I’m an interior design student, and just finished up with my second course in lighting. During that time, we learned a little bit about this somewhat new technology. First of all, LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. What a diode is, I still don’t know, but what I do know is that these lights use less energy than even the currently popular CFLs. I even noticed on a recent trip to Costco, that they are using traditional shaped bulbs and filling them with these diodes so we can use this new energy-saving technology right in our own homes. Many of us have probably already used them during the holidays in our lighting decoration.
What is great about this technology is that they use less energy, are very compact so they can be used in more creative ways, and last about an average of 15 to 20 years. So if you bought a new house and changed the bulbs when you moved in, you’d likely never have to worry about them again - which is even better for those high and hard to reach without an extension ladder fixtures! There are a few considerations though. LEDs currently only come in two color temperatures - so make sure you know what you’re getting. You don’t want your warm beautiful living room to be lit like a hospital surgical room. Also, if you consider using LED under cabinet lighting, be mindful of the reflection of the diodes on your countertop. That’s not something you’re going to want to see.
