Introduction
Central to lighting design today is LED lighting which is quickly overtaking its outdated incandescent predecessor in popularity and efficiency. LED lighting provides significant advantages over traditional lighting, from a reduction in energy usage that results in long-term cost savings, to greater longevity and quality of light. With these advantages, LED lighting is becoming more and more popular for commercial, residential, and industrial applications.
LED Lighting Advantages
The most obvious advantage of LED lighting over traditional lighting methods is its energy efficiency. LEDs require up to 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, and they last 25 times longer. This makes them environmentally friendly and cost-effective; over their lifetime, LEDs will save a considerable amount of energy and money. LEDs are also much brighter and produce a higher quality of light than incandescent bulbs.
LED lights can also be tailored to have different color temperature, or hue, which allows for more precise lighting design. These lights can also be manipulated for different intensity levels, meaning that lighting designers have more control over the atmosphere of a space. Additionally, LED lighting is usually physically smaller than incandescent fixtures and bulbs, meaning that the fixtures can be made discreet and appealing to any room.
Types of LED Lighting
There are three primary types of LED lighting: LED downlighting, LED accent lighting, and LED flood lighting.
LED downlighting is generally used to create direct light in a space, often downwards from the ceiling. This type of lighting is often used in kitchens and bathrooms, as well as in commercial spaces as indirect lighting.
LED accent lighting is used to draw attention to an area or particular object. This could include lighting an artwork or the back wall of a room. This type of lighting is especially useful in creating mood and atmosphere in a space.
The last type is LED flood lighting, which is most often used in outdoor applications such as lighting a garden, yard, or other outdoor space. Flood lights, which have a wide angle beam, can be used to illuminate larger outdoor spaces.
Conclusion
LED lighting has become popular for many reasons, from its energy efficiency to its versatility in lighting design. The various types of LED lighting offer something for almost any space and application, from downlighting, to accent lighting, to flood lighting. With its clear advantages over traditional lighting, LED lighting is here to stay.
