Top LED Lighting Applications Ready for Your Home

When was the first time you knew that the term LED referred to lighting? For most of us it was within the past three years. Today the term is widely recognized as a new type of energy efficient-lighting. That is fast recognition of the term. Adoption of LEDs in residential lighting has taken much longer.

I have been working with LEDs for five years and have a basic grasp of how they work and where they make sense. When I first started working with LEDs, it was predicted that by the year 2012, the majority of lighting would be LED-based. While LEDs are the most efficient lights in the laboratory, they are not the smartest lighting in many actual applications. The predictions failed to take into account a few factors:
1. It is difficult to control certain LED characteristics - such as heat and the color changes over time of LEDs - once they are installed in light fixtures
2. Many fluorescent lights are very efficient already
3. A global economic downturn makes an up-front investment in energy efficiency more challenging

So where does that put the LED industry right now? Gains in efficiency continue to be realized in the lab; more work has been put into a complete lighting solution for LEDs; and better products are launching every month.

I am often asked “Where do LEDs make sense in my home?” When my wife and I gutted our house two years ago, I was eager to install the latest in LED technology. Instead we installed traditional recessed cans and halogen fixtures for more decorative looks. LED-driven fixtures did not make economic sense – they were $100 and in their first generation. With lighting responsible for only 12% of my total energy bill, it appeared that it would take us more than 8 years to pay for the fixtures. By that time LED technology will be significantly more efficient, and might even be replaced by another technology.

Yet there are some applications in your home where LEDs make a lot of sense today. Below is my annual list of the LED fixtures that are ready for your investment. The market is changing so fast so I apologize to those manufacturers that I am unaware of – please post your list on the comment board.

Ready for Buying:
1. Under Cabinet Lighting – Under-cabinet lighting is one of the most requested applications in lighting showrooms. However it is disruptive and expensive to install due to the bulky nature of traditional lighting. It also tends to provide spotty light – too bright under the bulb but not bright enough at the perimeters. LED light strips provide a well-distributed even light throughout a surface. They have a low profile and last up to 50,000 hours.
2. Off-Grid Lighting – Outdoor Solar Lights have been a big disappointment, but they introduced the world to off-grid lighting. New products from Mr. Beams and others replace the solar cells with alkaline batteries and motion sensors for very effective off-grid outdoor lighting. Mr. Beams is the leader in this category by offering four different form factors: Ceiling Mount (MB980); Spotlight (MB360); Stair and Path Light (MB530); and Night Light (MB720). All of the Mr. Beams lights are battery powered and have auto shut-off to conserve battery life. Flashlights are also considered off-grid lighting, and LEDs are perfectly matched for use in flashlights.


Almost Ready:
1. MR16 Replacements – Good application for LEDs. Casinos and Cruise Lines have switched to LEDs for these lights that are on constantly. Use in track fixtures that are on more than 4 hours a day.
2. PAR 30 spotlights for outdoor lighting – Still expensive (minimum of $40 for the equivalent of a 60W bulb – don’t let them tell you otherwise) but the ROI will be quick if you leave your lights on all night. Also good for the inside garage light that you forget to turn off.
3. Recessed Cans – I was tempted to put this in the “Ready” category, but they are still too expensive for the average home-owner who looks at a 2-3 year ROI. Recessed cans from Cree provide beautiful, even white light at an $80 cost.
4. Outdoor Light Fixtures – Less of a heat issue for outdoor fixtures and the small size of LEDs provide many interesting design options. LEDs are much more durable than incandescent and CFL light sources, and there will be no trips up the ladder to replace.

Long Way to Go:
Bulb Replacements – LEDs are directional light sources. They are well suited for spotlights and poorly suited for bulbs. If the LED industry wants to disappoint customers, manufacturers will continue to try to sell LED bulbs that give off the equivalent of a 20W incandescent bulb for $20. A lot of work needs to be put into optics and LED efficiency before this category makes sense for your home.