LED stands for Light Emitting Diode, it is an electronic light source. LED emits light when an electric current passes through it, but not like the incadascent light. In the incadascent light the current heats up the metal spiral in the bulb to the temperature where it starts emitting light like any very hot object - molten steel for insatnce. The spriral becomes very hot and emits a lot of heat as well as light (electric heaters use the same effect).

The process used in in the LED light emission is more subtle and does not waste huge amounts of energy on heating. It is called electroluminescence and was discovered in 1907. It is based on the electrons emitting light when they pass to a lower energy level inside a diode. The wavelength of the light emitted, and thus its colour depends on the materials used in the diode.

The first practical visible-spectrum (red) LED was developed in 1962. First commercial LEDs were mass produced in 1968 and used as replacements for incandescent and neon indicator lamps first in expensive equipment such as laboratory and electronics test equipment, then later in such appliances as TVs, radios, telephones, calculators, and even watches.

Solid state devices such as LEDs are subject to very limited wear and tear if operated at low currents and at low temperatures. Many of the LEDs made in the 1970s and 1980s are still in service today.

With the development of high efficiency and high power LEDs it has become possible to use LEDs in lighting and illumination. Since 1960s the efficiency and light output of the new LED lights was rising exponentially, and now they are used in house lights, street lights, architectural lighting where color changing is used, airplanes and runway lights, backlighting for LCD televisions and laptops, aquarium lights, stage lights, flashlights, strobe lights or camera flashes.

In many countries incandescent lighting for homes and offices is no longer available and building regulations insist on new premises being fitted out at day one with LED fixtures and fittings.

Most lighting found in Australian homes and offices today are very inefficient, costing lots of money to operate as well as emitting vast amounts of CO2 gas emissions into our atmosphere.

LED lighting is a viable replacement for existing residential and commercial installations, much cheaper to operate and better for our environment.

There is no reason to wait any longer, get rid of your costly Halogen light bulbs and switch your globes to LED today.