Light-emitting diode (LED) is known for being energy efficient. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), LED bulbs are approximately 90% more efficient than traditional filament-based incandescent bulbs.
With their energy-efficient properties, LED bulbs are a popular choice for aerospace lighting applications. They are used as navigation lights, anti-collision lights, interior cabin lights, cockpit control lights and more. Unless you’re familiar with the technology, though, you might be wondering what makes LED so efficient.
Overview of LED Technology
LED is a type of lighting technology that’s characterized by the use of diodes. These diodes are made of semiconducting materials, such as gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium phosphide (GaP) and indium gallium nitride (InGaN). When exposed to an electrical current, electrons will jump across a junction in the diodes, thereby releasing energy in the form of photons or light.
Convert Electricity Into Light, Not Heat
One of the reasons LED is so efficient is because it converts electricity into light rather than heat. As previously mentioned, it involves the movement of electrons across junctions to produce light. A process known as electroluminescence, it produces very little heat. Most of the electricity is converted into light.
Other lighting technologies produce more heat. Incandescent, for instance, is a traditional lighting technology that uses a filament, such as a piece of wire, to produce light. An electrical current will travel through the filament. The highly resistive properties of the filament promote the production of heat. As a result, incandescent bulbs convert more electricity into heat and less electricity into light.
Directional Focus
Some LED bulbs offer directional focus, which further improves their efficiency. They don’t emit light in all directions. Instead, they produce a narrow beam of light.
Other lighting technologies tend to produce light in all directions. For some applications, this isn’t a concern — but it can still result in lost energy. LEDs, on the other hand, are available in bulbs that can be focused in a particular direction. You can find these bulbs in street lamps, task lights, spotlights and various aerospace-related lights.
Long-Lasting
LEDs are also considered energy-efficient because they last longer than other types of bulbs. Some of them last for up to 50,000 hours. In comparison, incandescent bulbs have an average lifespan of just 8,000 to 10,000 hours.
Because they are long-lasting, LEDs don’t need to be replaced as often. Therefore, they don’t consume as many materials to manufacture and replace.
