The benefits of LED lighting, including its high energy efficiency and long working life, are well-known. However, LED lighting is also safer for business use. This could also be viewed as a cost savings in reduced insurance claims, workers’ compensation claims, and downtime. Here are three safety benefits:
LED Lighting Puts Out Little Heat
CFL, halogen, and especially incandescent lights emit a significant amount of heat compared to LEDs. The reason is their inefficiency. Inefficient lights convert a substantial portion of their electrical input energy into heat. In order to get adequate illumination from inefficient lighting, it must consume more electrical power (using higher wattage lights). This means it generates yet more dangerous heat.
Ninety percent of the power going into incandescent lights, for example, converts into heat. This shouldn’t be too surprising because their filaments are little more than glowing heating elements. In fact, incandescent lights are used for heating purposes, such as incubating chicken eggs.
The heat from inefficient lighting is inherently dangerous, given that many building materials are flammable. On the other hand, the high energy efficiency of LED lighting means that most of its input energy is converted into light rather than heat.
LED Lighting Places Less Load on Electrical Systems
For the same illumination, LEDs use less energy and therefore place less electrical load on your wiring than CFL, halogen, and incandescent lights. Inefficient lighting pulls more electric current, which generates more heat in your wiring. This is normally limited with circuit breakers and fuses. However, the reduced load from LED lighting provides an added safety buffer, rather than relying solely on circuit breakers and fuses to prevent electrical fires.
LED Lighting Has No Toxic Mercury
That is, LED lights have no mercury of any kind. Mercury has numerous toxic effects, including damage to the brain, kidneys, and lungs. Both fluorescent and mercury vapor lights contain mercury. Any person who accidentally breaks or improperly disposes of these lights will expose themselves and others to mercury. In addition, the disposal of these lights harms the environment. LED lighting contains no such harmful toxins.
To enjoy the economic and safety benefits of LED lighting, contact us at Relumination.
