Does it cost a lot to get into LED lights?
There is an initial cost for switching to LED technology. However, LEDs typically pay for themselves over a 1 to 3-year period, depending on your cost of electricity and how much you use the lights. Further, they typically continue to pay back for 6-10 years after older lights would have failed, saving both energy and maintenance costs.
Am I eligible for government and /or utility rebates?
Your eligibility for rebates depends upon what the utility company in your area is offering consumers. Most states in the United States offer rebates. Contact you local utility company for details or we can work with you to determine what the rebates are in your location.
How does using LEDs provide improved light output and save money?
Because LED lights produce significantly more light per watt consumed, you don't require as many lights to produce the same level of comfort, convenience and safety as with older lighting technologies. This means fewer fixtures with a corresponding reduction in capital costs.
What is an LED government or utility rebate?
Both State and Federal governments are offering rebates for implementing energy savings technologies. These rebates frequently come in the form of tax credits. Utility companies also offer one-time rebates as an incentive to switch to LED energy-saving technologies. The theory in both cases is that reduced demand from the lower power requirements of LED's means less demand on the power generating capabilities of the utility. This means they can serve an increased customer base without adding generating capabilities, thereby saving capital expenditures.
How do LEDs reduce recycle / disposal fees?
One of the popular options for lighting is fluorescent bulbs. They release various kinds of gas which are harmful to the environment and require special handling. Most Home Depots and Lowe's accept some lengths of fluorescent bulbs for recycling. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to find someone to take longer than four-foot bulbs. This places a hardship and increased costs on the end user. LED lights contain no harmful gases or byproducts, so they can be disposed of without cost or hassle. In addition, their useful life means you are faced with disposal issues fewer times- only once every ten (10) years.
How do LEDs reduce lighting maintenance costs?
LED lights last, on average, ten (10) years versus regular lights at one (1) year. The LEDs we use are rated for 100,000 hour of life. Our calculations are based on a life of 75,000 hours, giving you a 25% margin on light life.
Many metal halide street light manufacturers suggest the ballast be changed when the light is changed. This means that approximately every year, you are facing the expense of hiring a bucket truck and replacing both the light and the ballast. Our 12-volt power pack used to power our LEDs is rated at 300,000 hours or three (3) LED changes. Our product reduces lighting equipment changes from once a year to once every ten (10 years) - a significant savings.
Many metal halide street light manufacturers suggest the ballast be changed when the light is changed. This means that approximately every year, you are facing the expense of hiring a bucket truck and replacing both the light and the ballast. Our 12-volt power pack used to power our LEDs is rated at 300,000 hours or three (3) LED changes. Our product reduces lighting equipment changes from once a year to once every ten (10 years) - a significant savings.
How do LEDs reduce electrical power usage costs?
LED lights require less power to produce the same amount of light. On average there is a 60% savings in power consumption for LED lights over the standard incandescent bulb. The significance of this savings goes up as the kilowatt-per-hour rate goes up.
How do you save money with LEDs?
Using LED technology provides real savings to the consumer. Savings occur in the following ways:
1. Reduced electrical power usage costs.
2. Reduced lighting maintenance costs.
3. Reduced recycle / disposal fees.
4. Potential for government and / or utility rebates.
5. Improved lighting output requiring fewer lights.
1. Reduced electrical power usage costs.
2. Reduced lighting maintenance costs.
3. Reduced recycle / disposal fees.
4. Potential for government and / or utility rebates.
5. Improved lighting output requiring fewer lights.
General
Is a licensed electrician needed to install LED lights in commercial applications?
We recommend using a licensed electrician because of the high voltage present in commercial applications.
As a homeowner, do I need to be an electrician to install LED lights?
The typical homeowner can install the lights themselves. Most lights are screw-in or use plug-and-play connectors similar to those used in stero systems. Connecting the power supply to a 110-volt AC power source requires three (3) wire nuts.
If your LED bulbs last 100k hours, why do you rate them at 75k?
We believe in giving extra value. If you are expecting 75,000 hours of life and you get 100,000 hours, you get a bonus and are pleased at the extra value. We are always pleased when we get more than we expected or something lasts longer than expected & we think you will too.
Do LED lights burn brighter just before they burn out like metal halid bulbs do?
All bulbs lose some of their brightness over time. The industry standard is no more than a 25% loss over time. LED bulbs exceed the industry standard by producing essentially the same amount of light over their expected life (100,000 hours).
What is a lumen?
A lumen is a measure of light brightness. A lumen is roughly equal to the light put out by a single candle measured one (1) foot away. See "How do lumens compare to bulb watts?"
Light Comparisons
How long do LED lights last compared to metal halide bulbs?
Typical metal halide bulbs last 7,500 hours. At 24 hours a day, that is less than one (1) year. Our LED bulbs are rated at up to 100,000 hours. At 24 hours per day, that is over nine (9) years.
Will I get the same amount of light from a 250-watt metal halide street light and a 1,750 lumen LED?
You will get approximately the same amount of light when measured with a light meter. However, your eyes may perceive a difference due to the color of the light (metal halide is pink, LED is white), the reflective surface the light is shining on (concrete shows brighter than asphalt), and the distance from the ground. Because LEDs can be designed to disperse the light more evenly, they are sometimes perceived as less bright directly below the light source, while providing improved area lighting.
Technical
Are LEDs dim-able?
The LEDs themselves are dim-able; however, a special dimmer is required to produce smooth light-level transitions. LED has available two (2) dimmers for our lights - one that works in the 12-volt DC environment and one that works in the 110-volt AC environment and converts the power line to DC.
Are LEDs water proof?
Not by basic design. They need to be specially treated to assure the connections are protected from water infiltration. Our lights are so treated.
Why is a conditioned DC power supply important?
A conditioned power source keeps the LEDs in the optimum power range resulting in their achieving their projected life and lumens.
Do LEDs work on regular current (85 to 308-volts AC)?
Most of our lights actually run on DC voltage. These installations use some form of power pack which converts AC power to DC power. Leading Edge Designs uses IED drivers which produce a "conditioned" DC power, meaning the power varies less than 1% from the requested DC power output. Some of our newer lights are designed to run directly on AC power, simplifying the power requirements and increasing reliability by reducing potential points of failure.
