Why LED Lights Are A Healthier Option

More and more people are realizing that LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights carry many advantages over other forms of artificial light, like incandescent bulbs or fluorescent tubes. The benefits of LEDs include reduced energy consumption, minimal maintenance costs, extremely long life, small carbon footprint, optimal color saturation, compact design, negligible heat output, and lack of UV emissions. But surprisingly, few people are aware that switching to LED lighting can do more than slash your energy bill and protect the environment – it can also be beneficial for your health.

How LEDs Are Better

As much as LED competitors like halogen, incandescent, and fluorescent lighting companies may protest, LEDs undisputedly come out as the winners in a number of important health measures concerning artificial lighting. These include:

- Flicker

Have you ever sat at your office desk furiously rubbing your eyes in a fruitless attempt to relieve an eye strain induced headache? Those painful and often debilitating symptoms could be a result of the fact that incandescent and fluorescent lights flicker at around 120 Hz. This flickering is generally imperceptible but nevertheless can contribute to eye strain, discomfort, and associated headaches or migraines. Since LEDs run off of DC power sources rather than AC, they tend not to flicker in the same manner.

- Burnout

You may already know that LEDs have a much longer functional life (up to an incredible 50,000 hours) than their other artificial light counterparts, but did you also know that their long life also helps alleviate eye strain? A slower burnout rate for LEDs means it is easier for color to remain consistent, particularly in regards to indoor lighting. Color consistency plays an important role in preventing eye strain.

- Hum

If you’ve ever spent a long period of time sitting under the unceasing and suffocating drone of overhead fluorescent lights, you won’t be surprised to find out that scientific studies have shown that the noise emitted by these fixtures can noticeably increase the irritability and tiredness of people who are subjected to them. Thankfully, there are no annoying noises associated with the use of LEDs.

- Mercury

Mercury – a substance incorporated in incandescent and fluorescent lights – is highly toxic and can cause very serious health problems if you come into contact with it. That is why special care and steps must be taken when disposing of most artificial bulbs. In contrast, LEDs are made without mercury, making their disposal much less complicated and hazardous.

- UV

If you use fluorescent lights for lamps and other fixtures close to your skin, you are putting yourself at risk for skin damage as a result of exposure to UV light. You could slather yourself in SPF 50 every day before sitting down at your desk or you could simply replace those fluorescents with LED lights that do not emit UV or infrared.

- Heat

Most of us have made the immediately regrettable mistake of touching a hot, incandescent light bulb. Incandescent bulbs can reach a scorching 200°F – more than enough to sear delicate human skin. Of course, those burns can be easily avoided by converting to LEDs, which generally do not rise above room temperature even after periods of prolonged use.
Using LEDs for your lighting needs is not only a smart, economical, and environmentally friendly decision – it’s also good for your health. Check out some indoor and outdoor LED flex lighting options today for a greener home investment. 

 

Author Bio:

Maria Brown is a freelance blogger and writer for companies wishing to brand and market. She is a mother of two who enjoys hiking and keeping healthy in her free time.