World Environment Day, the United Nation’s primary event to encourage awareness about environmental issues, is June 5th. The day, celebrated by over 143 countries around the world, is focused on outreach, advocacy, and education.
Since World Environment Day’s goals involve both educating people about environmental issues and promoting change, we can all celebrate this year by being exposed to new ways to help the planet. With that spirit of change and action in mind, in this post, we’re going to look at some of the benefits that come from using LED (light emitting diodes) bulbs in your home.
Not only are these bulbs more efficient and longer-lasting than other bulbs, but they are also safer for you and the environment. Today we’ll share some of the benefits of LED lights so you can ensure that you’re using them in your home and so you can help convince others of the importance of making this change.
Stop Taking Light Damage
Many people know that incandescent bulbs are less efficient than LED or even CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs, but did you know that they also have health risks?
Incandescent bulbs can cause eye damage to the retina, which in extreme cases can lead to complete loss of vision.
As a result, if you’re using these bulbs it’s important to use a shade or decrease the brightness to avoid eye damage. In addition, both incandescent and CFL bulbs can give off UV rays, which can cause a number of health issues.
Avoiding Ultraviolet Light
Ultraviolet light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is most commonly associated with the sun but can also be transmitted from waves or particles at different frequencies or wavelengths.
While some amount of UV light is good for you, too much can have harmful effects on the eyes, skin, circadian rhythm and immune system. As a result, it’s best to limit UV exposure, and the sun is really the only UV light that we should be around.
CFL bulbs give off varying amounts of UV rays. Even incandescent bulbs give off some UV rays, while LED bulbs give off very small amounts or no UV rays. Using bulbs with the lowest amount of UV rays is just one more way to help you and your family be a little healthier.
LED Bulbs are Mercury Free
Both incandescent and CFL bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, which is harmful to both the environment and people. In contrast, LED bulbs are mercury free. This is one more way that these bulbs are better for you and the planet.
In addition to containing mercury, incandescent bulbs waste a lot of energy, as 90% of their energy is released in the form of heat. While you might not mind this in the winter, it can make your home even more inefficient in the summer because of the increased pressure it puts on your cooling system.
Switching to LED bulbs is one easy way that you can make your home more environmentally friendly this World Environment Day. We’ll continue looking for ways to protect the environment and hope that you’ll do the same. If you have any questions or need any electrical upgrades, call us today at (608) 837-9367.
