Take advantage of LED lighting developments

This step shows you a range of different lighting technologies that can all reduce your energy bills. One lighting technology that has been developing at a rapid rate in recent years is LED lighting.

Originally seen as a cost-saving alternative to halogen downlights, LED lights are now coming out in all shapes and sizes and can replace a range of different lighting types.

They last up to 50 times longer than the old incandescent globe and use up to 80% less electricity.^[1] It’s no wonder so many businesses are now installing them. They can save you a lot of money.

There are additional benefits to LED lighting that make them better than fluorescent alternatives:

• They reach immediate full brightness.
• They contain no mercury or lead.
• They generate very little heat, which reduces air-conditioning costs. It means they also work well in fridge and freezer cases.
• They emit no infrared radiation or UV rays. Unlike fluorescent lighting, led lighting doesn’t cause deterioration in foods and won’t fade books, magazines or advertising displays.
• They enhance the look of products in a retail setting, and provide uniform brightness and illumination.
• LED tubes are also very robust – unlike the conventional fluorescent tubes, they can be dropped without breaking.

Previously, LED lighting was not able to cope with high temperatures in rooftop areas. However, new LED products are now being released that have overcome this problem. As this chapter will show, LED lighting is now available for a wide variety of lighting applications.