|
WHY LED LIGHTING?
19 percent of the energy consumption worldwide is used for lighting. Keeping in mind that most of this energy is converted not into light but into heat.
LEDs differ from traditional light sources in the way they produce light. In an incandescent lamp, a tungsten filament is heated by electric current until it glows or emits light. In a fluorescent lamp, an electric arc excites mercury atoms, which emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation. After striking the phosphor coating on the inside of glass tubes, the UV radiation is converted and emitted as visible light.
An LED, in contrast, is a semiconductor diode. It consists of a chip of semiconducting material treated to create a structure called a p-n (positive-negative) junction. When connected to a power source, current flows from the p-side or anode to the n-side, or cathode, but not in the reverse direction. Charge-carriers (electrons and electron holes) flow into the junction from electrodes. When an electron meets a hole, it falls into a lower energy level, and release energy in the form of a photon (light).
Unique LED characteristics:
Directional light emission - directing light where it is needed.
Size advantage - can be very compact and low-profile.
Cool temperature operation - performance improves in the cold.
Instand on - require no "warm up" time.
Rapid cycling capability - lifetime not affected by frequent switching.
Controllability - compatible with electronic controls to change light levles and color characteristics.
No IR or UV emissions - LEDs intended for lighting do not emit infrared or ultraviolet raditation.
(Source: U.S. Department of Energy - Solid State Lighting)
The Pharox LED bulb, built based on the most advanced LED
technology today, presents the best and the most obvious choice
for the replacement of CFL and incandescent light bulbs. The
incandescent & Fluorescent bulb will be obsolete in 10
years. The rapid adoption of this innovative LED lighting
technology is the perfect solution.
- Long lifetime: 25 years (based on 4 hours average use
per day).
- Eco-friendly
- Recyclable
- Has no UV radiation
- Do not produce hazardous waste
The Pharox create
the perfect lighting atmosphere, ideal as general lighting
for home and commercial application.
The End of Incandescent
Australia was the first country to announce an outright ban
on incandescent light bulbs by 2010.
European Union Energy Ministers decided in Luxembourg recently
to ban incandescent light bulbs in Europe as of 2010.
In the United States it is not mandated to begin until 2012
and phased out through 2014. The phase-out of incandescent light
is to begin with the 100-watt bulb in 2012 and end in 2014 with
the 40-watt.
Energy bill passed by Congress and signed by President Bush
sets energy-efficiency standards for light bulbs that traditional
incandescent bulbs can not meet. All light bulbs must use 25
percent to 30 percent less 2014. By 2020, bulbs must be 70 percent
more efficient that they are today.
While CFLs arguably use less energy and last longer than incandescents,
there is one serious environmental drawback – the presence of
small amounts of highly toxic mercury in each and every bulb.
This poses problems for consumers when breakage occurs and for
disposal when bulbs eventually do burn out.
Most consumers, even those already using the CFLs, do not realize
the long-term dangers the bulbs pose to the environment and
the health of human beings.
Though the amount of mercury in each bulb is small – about
4 milligrams – the potential environmental hazard created
by the mass introduction of billions of CFLs with few disposal
sites and a public unfamiliar with the risks is great.
When sufficient mercury accumulates in a landfill, it can
be emitted into the air and water in the form of vaporous
methyl-mercury. From there, it can easily get into the food
chain.
|
