What You Should Know About LED Lighting

Summit brings the latest in lighting technology to residential living

  Most people are now pretty familiar with LED lighting. You've likely noticed LED bulbs alongside the traditional incandescent bulbs and newer compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs in the lighting aisle at the store and read the claims on the box about longer life and increased efficiency. But not everyone realizes how truly revolutionary this technology is and how LED bulbs are changing the way we light our daily lives. As an efficient and long-lasting light source, light emitting diodes, or LEDs, have been used for years in devices such as traffic lights and emergency signs. But adapting LEDs for use in general lighting presents many challenges. Unlike incandescent lighting, which emits heat and light in all directions, LEDs are directional sources that emit light in one specific direction only. Additionally, LEDs are not capable of producing white light, the color most commonly used in homes and offices. In order to get white light from LEDs, a phosphor material must be used to convert the color. Only through complex and creative design have engineers been able to develop LED light bulbs capable of shining stable white light all around a room, and new innovations are still being developed to increase their affordability for widespread use. So why go through the trouble of adapting LEDs for general lighting purposes? Because the efficiency, durability and versatility that LEDs offer make it well worth the time and effort.  

LED Light Bulbs:

Reduce energy costs - not only do LED bulbs require less electricity to operate, they also release less heat while they are on and draw less power in their off-state than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. Considering lighting accounts for about one quarter of an average home electricity bill, LEDs can translate to huge savings for homeowners annually. Minimize maintenance effort and cost - LED bulbs last up to 50x longer and rather than burn out, their light output gradually decreases over time. They are also much stronger and typically will not break when dropped or if you're trying to remove one that was too tightly screwed into a fixture. Unlike CFL bulbs, they do not contain mercury, which makes disposal less of hassle for LED bulbs too. Offer more flexibility - because they are a directional light source, LEDs can be easily and inexpensively used for under-cabinet lighting, decorative display lighting and nighttime safety lighting. LED bulbs can also be used with a dimmer switch, unlike CFLs.

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  Technology has made LED bulbs more functional and affordable for residential use, and we're all about delivering the most efficient and energy-saving features available. Earlier this year, we updated our Green Build Advantage program to include LED bulbs in all main level can light fixtures in every Summit Standard home we build. Keep an eye out for them throughout our communities in the coming weeks - you'll already be able to find them in homes that entered the final stages of construction this summer!