LEDs: Light Emitting Diodes

Inefficiencies

The incandescent light bulb, a staple of artificial lighting for over a century, faced significant inefficiencies. Gary Arndt explains that these bulbs converted only about 5-10% of electricity into visible light, with the rest wasted as heat 1. This inefficiency was so pronounced that incandescent bulbs were used in children's toys like the Easy-Bake Oven to cook small treats, highlighting their excessive heat production.

Most of the electricity that went into an incandescent light bulb didn't produce light. It produced heat and other non-visible wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.

--- Gary Arndt

Additionally, the finite lifespan of these bulbs, due to their vulnerability to oxygen exposure, further underscored the need for more efficient lighting solutions 1.

   

LEDs Emergence

The quest for more efficient lighting led to the development of LEDs, or light-emitting diodes. Gary Arndt notes that while incandescent bulbs were a breakthrough, they were not efficient, prompting the search for alternatives 2. LEDs emerged as a solution, offering a way to produce light with minimal energy wastage.

It wouldn't be until decades later that a radically more efficient way of producing artificial light would be developed.

--- Gary Arndt

This innovation marked a significant advancement in artificial lighting, allowing for extended productive hours and more versatile applications 2.