VIDEO: LED brightens homes

First there was the incandescent lamp, then there was the fluorescent light bulb. Now there's LED.

As the demand grows for more products that use less energy, LED light fixtures are squeezing into the market.

LED stands for "light-emitting diode." They have been used for a while in computer start-up buttons, police sirens and even VCR displays. But they are now starting to come into their own as lighting for homes and public spaces.

HOW THEY WORK

All men may be created equal, but that's not the case with light bulbs.

Incandescent bulbs create light by passing electricity through a metal filament until it becomes so hot that it glows. They release about 90 percent of their energy as heat.

With a compact fluorescent light bulb, or CFL, an electric current is driven through a tube containing gases. This reaction produces ultraviolet light that gets transformed into light by the phosphor coating inside the tube. A CFL releases about 80 percent of its energy as heat.

In LED lighting products, the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material illuminates the tiny light sources we call LEDs. A small amount of heat is released backward, into a heat sink, in a well-designed product. LEDs are cool to the touch — and they are incredibly energy efficient.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

LED bulbs are more expensive than fluorescent and incandescent lights, and because their light is more focused, they do not create the glowing ambience of an old-fashioned bulb. This can be remedied to some extent, however, with a dome housing. And the lights have to be constructed carefully to whisk away heat, or they will have shorter lifespans. (Check online reviews for tests and reports from fellow consumers.)

Another problem is supply: Some types of LED fixtures are not available locally yet.

"I believe we're not selling LEDs right now because the variety hasn't been introduced to the hardware industry," said Woolsey Rice, City Mill supervisor at Hawai'i Kai. Rice said he expected that customers might ask for them in increasing numbers in the future, and that could pump up availability.

When purchasing electronics, including LEDs, the Hawaiian Electric Company recommends consumers look for the Energy Star label, which indicates that the product meets efficiency and performance standards established by the Department of Energy. They will also come with a minimum three-year manufacturer warranty.

However, LED light bulbs aren't yet covered by this designation, said Peter Rosegg, HECO spokesman. (Note that you can find LED fixtures with Energy Star approval.)

GETTING STARTED

Supply and demand can vary by region.

"Generally, people in Kapolei are very energy efficient and started asking for the LED lights," said Noel Robison, department supervisor of the electrical department at Home Depot in Kapolei. "There is a growing demand."

Fluorescent bulbs are cheaper, Robison noted, and he said he expects they will be around for a long time.

But LEDs are much more energy efficient and have longer lifespans.

For example, a screw-in LED light bulb such as the Philips Ambient LED, carried at Home Depot, lasts for about 20 years.

Another advantage is that they can be safely thrown away and buried in a landfill since they do not contain any mercury, unlike fluorescents.

Glenda Anderson, an interior designer who owns and operates her own design firm, Details International, calls fluorescent bulbs "Band-Aids, not solutions," and is a strong advocate for LEDs — both because of the mercury issue, and because they cut costs.

"Now's a good time to buy LEDs because you would be saving a lot of money," she said. "The longer you wait, the more you would have to spend on CFLs or other light bulbs."

Light preferences are sometimes based on warmth, color, lifespan and fashion. There are ways to get crafty when it comes to making light look good and having control.

"If you have translucent or glass shelving, that could help diffuse the light across the room," Anderson said.

"Mirror backsplashes help redirect light, too."