Vancouver Green Real Estate - July Update – LED lighting
Lighting a home can be very expensive for a family's budget and for the environment. Many people these days have switched to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL's) from the candescent bulbs in order to reduce their monthly utility costs and to save energy. CFL's do however have some serious drawbacks. They are much more expensive than candescent bulbs and to many people's concern contain mercury, a dangerous substance for both people and the environment. An alternative that does not have these problems is the use of light emitting diodes (most commonly called LED's ... similar to the technology of light used outdoor's at Christmas). The argument for LED's is as follows:
- They use a fraction of the amount of energy.
- They last up to 50,000 hours (CFL's - 6,000, standard candescent bulbs - 1,000)
- Give off less heat and thus are very energy efficient
- Contain no mercury
- Do not create infrared or ultra-violet light so do not attract bugs
Why then hasn't LED lighting emerged as the successor to candescent bulbs in most conscientious homes? Like any new technology it also has some challenges:
- Very focused directional lighting - this makes it most suitable for accenting or task lighting
- Intense - does not provide the "warm" glow people associate with candescent bulbs
- Expensive - new technology is always initially costly and currently costs more than CFL's to purchase
- Single LED bulb is only designed to replace only a 4o watt bulb - otherwise must be in groups
- Hard to find
The purchase expense and limitations of use are definitely the biggest obstacles LED lighting currently faces. As the technology evolves and they become more widely available the prices will surely drop. Until then LED lighting may be relegated to design enthusiasts and those with bigger budgets. Even with these challenges LED lighting is an option I believe worth considering in any potential renovation.
Visit Vancouver Realtor Dean Wegman of Royal LePage Westide website at www.deanwegman.com to read about more green building intiaitives and/or purchasing or selling a home in today's real estate market.
