The advantages of LED lighting

We are hearing more and more about LED lighting for a wide variety of applications: home lighting; displays and screens; street, public and artistic lighting; cars and much more. So let's see what an LED is, how it works and all about its advantages.
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. It is a physical principle that is very different from traditional lighting: light is obtained not by using a filament or a gas, but a semiconductor that is ignited by the passage of an electric current, emitting light. This phenomenon is known as electroluminescence. An LED bulb, therefore, is a lighting device that uses one or more of these diodes to produce light. LED bulbs offer numerous benefits compared to traditional bulbs, such as incandescent or fluorescent types. When we talk about “what LED is”, we are referring to an innovative lighting technology that offers significant benefits in terms of energy efficiency, durability, light quality and resistance. Let’s take a look in more detail.

What are the benefits of LED bulbs?

LEDs offer numerous benefits compared to traditional bulbs:

• Energy efficiency. LED bulbs are much more efficient, saving up to 90% when it comes to consumption. Therefore, the initial outlay is recovered very quickly. 

• Long-lasting. An LED bulb can last up to 15 years, which is about 15 times longer than a conventional bulb, thus further reducing costs in the medium to long term. In addition, they are more resistant to vibration and shock than conventional bulbs.

• Sustainability Lower consumption also means lower greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. LEDs also contain no mercury, making them a safer and more environmentally friendly choice. 

• Innovation LED technology enables creative solutions that integrate light into homes and cities. In addition to the benefits of LED lighting in economic and environmental terms, there is also the role it can play in the development of the smart home and the smart city.

• Lighting quality. LED bulbs are available in a wide range of light colours, from warm white to cool white, making them suitable for a variety of environments and applications.

Thanks to all these advantages, LED bulbs are destined, over time, to gradually replace traditional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

How does an LED bulb work?

To understand how an LED works, we need to recall some concepts of physics. As mentioned earlier, the LED works on the principle of electroluminescence, a phenomenon that describes the ability of certain materials to emit light when an electric current is passed through them.
To fully explain how an LED lamp works, let us add this more technical element: the LED is a semiconductor diode consisting of two layers of material, one positive (p-type) and the other negative (n-type). These two layers are connected to each other, forming a junction.
When electric current flows through this junction, electrons move from the n-type to the p-type side. During this process, electrons lose energy that is released in the form of photons, i.e. particles of light. The frequency of these photons (which determines the colour of the light) depends on the type of semiconductor material used in the diode. So, when trying to understand how LEDs work,we are essentially describing the process of generating and releasing light through the action of semiconductor diodes. This technology has revolutionised the lighting industry, offering significantly higher energy efficiency and longer life than conventional lamps, and it is set to replace traditional incandescent and fluorescent lamps entirely.

How has LED technology evolved?

Although the physical principles underlying LED technology were already known at the beginning of the 20th century, the first patents date back to the 1960s. But it is only in our century that technological advances have improved the efficiency of the new LED technology to such an extent that large-scale commercial deployment has become possible. The innovation process of LED technology is constantly evolving. Both cold-light and warm-light LED bulbs are available on the market today. The wide range of solutions lends itself to satisfying all requirements: for example, filament LED bulbs combine the aesthetics of traditional bulbs with the technical features of the latest LEDs. Furthermore, LED filament bulbs are very similar in shape and light to traditional incandescent bulbs, but using new LED technology.

It is not difficult to understand how it works: light is radiated through light filaments composed of miniaturised LED strips. Each individual LED filament consists of a rod approximately 0.5 mm thick, 1 mm wide and of varying length, on which dozens of micro LEDs are positioned in series. The rod is coated with yellow resin to give the light the desired colouring and warmth. When switched on, the LED filament appears as a thin incandescent wire and the emitted light is radiated 360 degrees. Thanks to their essential design, the warmth of the radiated light, and the clear glass, LED filament bulbs can restore original aesthetic character to indoor and outdoor environments.

The latest frontier is the curved LED filament: an innovation that further enhances the performance of the LED filament bulb. Curving the filament structure whenever possible and possibly making it helical, is a simple but ingenious solution to improve light irradiation. The convex shape of the filament directs the light evenly over 360°, the twisting prevents the filaments from shadowing each other, improving output and preventing scratches on the lamp covers.

What are the incentives for installing LED bulbs?

The furniture bonus, also renewed for 2023, provides for a deduction of 50% over 10 years of the expenditure up to a maximum of €10,000 and, in the case of renovation, also includes the installation of
The furniture bonus incentives apply to the purchase of furniture and large household appliances to furnish a property undergoing renovation. The tax relief is available for purchases made by 31 December 2024 and can only be claimed by those who carry out building renovation work that began on or after 1 January of the year preceding the year in which the goods were purchased.
The deduction is calculated on a total amount not exceeding EUR 8,000 for the year 2023 and EUR 5,000 for the year 2024, and is to be divided into 10 equal annual instalments.
The furniture eligible for the furniture bonus includes beds, wardrobes, chests of drawers, bookcases, desks, tables, chairs, bedside tables, sofas, armchairs, sideboards, as well as mattresses and lighting equipment that constitute a necessary addition to the furnishings of the property being renovated. Purchases of doors, flooring (e.g. parquet), curtains and draperies, and other furnishings are not eligible.