Light-Emitting Diode (LED)

Guide to Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Devices

Save energy and the environment by using LED lights
By Emmet McMahan

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a device with exactly two electrodes that emits a narrow spectrum of incoherent light. LED displays were first used for electronic displays, but they are now becoming more common in high power applications such as area lighting and flashlights.

LED devices are more efficient than traditional sources of lighting such as incandescent bulbs. They produce more light per watt than incandescent lighting, making them especially useful for battery powered devices that need to be energy efficient. A LED display also can be more useful for colored lighting because it can emit light of the desired color without using filters. LED displays can be designed to focus their light because of the solid packaging whereas fluorescent and incandescent sources may require an external reflector to direct their light.

Three advantages of LEDs are:

1. LED lighting saves energy;
2. LED signage reduces maintenance cost;
3. LED signs have better color than neon.
   

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy LED lighting from approved government sources Government purchasers must source their LED lighting needs from companies that have completed a rigorous process to become a government purchase vehicle.

I recommend:  Buy flashlights from LED display vendors such as Night Vision Planet. They are a Department of Defense vendor and are listed in the Central Contractor Registration with Cage Code 41HJ0.

Reduce carbon dioxide emissions with LED displays The reduction in energy consumption means that power plants produce less carbon dioxide, making the light-emitting diode an environmentally friendly source of lighting.

I recommend:  Find a variety of environment-friendly bulbs from Earth Easy, which specializes in LED lighting. Doctor LED has multiple product lines of LED lighting for battery-powered devices.

Replace neon signs with LED signs A comparison of the lifetime cost of ownership including initial cost, power consumption, maintenance costs and life expectancy shows that LED signage offers a significant savings over neon.

I recommend:  Their precise electronic control provides an energy-efficient means of promoting a corporate identity. LED Streetlight sells LED street lights, a lighting area where these longer-lasting lights are especially useful. Signs Plus LED has a large selection of LED signs, as well as information about installation, permits and zoning. The LED Sign Company has outdoor LED lights, as well as an ROI calculator to help you determine your long-term savings over neon lights.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• A light-emitting diode (LED) is categorized by its power consumption. Low-current LEDs for use in instrumentation lighting is rated for about 4 milli-watts (mW). Standard-power LEDs average around 40 mW for orange, yellow and green with blue, violet and white LEDs consuming about 100 mW. Ultra high output LEDs require much more power and are designed for lighting small objects or use in full sunlight.
• Multi-color LEDs are also available. A bicolor light-emitting diode uses two dice with different colors of wire in series. One color is produced by current flow in one direction and the other color is produce by current flow in the other direction.