A Comparison Between LED’s and CFL’s

Now that we know that the incandescent bulb is on its way out in favor of more effective, energy efficient solutions as mandated by the Energy Bill, the search for a new replacement is underway.  The two likely candidates are LED bulbs and CFL’s (Compact Fluorescent Lamp).  Although each may have their pros and cons, after exploring a brief comparison, you will see why LED bulbs are a superior choice.

• LED lights use less power - A 6 watt LED produces as much light as a 50 watt traditional bulb. The figure for CFL is close to 13 watts. This means an LED uses half the amount of electricity compared to a CFL. In the era of carbon emission controls, tight budgets, and awareness of energy preservation, LED lights easily score over CFL’s.
• Unlike LEDs, a CFL may require the replacement of the expensive light fixtures - CFL’s are less suited to be used as retrofits in existing sockets. Given that a CFL must accommodate an electronic powering device and long tubes, they are often too large for existing light fixtures. One must either do without the beautiful light covers or else change the light fixture itself. Any cost advantage that the CFL enjoys over LED is wiped out the moment one factors in the need to replace the light sockets and fixtures.
• LED lasts up to 10 times longer than a CFL - The long life of an LED means lesser recurring costs to be incurred to purchase new lights. This also means less solid waste to be disposed and makes this light ideal for hard to reach locations.
• LEDs do not contain Mercury or other toxic heavy metals - CFL lights contain a small amount of mercury and must be disposed off in accordance with the regulations for hazardous substances. LEDs, on the other hand, contain no heavy metal and can be safely disposed off with common waste.

LED light systems have a clear advantage over CFLs, and New Tek Partners provides a selection for indoor, outdoor, home, and commercial.  It is estimated that should LED products be widely adapted, it would slash the use of electricity for lighting by 88%.  The total savings over a 20 year period are estimated to be around $ 265 billion.  Moreover, LED bulbs and tubes could potentially help the US avoid setting up 40 new power plants and help reduce electricity demand.  These savings would go a long way in helping the US meet its commitment to the world community on the carbon emission reduction front.

How do you reduce your carbon footprint and reduce your electricity bill?

Phasing Out of Incandescent Bulbs: Part 2

With the recent move of U.S. manufacturers towards a phase out of incandescent bulbs soon beginning to take effect, many consumers will be left without a complete understanding of why this is happening and what other lighting options will be available.  This move away from incandescent technology is due to manufacturers complying with the Energy Bill, or federal Security Act of 2007, which mandates that household bulbs between 40 and 100 watts use 27% less energy by 2014.  Compact fluorescent light bulbs, otherwise known as CFL’s, are an alternate lighting solution; however, they are plagued with concerns of mercury contamination, flickering lights, safe recycling and incompatibility with dimmer circuits. 

This leaves LED lights poised to be the future of lighting.  Even so, some consumers may finding themselves asking, “Why is incandescent lighting not good enough?”  With incandescent bulbs, there is only a 10% performance ceiling, meaning that the incandescent bulb uses less that 10% of the electrical energy it uses to generate light and wastes the remaining 90% as heat.  This means that a good chunk of what you’re paying for on your electrical bill in terms of lighting is just wasted heat; not to mention that your air conditioning element has to pump this heat out, adding even more cost to your energy bill. 

Incandescent bulbs also have a short life span.  The high temperature that an incandescent light bulb works at means that the filament will expire quickly and cause consumers to frequently replace their lights.  This high heat operating temperature also carries a burn risk.  To put it in perspective, if you purchase a 6 watt LED bulb, it will produce as much light as a 50 watt incandescent bulb; this means a savings of 88% in energy bill lighting expenses, cutting several tons of mercury emissions from coal fired electrical plans, and saving millions of tons of carbon emissions.

Fortunately, New Tek Partners offers LED lighting solutions to counteract the negatives of owning incandescent bulbs.  Their LED bulbs offer up to 50,000 hours of energy efficient lighting.  New Tek Partners LED bulbs also give off virtually no heat, meaning no wasted energy or risk of accidental burns.  LED technology also does not utilize the wasteful filament that so often burns out in incandescent bulbs and causes frequent change outs.  In fact, New Tek Partners is so confident in their LED technology that they offer a 3 year warranty on all of their products.
 
When you make the switch to LED lighting, consider New Tek Partners to be your leader in LED technology.

Incandescent Light Bulbs: A Thing of the Past

Sometime in 2012, the incandescent light bulb, which many consumers use, will become a thing of the past.  These bulbs are being phased out as part of the federal Security Act of 2007, otherwise known as the Energy Bill.  Consumers should not worry though.  There will be more options than ever, with LED lighting leading the way.  The aim of the Energy Bill is to encourage the use and technological development of more energy-efficient lighting alternatives.  Common household bulbs that use between 40 and 100 watts will be mandated to use at least 27% less energy by 2014.  Since incandescent technology is not energy efficient enough to do this, manufacturers will be looking to new alternatives, such as LED lighting, to become the common household bulb of the future.

