The Lighting of the Future: LED Light Bulbs

LED lighting, or light-emitting diode lighting has been used successfully for many years and now the LED light bulb is available to consumers for many home and business applications. From track lights and accent spotlights to lamp fixtures and recessed lighting, there is an LED light bulb available for most household lighting needs.
The biggest benefit to using an LED light bulb is the cost savings and energy efficiency. LED lighting manufacturers claim to offer more than 80% efficiency over incandescent lighting, which rates as even more efficient than popular energy saving CFL light bulbs. One advantage of LED lighting over CFL lighting is that there is no mercury in an LED light bulb, a feature which has been controversial for CFL's over the past few years.
Another great benefit is the unusually long life span of a LED light bulb. According to one manufacturer, an average incandescent bulb used for 12 hours per day will last about a year, while an LED light bulb of the same brightness and used for the same amount of time per day will last for over 8 years. In fact, some LED light manufacturers claim that their bulbs will last for more than 50 years! With a significantly larger cost up front, some homeowners may be hesitant to purchase an LED light bulb lighting, but with longevity like that, it's hard to argue against the benefit of not having to replace your light bulb for years. Because LED's are so durable, it is not uncommon to find LED's with a warranties that will cover replacement costs if your bulb does not function as promised.
When looking for a specific LED light bulb to fit in an existing light fixture for your home, it is important to select the right base size. Taking the old light bulb with you to the store is helpful to make sure you get the right size. Base configurations come in many different sizes for different uses, and most today are Edison bases that screw clockwise into the light fixture. Some light bulb bases have pins which plug into the socket rather than screwing in and are useful for some applications.
The base sizes available on an LED light bulb are nearly identical to those available for other light bulbs: miniature candelabra, candelabra, intermediate, medium and bi-pin. Candelabra bulbs are used for chandeliers and light sconces, and miniature candelabras are similar but smaller. Medium light bulb bases used in the majority of standard light fixtures and lamps. The intermediate light bulb base is smaller than standard, but larger than candelabra. Bi-pin bases plug in rather than screwing into place, and are often found in refrigerators and other appliances.
Doing an internet search for LED light bulb yields considerable information about their usefulness and promise for the future. One neat feature is an LED lighting remote control which can function as a dimmer and give you the option to turn your LED light bulb on or off without using the wall switch. LED lightbulbs may become the standard in the future once their advantages catch on with consumers. The amazing life span, durability and energy efficiency of the LED light bulb makes it a promising home improvement item to watch carefully over the next few years.