How Lower-Cost LEDs Offer Some Competition to Compact Fluorescent Lights

LED lights have developed and gave way to new innovations such as LED TVs, LED signs, and bulbs that provides a more energy-efficient alternative than CFLs and incandescent bulbs. But for years, LED lights have tried to mimic the warm feel of incandescent bulbs yet what they offered in features and quality, couldn't match the latter's price. As a result, consumers opted to choose compact fluorescent lights instead.

However, it seems the LED lights manufacturers are working on to compete with the CFL market. Last Wednesday, General Electric announced the Bright Stik, a cylindrical 60-watt equivalent available in soft white for $9.97 for a three-pack through Home Depot. This followed Phillips which last month came on the market at $4.97, with a two-for-one deal for the first 90 days. TCP, a company that makes energy-efficient lighting under its own brand as well as for Home Depot and Walmart, has an LED on the market for $4.88.

“We needed to paint a picture for consumers and retailers of, ‘O.K., what does it mean if C.F.L. doesn’t exist?’” said Tom Boyle, G.E. Lighting’s chief innovation manager. “This is our shot at it.”

LEDs have long been more expensive, but those who favor them say they offer better light quality and more flexibility. Although compact fluorescents still far outsell LEDs, expert says that the demand for compact fluorescents is dwindling, while it is rising for LEDs. “The only thing C.F.L.s had going for them for a number of years is that they were a lot cheaper,” said Jesse Foote, a lighting industry analyst at Navigant, a research and consulting firm. “The cost difference at this point is not big enough to really justify the rest of the differences,” he said.

“Frankly, everybody will get out of C.F.L. over time,” said Linda Pastor, LED product manager at G.E. Lighting, where executives say they will continue to ship compact fluorescents but will no longer invest in their development. “It’s just a question of when.”

Phillips, on the other hand, continues to invest in and introduce new compact fluorescent products, said Silvie Casanova, a spokeswoman. One is a bulb that dims more like an incandescent, going through warmer tones rather than just lowering light levels.

With such innovations, we couldn’t just wait what more can LED signs technology can offer to the world.

LED Lights and its Benefits

LED lights are more than just the future of lighting. From the past years, its innovation has led to thousands of improvement to various branches of the technological industry and devices such as LCD TVs, traffic signs, phones, mobile devices, led signs and etc. But other than that, LEDs do have and offer different benefits.

TOP 3 Best LED Light DIYs in Pinterest

We have feature a number of LED DIYs in the past, but ever wonder where we are getting our ideas from? Well, aside from Google, Pinterest has been one of the best sources when getting DIY ideas of all sorts. And for today’s article, we’re going to feature the 3 best DIY LED Sign light project we found in Pinterest.

#1 - DIY RGB LED Color Coffee Table

Build by a German student in Hamburg University of Applied Science, this LED table that is controlled by Arduino microcontrollers is a one-of-a-kind project you won't see anywhere. According to Edo, its designer and creator, "I used one Arduino Duemilinove to control 12 TLC5940 Chips. There is is one 5mm RGB LED in each of the 64 sections. The dimensions of the Table are 50x50x12 centimeters. The cladding is made of self brushed aluminum. In the future I’d like to take an Arduino BT to program the table wirelessly."

#2 - Glowing LED Cube

To all the gamers, doesn’t it just remind you of the portal cube? It’s futuristic design and quirky look earns the second place on our list. Besides, that it’s easy to make and its creator also provided a tutorial, this glowing LED cube is what you might just need to convince everyone you’re from the future.

#3 – LED Swing

 

“This is made from plastic with fibre optic lighting inserted. On a dark summer night the swing creates a spectacular light show that lights up a whole garden in the most beautiful way. The swing was originally shown in the “Five playful chairs” exhibition in 2005 and has been a huge success around the globe. Over 30 000 internet sites has written about Sense as well as large newspaper articles in New York Times, Herald Tribune, Taipei Times and Frankfurter Allgemeine.”

DIY LED Jar Lamp Project You Can Do With Your Kids

Materials:

A battery holder
A switch
LED lights
A battery or batteries
Wire
Heat-shrink tubing

STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE

1. First, you'll need a Mason jar and lid. Cut three (3) two to three inch lengths of wire and strip both sides and twist the wires tight.

2. Next, wrap the one end of each wire around the connector post on the battery holder, leaving a small tail of wire extending off the bottom of the post.

3. Then use the silicon or hot glue to secure the wire to the holder. 4. Next, cut a small piece of heat shrink tubing for each connector, slide it over the connection, and apply a little heat from the hair dryer.

4. Slide a piece of heat shrink tubing over another piece of wire then connect the wire coming off the positive side of the battery holder to one leg or side of the switch. This can usually be accomplished by threading the end of the wire through the hole on the connector on the switch and twist the wire tight around the connector.

5. Place a good-sized “glop” of either silicone or hot glue on the underside of the Mason jar lid. Lightly place the battery holder into the middle of this “glop” and let it dry. For push button or rocker switches, drill a small hole in the lid and secure the switch to the lid using the nut that came with the switch. For something like a tilt switch, glue it to the side of the jar in the proper orientation to keep it turned off when the jar is set right-side-up.

6. Cover it with the heat shrink. Repeat the process with another piece of wire on the other side of the switch.

7. Cut a longer piece of heat shrink and slide it over the wire coming from the negative (-) side of the battery holder. Connect this wire to the battery holder that same way you did on the positive side.

