
LED stands for light-emitting diode, i.e., two electrodes are attached to produce electricity, which is made up of semiconductors. The anode and cathode are the two electrodes in which the flow of electrons takes place from the anode to the cathode. This flow of electrons from one electrode to another in a definite direction on getting attached to a source generates the light energy, which we see as the illumination of the LED lights.
How are LEDs manufactured?
LED manufacture is a sensitive and complicated process, but we’ll try our best to summarise it. To begin, the semiconductor material must be created. The semiconductor wafer is what it’s called. In a high-temperature, high-pressure chamber, the semiconductor material is “grown.”After the ingredients have been combined, a rod is inserted into the solution and gently withdrawn. As the rod is dragged out, the solution crystallises on the end, forming a long, cylindrical crystal ingot.
This material is then cut into semiconductor wafers and sanded down until the surface is smooth, similar to how you would sand down a table. After that, it’s immersed into a mixture of solvents for a thorough cleaning to remove any dirt, organic or dust material.
More layers of semiconductor material are added to the wafer in the following phase of the process. Impurities, or dopents, can be added in this fashion.
On the semiconductor, metal connections are then defined. This is chosen at the design stage and considers whether the diode will be used alone or in conjunction with others.
Finally, the diodes are installed on the proper package, wires are connected, and the entire assembly is wrapped in plastic. This is how LEDs are created!
This is how LED lights manufacturers produce LED lights. No harmful substance or chemical is used in the manufacturing process of the LED lights.
Be it hospitality lighting manufacturers or LED manufacturers of any industry, though there remains a difference in the design of light, the manufacturers make sure to mitigate environmental damage to every extent possible.
LED lights are sustainably manufactured as the materials used to manufacture LED lights are all recyclable and can be used again in some or the other way. Even disposing of these lights is really easy. Disposing it off doesn’t require any special arrangements as they do not contain chemicals like mercury which is found in other kinds of lighting.
Benefits of LED lights for the environment
● Lifespan –
In comparison to CFLs and other lights, LED lights have a very long life. They can work for years without any maintenance or change in batteries. It lives for 2-4 times more than traditional lighting.
● Energy efficiency –
Its energy efficiency is another reason for choosing it above other lights. They use very little power. Depending upon which type of LED light we are using and how much is its power consumption, up to 90% of energy can be saved.
● No toxicity –
Unlike fluorescent lights, which contain mercury, LED lights do not have any such toxic chemicals in them and of which, even on disposal, they do not harm the environment, which is not the case with other conventional lighting.
● Focussed energy –
LED produces focussed light in one direction instead of wasting light energy by producing light in all directions even where it is not needed.
● Less number –
Since LED produces focussed light, it gives light in one particular direction which leads to more brightness in the needed area. So, it means that with fewer LEDs, we can get just similar or more brightness than we get from more bulbs. Less number of bulbs also results in less energy consumption which is beneficial for the environment.
● Low carbon dioxide release –
Since LED lights consume less power, the emission of harmful gases like carbon dioxide is very less, which in turn reduces the greenhouse emission. So each and every LED which is used reduces the emission of greenhouse gases by around half a ton.
● No overheating –
The chances of LEDs getting overheated are very less as much of the electrical energy is converted into light energy and not just dissipated into heat energy, unlike incandescent lights where 90% of the electrical energy is converted into heat energy making the light source incredibly hot, and 10% is converted into light energy which makes it less energy efficient. Due to less heating, the cooling cost also becomes less, which is yet another added benefit.