LEDs Thrive in Cold Temperatures
That’s right, LEDs perform better in cooler environments. As you can see in the graph to the right, the diodes light output increases significantly as the temperature is reduced below 25° C. Generally, most lighting applications will never be affected by the extreme temperatures shown in the graph to the right.
The optimal operating temperature for LEDs sits right around 77° F, anything below that will increase the light output of the LED. One thing we would like to note is that warmer temperatures do negatively affect LEDs, but the temperature must be significantly higher than 77° F to create any noticeable issues. For example, at 48° C or 120° F, LEDs still maintain around 90% of their light output. Therefore, high temperatures do effect LEDs, but the temperature would have to be quite extreme to cause any noticeable effects.
LEDs do NOT emit polluting radiation.
Outdated lighting options such as high-intensity discharge lamps or HIDs produce significant amounts of UV radiation. UV radiation can cause various health issues with the most prominent being skin damage. One major benefit of LEDs is that they do NOT produce dangerous UV radiation. UV radiation is commonly a concern in large facilities such as manufacturing spaces that require a high amount of light which is usually produced by inefficient and unsafe HID lamps. Here at Integra, we replace HIDs with LED high bays that on average are 70% more efficient and produce no dangerous radiation. Furthermore, LED high bays last significantly longer making them well worth the initial investment.
LEDs are commonly damage resistant.
Chances are you have most likely picked up a fluorescent tube or incandescent bulb. If you noticed how they are constructed, they commonly are made with fragile glass. Shattering a light bulb is never fun especially when it’s a fluorescent tube that is built with hazardous metals such as Mercury. LED tubes and bulbs are almost always made with thick plastic that not only makes them damage resistant but lighter as well. Most LED tubes and lamps can be dropped, bumped and hit without any issues arising. On the other hand, dropping a fluorescent tube would create a hazardous scene of dangerous metals and shattered glass.
LEDs Produce Little to No Heat
Did you know incandescent bulbs release 90% of energy as heat? This makes them an extremely inefficient light source because they use little energy towards light output and make your space warmer. This additional heat can add up in the summer months making your facility more expensive to keep cool. Meanwhile, LEDs produce little to no heat compared to incandescent bulbs solving the issue of your lighting system overheating your space and demanding an excessive amount of electricity.
LEDs are long-lasting.
LED lights last significantly longer than antiquated options such as HIDs and fluorescent tubes. On average, an LED high bay will last 100,000 hours meanwhile a typical HID will last around 15,000 hours. Therefore, if you upgrade to LED you will prevent having to purchase and replace your lights up to 6 times. This not only takes time away from you, but it cost a lot of money over time to constantly purchase lamps. Let’s say you own a manufacturing facility that currently has 50 fixtures in the ceiling. The average HID we see costs around $15, that means by not upgrading you will have to spend around $4,500 on new lamps during the lifetime of a single high bay.
Overall, LEDs have many hidden benefits beyond savings that you could benefit from! From decreased maintenance cost to reduced heat, these benefits can add up and help reduce your companies bottom line. Are you ready to harness the power of LED lighting?
