Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are small light sources that can be used in a variety of lighting applications. According to "The New York Times," LEDs are about five times as efficient as compact fluorescent bulbs and last up to 10 times as long. These bulbs cost very little to operate compared to other light sources, and produce very little heat. As LED technology improves and consumers switch to more efficient light sources, the potential uses for these bulbs will likely continue to grow.
Home Lighting
During the late 20th and early 21st century, many manufacturers introduced track lighting and accent lamps that feature LEDs instead of standard lightbulbs. LEDs are also found in many landscaping lights, including solar-powered garden and pathway lighting. Some small reading lamps and flashlights also use LEDs.
According to a "New York Times" article from May 2010, most major lightbulb manufacturers plan to introduce LED light bulbs by 2011. These bulbs will fit into standard household fixtures and lamps and can take the place of less efficient incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs.
Holiday Lights
According to Live Science, LEDs began to replace traditional holiday lights in many prominent applications in 2008. That year, the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City, the New Year's Eve ball at Times Square and Cinderella's Castle at Walt Disney World all featured LED lights for the first time. This switch is expected to save thousands of dollars over standard holiday lights for each of these applications.
Live Science estimates that homeowners who spend $6 to $10 to power a strand of Christmas lights each season would spend only $0.13 to $0.17 to operate the same quantity of LED bulbs.
Municipal Applications
Until the early 21st century, LEDs could only emit red, yellow or green hues, according to Live Science. While this allowed many cities to install LED traffic lights, it did limit other types of applications. In recent years, white and blue LEDs have been introduced, which has made them a popular choice for street lights in many cities.
Many electronic traffic signs and roadwork signs also feature LED technology.
Electronics
LEDs have been used in basic electronic equipment since the 1970s. They can be found in calculators, digital watches and some appliance displays. Many computer and television displays today also feature advanced LEDs that offer superior picture quality over older types of lighting technology.
LEDs are widely used in the medical and technology fields. Because these bulbs don't produce heat along with light, they are safe to use in the most sensitive electronics equipment.
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