What is solid-state lighting? Solid-state lighting is a relatively new technology that has the potential to far exceed the energy efficiencies of incandescent and fluorescent lighting. Solid-state lighting uses light-emitting diodes or "LEDs" for illumination -- the same kind of practical and inexpensive devices that provide the letters on your clock radio. The term "solid-state" refers to the fact that the light in an LED is emitted from a solid object, a block of semiconductor-rather than from a vacuum or gas tube, as in the case of incandescent and fluorescent lighting. There are two types of solid-state light emitters: inorganic light-emitting diodes (usually abbreviated LEDs) or organic light-emitting diodes (usually abbreviated OLEDs)

LED lamps have many advantages over traditional lighting methods.

These include:

Low energy consumption - retrofit bulbs range from 0.83 to 20Watts

Long service life - LED bulbs can last up to 50,000 hours

Durable - LED bulbs are not cerceptable to vibrational shocks, like a filament style light source. 

Instant light - They will turn on instantly, with no warm up period. Current flourescent and HID technologie requires a warm up period, ranging from 2-5minutes. This makes them ideal for applications subject to frequent on-off cycling, such as garages, basements, or perhaps motion dectors.

Directional distribution of light – good for interior task lighting

• No infrared or ultraviolet radiation – excellent for outdoor use because UV light attracts bugs

  Safety and environmentally conscious – LEDs contain no mercury and remain cool to the touch

  0 - 100% dimmable – LEDs do not change their color/tint when dimmed, unlike incandescent lamps that turn yellow, or flourescent which will colour shift when dimmed. 

  Range of color – LEDs can be manufactured produce all colors of the spectrum without filters, they can also produce white light in a variety of color temperatures.