New technology is making LEDs more efficient than ever.
As pricing stabilizes and consumers upgrade to LEDs in droves, manufacturers are now driving a technology boom, according to a recent Arkon Power market survey.
“Now that the high quality and long lasting design of LEDs is taken as a no-brainer upgrade for most people, we’re seeing the tech side of the industry accelerate exponentially,” said Graham Brown, Arkon’s technical manager.
On a recent installation for a Florida-based law firm, Arkon tightly controlled its lens angles to limit light pollution and precisely highlight portions of the building. That efficiency is something that’s becoming more and more pronounced throughout the LED industry.
According to a recent study by the U.K.-based University of Exeter, light pollution can have a profound effect on wildlife, but LEDs’ unique ability to be focused and directed make them suited to a solution.
“We are making fundamental changes to the way we light the night-time environment, with potentially profound consequences for a range of species,” said Dr. Thomas Davies of the university’s Environment and Sustainability Institute. “Our research shows that local authorities might be able to manage LED lighting in a way that reduces its environmental impacts.”
Meanwhile, market leaders like Osram are turning their attention to a new chip technology that could make LEDs good for more than just lighting. Deep-UV LEDs are still at an early stage, according to chip developer HexaTech, but if they can be produced reliably, they could eventually be used as disinfectants in applications like water and air sterilization.
Non-visible spectrum lights could amount to a market worth hundreds of millions of dollars, according to analysts. And with forecasts now indicating the global LED lighting market could reach $54.5 billion by 2022, LED companies can only expect more cash on hand for research and development in the coming years.
Analysts indicate two other major growth areas for LED lighting are in automotive applications and developing nations. Lower cost products are driving the growth in both sectors.
“The upshot of all of this for our customers is that we’re able to tailor the absolute best LED technology to each of our customers without having to devastate budgets,” said Eleni Lelekis, Arkon’s director of business development. “This is a win-win for folks just getting to know LEDs. The days of overpaying for a young technology are over; the days of reasonably priced, top-of-market lighting are here to stay.”
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