LED Low Power Lamps

Light-emitting diode (LED) festival lights

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were invented by Nick Holonyak Jr. in 1962. Since then, LEDs have gained popularity for their low-energy consuming habits and long-lasting nature.

Energy Efficiency

LEDs are bright and energy efficient.

"The New York Times" reported in a May 2010 article that the latest LED lamps use only 20 percent of the power used by an incandescent lamp and last up to 25,000 hours. A standard bulb, however, lasts only 2,000 hours, and a compact fluorescent lasts 8,000 hours.

Other Benefits

Oil-lit lanterns are being replaced by LEDs in India and China.

The latest LED lamps can be dimmed, can throw light in all directions and have almost the same warmth and range of colors as incandescent lamps. In an experiment conducted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which worked with Jagannath Institute for Technology and Management in India, low-power LEDs were used in lanterns that use solar energy. These lights help illuminate the lives of many who otherwise use kerosene-lit lamps. Kerosene-lit lanterns use about 470 million barrels of oil per year and release about 400 billion lbs. of harmful gases. Lanterns with LEDs are environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

Uses

LEDs are used in many ways in daily life.

Today's LEDs are used in multiple ways. They light laptops, car lights, clocks, floodlights, billboards, building facades and homes, and they are used as decorative festival lights. Solar energy using LEDs have found use as garden lights and streetlights.

References

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lemelson-MIT Program: Nick Holonyak Jr., 2004 Lemelson-MIT Prize Winner
• "The New York Times;" Low-Power LED Bulbs Coming Soon; Eric A. Taub; May 17, 2010
• The Hindu: Kerala, LED Lamps Grow in Popularity, with Multiple Benefits
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Solar-Charged, Battery-Operated LED Lanterns to Replace Oil Lamps in the Developing World