Electricity generation at low cost and saving it in every conceivable field is a very critical for economic development. Efficient lighting at low cost can be underscored as a national priority.
In the quest for low-cost power, the effort is to move away from age-old methods of lighting. If filament was the key to first generation bulbs, the present effort is to avoid it and even banish it totally. LED technology appears to be in the forefront of a new era of lighting revolution.
Lighting devices so far.
Three major lighting devices have been: 1) incandescent bulbs, 2) fluorescent lights and 3) Light Emitting Diodes (LED). While incandescent and fluorescent lighting devices are age old and considered obsolete, LED is rather new, though it has been in existence for some time.
The latest version of LED is credited with efficiency, lower cost vis-a-vis its life span and higher output. It is acknowledged as more viable for large-scale lighting in households, business places and similar environs. It is said that LED bulbs can work for around 50,000 hours. A 8 to 11 watt power LED can replace a 60 watt incandescent, which would mean a gain of about 80 per cent.
Other benefits of a LED bulb are: it is cooler compared to incandescent bulbs, it is instantly bright, it has possibilities of a broad range of colours, it is cost effective, it does not emit mercury, and it has minimal toxic effect. Customised LED lights can even be controlled through Bluetooth connection. Another speciality is that LED differs from traditional lighting sources and it has no glass bulbs or filaments.
Need for promoting LED lights
The Indian consumer is basically one who goes in for cheap articles. He prefers a Rs. 10 incandescent bulb rather than a Rs. 400 or 500 LED bulb. He is always attracted to immediate low payout/investment. Rarely is a middle class or lower middle class man attracted to long-term gains by buying a LED bulb for Rs. 400-500 for lighting his home for a mere 2-3 hours after dark! This kind of situation naturally calls for continuous marketing efforts to promote personal/ family/ or community/ national benefit by saving a few units of electricity. Viewed from this angle, the recent effort of BESCOM to sell LED bulbs at subsidised rates under the Central government scheme needs to be appreciated. Consistent marketing and education is likely to lead to mega benefits.