8. Carefully bend the leads on the LED sign at a 90 degree angle. The shorter lead is the positive side, while the longer lead is the negative. Cut two pieces of heat shrink and slide them over the loose wire ends coming from the switch and battery negative. Leaving about one inch of lead, connect the wire coming from the battery negative to the longer lead. Twist them together tightly and cover with heat shrink. Repeat the process on the positive side. Insert the battery and test your work.

Source from: http://www.digitallanding.com/a-diy-led-light-saves-you-money-as-a-fun-family-project/

World's First OLED Christmas Tree by GE

Although it may be kind of late to post this article, aren’t you a bit curious to how this tree looks? Well, specifically saying, it’s no wonder GE will be the one to introduce this idea to the world, knowing their own Nick Holonyak Jr. was the  one who invented LED. And after it was introduced to the market, it took off and became the most popular and energy-efficient lighting. It was used in a wide variety of applications such as in TVs, traffic lights, led displays and lighting bulbs. And now, GE also found a way to use it on Christmas tree.

The OLED Christmas tree was unveiled last December 2008 in Niskayuna, NY as "a 6-inch-by-15-ft OLED system all rolled-up into the form of a tree" as a glimpse to everyone on how LED can change and improve the lighting industry.             

“We haven’t quite achieved Rockefeller or National Christmas tree lighting status yet, but we’re well on our way,” said Anil Duggal, the one who led the GE OLED program. “We hope GE’s OLED tree lighting will inspire and capture people’s imagination during the holidays on the limitless possibilities of this next generation lighting concept.”




John Strainic, the global product general manager of GE Consumer & Industry, on the other hand, said that the OLED Christmas was for customers to recognize that "while the demonstration was more for holiday spirit and team camaraderie, it does reinforce how far OLED technology has come and how it is poised to revolutionize lighting and interior design.”

Organic light-emitting diodes are a type of LED in which it’s emissive electroluminescent is made of a film of organic compound that emits the light in response to the electric current. But what makes it eco-friendly? Well, OLED are specifically designed to consume less energy when used thus giving its user a lower running cost but provide better power efficiency.

LED has always been introduced in the market as an alternative lighting source that is more environment-friendly and helps consumers save energy and money at the same time.

Unique and Beautiful Outdoor Lightings to Make Your Garden Enchanting

The season of spring has arrived and once the winter’s chill is completely gone, the weather will change and the plants and flowers will bloom again. Known long ago as the "springing time", the term “spring” was a reference to plants “springing” from the ground during this time of the year. So put away all the gloomy winter moods and shove that remaining snow from your backyard and start planting on your garden again. Who wouldn’t want to have a dull garden by May when everything’s all blossoming and colorful?

So if I were you, then you better start gardening by now. And to help you give a more luster to your garden once your plants and tree (if you have one) are all growing and coming back to life, then add some of these unique and eye-catching outdoor lightings to your garden and watch as it transforms your garden into an enchanting place at night. That you might even be tempted to camp there overnight!

White LED Solar String Lights

 

Yes, it’s not Christmas and definitely, these lightings doesn’t look any similar to Christmas lights! Instead, they are smaller and recreates how fireflies lit up at night hiding in the bushes. Usually, there are three different modes for this lighting including steady, flashing and changing. Plus, these LED light decorations are waterproof so there is no need for you to take them off your bushes if the rain suddenly pours in the middle of the month.

Solar Hanging Planter Light with 5 Bright White LEDs

 

These unique solar hanging planter light are designed to light up your hanging plants at night. It also has automatic photo-cell dusk to dawn operation. Plus, it does not attract insects and a huge energy saving lighting.

Hummingbird Solar Color Changing Garden Stake

 

If you want a more eye-catching decoration, then the hummingbird solar color changing garden stake is something you might want to check out. The garden stake will begin to glow as darkness falls, and continue to provide a calming light show into the night with automatic photocell control.

Want a Healthy Lifestyle? Then Go Green with Your Family

Image from doctorjenn.com

Let's admit it; we all want a healthy lifestyle for ourselves and for our loved ones. But having a healthy one takes effort and one of them is changing your every day choices. Going green or implementing the green lifestyle is one example. Although you may see it as something challenging, going for the alternative isn't as bad as you imagine it to be. You and your family may even benefit from it in the long run.

Take note of these following tips and see what you can apply in your current lifestyle for you and your family's betterment:

• Choose organic

As reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 42% of Americans will be obese by the year 2030. And what's the cause of this? It's because people are habituated into fast foods these days. Why don't you try serving a healthier menu for today's lunch and while being at it, why don't you try visiting the local organic market near you.

• Recycle

Recycling is one of most basic steps you can do in helping contribute in energy conservation and sustainability. Don't have time in recycling materials? Then make sure that the next you hit the market, opt to buy those recycled papers or tissues for your home.

• Save Electricity

Changing from incandescent bulbs to more energy-efficient light bulbs such as LED bulbs or compact fluorescent lamps which can let you save money and cut your electricity costs around $200 for every incandescent bulb replaced. Also set the computers to go to sleep automatically after 30 minutes of inactivity and turn them off if you're not using them. Want to decorate the garden with some lighting then choose LED displays instead as well.

• Introduce Your Kids and Family to Environmental Activities

Every month, different organizations and groups hold events and celebration for different environmental events. Checkout the latest events that will happen near your home and mark the calendars.

Choosing a greener path to walk on is as rewarding more than you can imagine. Why don't you try it now?