BLOG OF iECYCLE

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Light… hard to work without it (at least for the majority of homo sapiens. Those fortunate enough to view their environs in the IR and UV spectrums may move along, now). It used to be, back in a much simpler time, that one’s labors occurred between the hours of sunup and sundown (so cleverly manipulated by us via my personal least [and most, respectively] favorite holiday, Daylight Savings Time). Obvious exceptions were performed by the glow of the hearth or, for those able to afford one, a candle.

We might count our blessings that we now live in a more complex world (or not). When an object of a major motion picture is something so utterly vain as someone trying to so light their dwelling (at Christmas time) that it is actually visible from orbit, I feel the urge to speak a word or two!

So, we can thank Mr Edison (or whomever he “borrowed” the idea from… don’t even get me started on that one!) for paving a new way, for better or worse. The incandescent light bulb, however, releases 90% of its energy in the form of heat; not all that practical (except, perhaps, for those in colder climes!). Flourescent lamps seemed a great step in the right direction; the new compact flourescent lamps (CFLs) using 75% less energy (according to energystar.gov) than their tungsten counterparts.

The rub? (of course there’s a rub) Each CFL, on average, contains 4mg mercury! Energystar.gov considers this a “very small amount.” When taken into consideration that the U.S. acceptable limit for mercury in fish is 1.0ppm (0.5ppm in Canada), I put 2 and 2 together and figure that I don’t want to be on the losing end of that trend; not for one minute! Ok… so gov’t’s and mfg’s “strongly urge” safe disposal methods. Does this keep the ill-informed (or simply maliciously inclined) from taking joy in the definitive “pop” and “poof” of smashing these bulbs? I must say not.

Enter our (relatively) new friend, the light emitting diode (LED). Initially developed as an alternative to relatively inefficient vacuum tubes in electronics, back in the day, the diode was found to also emit light. As a matter of fact, all diodes do (the “non-light emitting ones” simply have an opague covering… but I digress). At this point, as with most new tech, they are rather expensive.

For comparison, a 50 watt, halogen par30 floodlight (typically used in mini-track or recessed systems) costs around $7.50, lasts for a reported 3000 hours and outputs 590 lumens (the actual light portion of power cunsumed). A 15 watt, LED par30 costs around $50 (about 7x more expensive) but with a reported longevity of 25,000 hours (>8x halogen) and outputting a bit less actual light, at 418 lumens (about 70% of the light but, well, you wouldn’t have to feel as guilty about not installing that dimmer switch, then would you?). Heat output of LEDs is negligible; probably a bit less than that of flourescents. (Oh, and by the way, if you hadn’t noticed, that LED par uses close to 1/3 the energy)

That’s just one tip of one iceberg, as well. Entertainment and other corporate industries have been gradually integrating LED fixtures for a few years, now, to some rather dazzling effect; from intelligent instruments every bit as functional as their predescessors to simple color-washing lamps. Some of this technology has also found its way to the consumer sector in forms from variously hued lamps to garden fixtures which actually provide practical output and duration from a simple solar-panel charged battery.

Is this the best solution? Is it just another genie from a different bottle? I don’t know that I’m fully qualified to answer such questions, at this time but I do tend to notice a better mousetrap when so plainly presented. Until the if/when’s, LED’s don’t seem like a particular unwise idea. And yes, they do come in Christmas flavors.