The invention of the light bulb completely transformed man’s interaction with the world, opening the night to activity in ways torches, candles, and gas lights never could. That progress continues and becomes incredibly more energy efficient with advances in LED lights, or light emitting diodes.

Progress in this technology allow homes and businesses to easily incorporate LED lights to replace their existing lighting systems. New designs in fixtures, flexible circuit boards, and extruders, can make light more than just a convenience, but also a work of art. By placing strips of light overhead, under counters, along stair steps, and in other recesses, LED technology not only can be used to design a brighter space with greater illumination, but also a greater artistic vision.

The word is out about the green environmental advantages LED lights encompass. They are far more energy efficient than the old incandescent light bulbs, using 90 percent less energy. The sturdy, solid lights also have a much longer lifespan, lasting an average of about 50,000 hours. That means that an LED light that is operating eight hours a day will last 17 years before needing changing, dramatically cutting operating and maintenance costs.

LED lights also have proven to be much safer, since they generate no heat and actually are cool to the touch. This allows them to be used in areas other systems cannot, lighting up spaces where people may put their hands or lean against. It also reduces the risk of fires that have been caused by the heat generated by earlier generation lighting.

Because LED lights do not use fragile filaments or glass, they are far more durable than incandescent or fluorescent lights. The LED light itself is a small chip encased in an epoxy resin. Their durability in the event of vibration, shock, or extreme temperatures has made them highly viable for use as a lighting source in aviation, automotive, and aerospace applications as well as in the military and for traffic and security lighting.

The U.S. Department of Energy sees great potential as more and more residential, business, and industrial users turn to LED lighting. It hopes to see a 50 percent reduction in the energy used for lighting in a relatively short term.