Lightbulbs have been around for ages. However, it wasn’t until just recently that lightbulbs have started to become more energy-efficient. This change occurred with the introduction of LED lights. LED lights have started to replace incandescent and neon lights, which can be found in many modern day applications.  

What Does “LED” Stand For?

LED stands for “light emitting diode.” According to STouchLighting, a diode is an electrical device or component with two terminals through which electricity flows. Typically, the electricity will only flow in one direction. The diode uses the electric current to emit a bright light and these diodes are made from semi-conductive materials such as silicon or selenium.

As for light emitting diodes, they are semiconductor devices that emit visible light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs can be found across the spectrum of visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light.

How Do They Work?

According to HowStuffWorks, an LED produces light when the electrons move around within the semi-conductor. The semi-conductor contains a positively and negatively charged component, which has free electrons floating around within. When electric charges strike the semiconductor, electrons flow into the positive part of the component, which causes light to emit.

What is the History of LED Lights?

According to History of Lighting, the history of LED lights was extremely long and extensive. In 1907, British experimenter Henry Joseph Round noticed that yellow lights appear when 10volts are applied to silicon carbide crystal. In 1927, Oleg Losev from Russia came to the same conclusion and published a text regarding the subject. In 1961, Gary Pittman and Bob Biard from Texas Instruments found that gallium-arsenide diodes emit infrared lights every time they are connected to currents. They soon patented the infrared LED. The following year, Nick Holonyak Jr. developed the first red LED. George Crawford developed the first yellow LED in 1972. Shuji Nakamura developed the first blue LED in 1979.

Initially, prices for LED lights were expensive – ranging at around $200 per piece. However, as time went on, LED lights became a commercial product as technological advances led to decreases in prices.

What Impact has LED Lights had on the Modern World?

LED lights have had a powerful impact in today’s world – especially when it comes to energy-efficiency. According to Energy.Gov, about 49 million LED lights were installed in 2012, which saved about $675 million in annual energy costs. During this year, LED lights accounted for 8% of the lighting market. If the trend of adopting LED lights continues in the next few years, the US could save almost $250 billion in energy costs! This would also reduce electricity consumption by 50% and reduce carbon emissions by 1,800 million metric tons.

LEDs are now used in many different applications, such as: traffic lights, display cases, TVs, and etc. Many businesses have also turned to LED for lighting purposes, since they are cheaper, environmentally friendly, and more efficient.

The powerful impact of LED lights since their introduction is undeniable. LED lights have changed the lighting industry as we know it, as will continue to do so for years to come.