LED Lighting
The latest generation of LED bulbs are brighter, longer lasting and more eco-friendly than ever before and many businesses are now considering them as a viable option to their current lighting. Where other bulbs’ lifespans are shortened through both proper and improper usage and handling, the LED bulb’s low heat levels, durability, and energy efficiency make it possible for them to outlast other types of bulbs by thousands of hours, and typically 25,000 hours is a normal average.
Not only do they last longer but they also use less power. According to many manufacturers, LED offers a 90% saving over the old-fashioned incandescent (regular halogen) bulbs and can be about a third more efficient than compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) that we were all encouraged to use to be greener. For instance, a 25w incandescent bulb equates to a 6-watt CFL and a 4 watt LED bulb.
Due to their high lumen output per watt, LEDs are capable of turning about 70% of their energy into light which makes them much more efficient than bulbs which waste a lot of energy by turning it into heat. A 6-watt LED bulb can produce the same amount of light that a 40-watt incandescent does, but crucially at lower operating temperature which makes them safer to operate. In comparison, incandescent bulbs get so hot that they can actually burn if touched.
Replacing a single 60-watt light bulb with an LED variety results in a reduction of approximately 160kg of CO2 emissions per year. If you replaced 100 lamps with LEDs that would represent a reduction of 15999 kg CO2 emissions annually.
With less fragile parts such as filaments LEDs can withstand more impact and vibration than other light bulbs making them a very durable and reliable form of lighting that can operate safely in colder temperatures. This stability makes them ideal for use in areas that will be subject to temperature fluctuations, inclement weather, and jostling, such as outdoors or in ceiling fan fixtures.
By design, LEDs emit their light in one direction rather than all around which also helps reduce energy consumption because no light is wasted or trapped within reflectors and diffusers. With over half the generated light being lost from exiting a standard bulb, the directional nature of their output makes LEDs ideal for applications such as task lighting and recessed downlights.
IoT
The Internet of Things (IoT) describes the network of physical objects—“things”—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet. These devices range from ordinary household objects to sophisticated industrial tools. With more than 7 billion connected IoT devices today, experts are expecting this number to grow to 10 billion by 2020 and 22 billion by 2025.
In the context of illumination, IoT allows us to control fixtures, asset track and personnel track through a number of technologies such as Radio Frequency, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi instead of the traditional methods of running signal cables. This is especially useful in retro-fit jobs where running extra cables can be prohibitive.
Please contact us if you would like more information.