You’d think that by now, people would have all switched to LED lights. LED, or light-emitting diode, is today’s standard when it comes to commercial lighting. Gone are the days of incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs; everyone has now switched to LEDs. LED light bulbs, and LED flood lights are so common now that even the cheapest TVs and monitors these days are LED-based. And you cannot deny how LEDs have advanced the technology of light sources. LED technology has drastically changed our understanding of how much light we can produce per charge of electricity. Compared to the incandescent bulb previously, we now spend 80% less for 23 years of light. LED technology was first invented in 1907, but it has only been in recent years that people have designed LEDs bright enough for room lighting, floodlights, and electronic displays.
The LED might be the top dog of today’s market, but some people still use CFLs or Compact Fluorescent Lights. This is mainly because humanity has already perfected CFLs, and sometimes LEDs are just too bright.
So, the question is “when should one use an LED?” Here are a few tips on when and where you should use an LED or when to use other types of light sources, such as CFLs.
- LEDs are super bright, so make sure you use them in places that need bright lighting.
This means you can install these lights practically everywhere in your house. LEDs are for general lighting purposes. An excellent place to install one is at the top of your gate posts, so even at night, you can flip a switch to see who’s at your entrance.
- LEDs are suitable for portable light sources
Because they were invented small and consume much less electricity, LEDs have been the standard for portable light sources. So, if you need a portable light source, go for LEDs so that you can get good value from the portable power supply or the batteries, such as in flashlights, portable lamps, etc. In fact, instead of an LED flashlight that needs traditional batteries, buy USB LED lights and a portable power supply that has a USB socket. Plug the LED into the socket, and now you got an alternative rechargeable portable light source, which is very useful when you have to go to dark places.
- CFLs are dimmer, so you can use them when you need dimmer lights
CFLs are a bit dimmer and consume a bit more electricity. But sometimes there is a need for dimmer lighting, especially if you wake up at night and need lights. The glare from an LED light source is just too much.
It is a fact, however, that there are both LED and CFL night lights that cost almost the same if you run them side by side for a year, so it is your call what kind of light to use as night lights. And remember to choose only white light, as any coloured ones can render an object of the same colour invisible.
Image: Pixabay.com
