Our world is vast and full of resources that are only known to this planet. Although it appears sturdy and unyielding, the environment is still delicate. This world is our home, and as its homeowners, it’s up to us to help keep it clean and healthy.
June 5th marks World Environment Day. On this day, tips on how we can contribute to the world’s health are given on many different topics. We’re in a modern age where technology is improving on a constant basis. One of the reasons we are always seeing new advancements is because we know and understand better the harm that old technology had on our health.
Light bulbs are no different. Switching to LED lights is one such way that we can help the environment. Compared with the traditional light bulbs, LED lights are friendlier for the environment and they’re better for your health. Read on to learn more, and find out if making the switch to LED is right for your home, even switching to dimmer lights can help!
How Does Lighting Affect Your Health?
Unlike traditional light bulbs such as the Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and Incandescent lights, LED lights do not affect your health. Your skin and eyes are affected most by the unnatural lighting that comes from CFLs and Incandescent bulbs.
If used at close distances, these light bulbs can cause burns and lead to premature aging on your skin. The glare from the traditional lights can also cause headaches from prolonged use and damage your retinas.
LED lights are designed so they do not glare in every direction as a traditional bulb would. If you point it in the direction you desire, that is where it goes. They also do not emit heat. LEDs have a heat sink that is made to help disperse the energy into the surrounding air so the bulb is cool to the touch even if it’s been left on for several hours.
LED Stops UV Light
The sun and UV radiation go hand in hand with each other. Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the U.S. according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Other health problems caused by UV radiation are premature aging, eye cancer, and immune suppression. It is actually recommended that you should wear sunscreen, protective clothing, and sunglasses throughout the entire year instead of just when it becomes warm outside.
Did you know that a milder form of protection should also be applied when you are inside? CFLs and Incandescent lights are the cause of this. Although on a smaller scale, they still emit UV light and have the potential to cause the harm as you would expect only from being exposed to the sun. LED lights have been tested and little to no UV emissions have been detected over long periods of use.
Other Lights Contain Mercury
Mercury is a liquid metal that is used in CFLs to produce better illumination than that of the Incandescent light bulbs.
Although it is housed inside a small tube in the bulb, it does not emit itself when the bulb is on. It is, however, still toxic and harmful to the environment, as the housing for it is glass and easy to break.
LED lights have been designed without the need for mercury. They instead use a small microchip to produce a light and it’s barely the size of a speck of pepper. This helps to ensure that the energy used is regulated which also makes them more efficient.
Light bulbs are just one of the many ways we can help improve the health of our environment. With each new advancement in technology, it is always a good idea to research which ones are best for you and the planet. If you have need of any assistance with electrical upgrades, please give our company a call and we’d be happy to assist you!
