They’ve been lighting up our rooms since the 1970s, but what is the history of LED light bulbs and why did they become such a popular light on the market?
The initial invention of the LED light bulb dates back to the early 1900s, 1907 to be exact, when a British engineer by the name of Captain Henry Joseph Round discovered electroluminescence. This optical and electrical phenomenon works using electrical currents or fields to produce light.
However, it was more than half a century and several stages later before this invention became cost effective enough for LED lights to be sold commercially.
Lights and action
The light-emitting diodes, which give LEDs their name, came into popular existence in the 1950s, but not in the form of lights as we know them. Rather, they were used to play music on record players.
The next stage of the LED’s existence was in the form of the discovery of near-infrared light emission. Fast forward to 1962 and the first red LED had come into existence, followed by the development of yellow and red-orange LEDs.
Making LEDs commercially viable proved a relatively lengthy process for US manufacturers, but in the 1970s, a company by the name of Fairchild Optoelectronics bought this revolutionary light to market.
LED lights
Today, LED bulbs have cemented their reputation as being the most cost-efficient, energy-efficient and reliable light bulb on the market – and there’s a range to choose from as well.
From spotlights to downlights, strip lighting to different sized bulbs, not to mention fairy lights for the Christmas tree, LED bulbs have fast become the preferred choice of many homeowners, traders, builders and commercial developers. They’re both decorative and practical, making them suitable for a range of rooms and buildings.
Although at the higher price end of the market, a comparison between LED lights and incandescent bulbs shows they are well worth the investment. Incandescent bulbs produce approximately 1,500 hours of light to an LED bulb’s 25,000. That equates to approximately 17 incandescent light bulbs per LED bulb.
LED light technology
Like many other areas of technology, LED lights have evolved as time has progressed. Here at Evergreen Energy, they’re certainly our preferred lighting option, not least for their sustainability. LED bulbs use very little energy and have the longest lifespan of any bulb on the market, thus making them a more environmentally viable option.
The most exciting thing about LED bulbs isn’t just their versatility, as they’re suitable for most rooms in the house, providing everything from bright lights in bathrooms and mood lighting in hallways. As technology continues to develop, so too will LED bulbs. They have potential to become even more sustainable, more energy efficient and cost effective for the user.
