More Information on LED Lighting and Fixtures
What are LEDs?
Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting is an exciting, rapidly evolving technology that produces light in a whole new way. LEDs are small light sources that become illuminated by the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material, more akin to computer chips than to light bulbs. Beyond the obvious change in shape and function, LEDs have other important differences from traditional lighting technologies, including:
- The heat from an LED is conducted through the back of the fixture, rather than radiated in all directions as with other light sources. The proper dissipation of this heat is key to effective LED performance. For this reason, most quality LED equipment includes a sizeable metal “heat sink” to transfer and radiate the heat.
- LEDs are the only light source that are inherently directional and do not require a reflector to direct light, offering increased energy savings in directional applications.
- LED products have the potential to last two to three times longer compared to fluorescent or HID lighting, and 10 times longer compared to incandescent.
- In certain applications, LEDs can offer energy savings of more than 50% versus fluorescent or HID, and more than 75% savings versus incandescent lighting. As the technology evolves, the potential exists for even greater savings.
Not all LED lighting is created equal.
While LEDs are already beginning to surpass the quality and efficiency of existing lighting technologies, such as fluorescent and incandescent, LED performance varies widely.
- Testing by the U.S. Department of Energy has shown wide variability in performance of LED products, with some products not meeting the ratings listed by the manufacturer.
- Only well-designed LED products using the latest in LED technology, and applied in the right applications, will provide the energy, light quality, and long-life benefits of LEDs. Efficiency Vermont offers rebates for select LED equipment that can be used beneficially in most any application.
LED products must carry the ENERGY STAR® label or be DesignLights approved to be eligible for rebates from Efficiency Vermont. These products have been verified to meet strict efficiency, quality, and lifetime criteria. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov or www.designlights.org.