,
whereas cool LEDs emit 60-94: a similar lumen level to fluorescent bulbs.
Cool LEDs produce a white or blue light, depending on the CCT (correlated color
temperature) measured in Kelvins. Warm LEDs that have a much lower lumen/watt
performance (27-88), produce a softer, yellow light. See Figure 1 for a visual
example.
Light direction also impacts the efficacy. LED
bulbs are unidirectional; a higher percent of the light is emitted directly out
from the bulb, while nearly half of tubular fluorescent bulbs’ omnidirectional
light is released up into the fixture.
Heat
Since LEDs have lower energy consumption, they
also produce less heat. Rather than radiating concentrated heat, the warmth
that they do generate dissipates into the surroundings, to
be quickly blended with, and cooled by, the environmental air. This
reduces the burden placed on the AC unit of your controlled environment.
Personnel can work more comfortably while simultaneously decreasing cooling
costs.
CRI
The Color Rendering Index (CRI) classification
of an LED is comparable to those of fluorescent and incandescent lights. The
CRI measures a light’s ability to accurately represent an object’s genuine
color compared to a natural or “ideal” light source. Dependable perception and
interpretations of a material’s physical characteristics may be critical to specific
lab applications. An LED light accomplishes this natural light reconstruction
while saving energy and the associated costs.
Maintenance
Fluorescent bulbs are estimated to last a
minimum of 7,000 hours. Over the 25,000-hour minimum lifespan of an LED bulb,
you would likely have replaced a fluorescent bulb three times. Since
fluorescents contain a small amount of mercury, it is required by law that the
bulbs be recycled or disposed of as hazardous waste. Proper disposal can
be a hassle as the depleted bulbs must be taken to an authorized recycling or
hazardous waste facility.
Also consider that LED lights are estimated to
function for up to 50,000 hours—that’s about 24 years of Monday-through-Friday
8-hour shifts! While LED bulbs are initially more expensive, they are a
smart long-term investment due to their endurance, low-maintenance, and
performance.
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| LED PANEL LIGHTS(CEILING SURFACE) |
LED Options
Terra Universal offers cool LED light panels
and strips. The LED light panel is a fully sealed module suitable for positive-
or negative-pressure rooms and compatible with ISO 3 to 8 standards. Seams and
crevices are eliminated in this design, creating an ideal lighting unit for
biopharmaceutical clean rooms. With the LED light strips, laminar air flow is
not obstructed as the lights are mounted directly onto the ceiling grid that
separates each panel or FFU (fan/filter unit). Lumen output for these
double-stacked strips is slightly greater than the 2’ x 4’ LED panels, and also
meets ISO 3 cleanliness standards.
Conclusion
What else can LED lights do? With a lower
kW/hr consumption rate per year, LEDs produce less carbon dioxide (CO2) than
both incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. Of the greenhouse gasses produced from
human activity, the principal offender is CO2. Although an LED bulb may
initially cost more, it’s clear that over the course of time, LEDs will not
only save your wallet, but also leave a more positive environmental impact.
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| SUNSINE LIGHTS UGANDA LIMITED |
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