With a price of electrical energy for industrial use that, according to data published by the European Commission, continues to increase every year since 2009, and with the promotion of energy efficiency with initiatives such as the Europe 20-20-20, the adoption of LED technology for industrial lighting is unstoppable.
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Despite the fact that LED light was discovered more than 50 years ago, its evolution has been gradual. At first it was possible to manufacture infrared light LEDs, but it was not until 1962 when the first red visible light LED was achieved. Ten years later, in 1972, the first yellow light LED was achieved. But it took another 22 years for the first blue LED to be invented in 1994, whose technology also achieved a much brighter light. This allowed us to take the next step and finally achieve a white light LED, which would allow us to consider replacing traditional lighting with LED light.
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Like all technology, it started out expensive to manufacture, and the number of lumens per watt was still low, limiting the use of LED lighting to specific applications. But in recent years, improvements in LED technology have reduced their costs and increased their luminous efficacy to levels comparable to those of fluorescent tubes.
Today, this already allows LED lighting to be applied to industrial environments, such as manufacturing plants and warehouses, where light sources have to be placed at high altitudes and good lighting is necessary for both productivity and safety.
Today, this already allows LED lighting to be applied to industrial environments, such as manufacturing plants and warehouses, where light sources have to be placed at high altitudes and good lighting is necessary for both productivity and safety.
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Although the acquisition cost of LED lighting is still higher than that of fluorescent luminaires today, the most obvious advantage is its low power consumption. To this is added that, unlike fluorescent tubes, LED lights turn on instantly, and their useful life is not shortened by repeated turning on and off. Furthermore, LED lights work perfectly in conjunction with control circuitry, such as presence sensors. This allows lights to be kept off and turned on only when really needed, even in areas of the warehouse where constant lighting is required for security reasons.
Another feature of LED technology is that the light it emits is more directional. This allows greater efficiency in specific applications where it is interesting to concentrate the light in a more determined area, such as in the aisles of palletized metal racks.
The lower inherent consumption, together with greater versatility in its control, makes LED lighting allow energy savings that can easily exceed 70% and even reach 90%.
Another feature of LED technology is that the light it emits is more directional. This allows greater efficiency in specific applications where it is interesting to concentrate the light in a more determined area, such as in the aisles of palletized metal racks.
The lower inherent consumption, together with greater versatility in its control, makes LED lighting allow energy savings that can easily exceed 70% and even reach 90%.
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But the advantages of LED lighting in industrial buildings and warehouses are not only energy savings, but also that, unlike fluorescent luminaires, LEDs practically do not require maintenance. They can be running for several years without having to replace them.
Another of the great advantages is the low heat dissipation of LED lights, which has led cold stores to be the first to be interested in replacing their lighting with LED technology, since savings in lighting electricity consumption are added to the savings in air conditioning consumption.
Over the next few years we will see how the cost of LED luminaires will be drastically reduced, at the same time that fluorescent tubes will irretrievably fall into disuse.
Another of the great advantages is the low heat dissipation of LED lights, which has led cold stores to be the first to be interested in replacing their lighting with LED technology, since savings in lighting electricity consumption are added to the savings in air conditioning consumption.
Over the next few years we will see how the cost of LED luminaires will be drastically reduced, at the same time that fluorescent tubes will irretrievably fall into disuse.