LED lighting is up to 75% more energy efficient, longer lasting and safer than traditional incandescent bulbs.  Compact fluorescent light bulbs are also another alternative that is available to consumers.  CFL’s are a type of bulb that is comparable to a more efficient incandescent bulb and a cheap alternative to incandescent lighting; however they contain a small amount of mercury and need to be recycled.  Over time, it is feasible that consumers will save thousands of dollars due to the switch from incandescent lighting.  Energy efficient LED bulbs not only last longer and require less changing out, their energy efficient technology also means that you will notice a drop in your energy bill.
 
New Tek Partners can help you join the millions of consumers that will help the country cut back on emissions output.  They carry a variety of LED products for all types of uses; LED tubes for your office, street lighting/flood and wall packs for outdoors, decorative lighting for special occasions and plenty of screw-in bulbs for your indoor use.  Not lacking in features, their LED lights are able to respond instantly to manual or sensor modes.  They are also 100% recyclable and transfer more energy into light, giving you 50% - 90% savings while reducing HVAC costs.  So when the Energy Bill takes effect next year, turn to New Tek Partners’ expertise in LED lighting and let them help you light the way towards greater savings and a more energy efficient lifestyle.

Where have you already started phasing out your traditional incandescent light bulbs for LED lighting?

Benefits of LED Lighting in Your Home

In order to get a feel for how your home can benefit from LED lighting, start small.  Try swapping a regular bulb on your porch and enjoying a nice evening outside to really see the difference in brightness.  Next, try switching out an incandescent bulb in a ceiling fan, accent light, or lamp.  Chances are you’ll first notice a change in your environment and then your electric bill.  A regular 40 Watt bulb, for example, burns through a lot more energy than it needs to produce the light you use.  A large percentage of the energy that goes into a 40 Watt bulb is wasted as heat; making them poor tools when it comes to conserving electricity and saving money.  LED bulbs, generate very little heat when they glow, instead transferring most of their energy directly into light.

LED light bulbs bring a white light into a room. Unlike the yellow light we're so used to seeing from incandescent bulbs, the white light cast by LEDs is closer to the color temperature of daylight.  The white light of LEDs is easier on your eyes and also provides the added benefit of lifting your mood in the summer and winter time.  There are many uses for LED lights in your home.  Use an LED light bulb in a task or reading light, and you'll have a bright, white light to work by.  LEDs not only produce light more efficiently, they have a tiny mirror that reflects light in one direction.  A directed light means less wasted light.  LEDs don’t waste light on areas you don’t need illuminated, which is why they are perfect lights for tasks.  Ceiling cans (or recessed lighting) have become one of the most common styles of lighting for homes in the U.S.  They are typically installed in groups simply for symmetry.  Ceiling cans are an ideal place for LED light bulbs.

New Tek Partners’ versatile LED lights can be used for your in-home needs.  Their line of screw-in LED bulbs is best suited for your home usage and can provide you with 50% - 90% energy savings.  They also utilize the highest grade components and are designed to last 50,000+ hours.  What this means to homeowners is less changing of bulbs, less energy wasted, and an increase in money saved.  Next time you walk around your home, take notice of your lighting environment and consider how New Tek Partners can help you with all of your in-home lighting needs.

Which room in your home will you start changing to LED lighting?

LED Lighting: Positively Impacting Your Child’s Education

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of your child’s education is the quality of teaching.  But what about the environment your child learns in?  It is just as important as a good school or a good teacher.  Incandescent lighting is known to produce chalkboard glare and flickering strobe-like effects, which negatively impact your child’s ability to learn.  Children with learning disabilities, especially autism spectrum disorder (ASD), can be even more affected by these lighting issues.  For children with ASD, controlling the learning environment and keeping it consistent is important to promoting their development.

Those with ASD are prone to visual and auditory sensitivities which cause them to be hyper-reactive to environmental cues, such as lighting and sound.  Perceiving fluorescent lighting cycles as having a strobe-like effect can also trigger an increase in seizure activity from children with ASD.  Both for children with ASD and without, focus is an important factor in learning retention.  Incandescent lighting, with its harsh glare, can cause headaches and even migraines.  This adverse effect can lead to agitation; especially in those with ASD, who can often have a lack of skill in interacting with others and who are sensitive to environmental triggers which detract from managing learning disabilities. 

New Tek Partners offers an alternative to the strobe-like effect of fluorescent lights in the LED GREEN light tube.  Casting a calm, natural light, this LED light tube eliminates the inconvenient and potentially harmful flickering.  Conventional fluorescent lights utilize a ballast to create the voltage and current necessary to start and illuminate the light.  The “humming” sound so often associated with fluorescent lights is caused by this ballast.  Fortunately, New Tek Partner’s LED GREEN light tube has no need for ballasts, thus eliminating noise interference and keeping the environment in your children’s classroom free of noisy lighting.  When exploring your child’s classroom for the first time, be sure to notice the lighting and consider what effects it can have on your children’s health and learning ability.

Listen to a teacher explain the benefit LED lighting has had in her classroom: