The light-emitting diode, or LED, is one of the great advances in lighting technology. First entering the commercial market in 1962, LEDs have come to replace incandescent lighting across the commercial and industrial sectors. Their durability, small size, long lifespan, and low energy consumption have brought LEDs into a wealth of capacities. New applications for LED technologycontinue to arise, making the field an exciting one to watch.
City Streetlights
If you’ve ever flown into Chicago at night, you’ve seen an unforgettable sight—the street grid of the Windy City, illuminated in the radiant orange of its sodium-vapor streetlights. This unusual hue is a small detail, but one that’s undeniably Chicago. However, no longer will the famous Loop be bathed in warm sodium light, as LED streetlights gradually replace the comparatively inefficient sodium lamps. The move consigns Chicago’s signature orange glow to its vivid past alongside Al Capone, the Union Stock Yards, and the bazaars of Maxwell Street. While sentimentalists may lament the change, the brighter and more efficient LED streetlights will offer better illumination, leading to safer streets for pedestrians and motorists alike. Expect more cities to follow the Second City’s lead and adopt LEDs.
Automotive Lights
Speaking of motorists, LEDs have changed driving for the better in recent years. The Big Three and their international competitors have taken notice of how LEDs improve headlights and taillights. Just as LEDs make city streets safer, LED headlights make for safer drivers who can see farther and more clearly while behind the wheel. As automobile manufacturers work to design and build longer-lasting cars, they’ve looked to the increased durability of LED lamps to reduce repair and replacement, leading to happier and more loyal drivers.
Wallpaper
You read right—one of the new applications for LED technology involves color-changing walls. Why slather paint on the walls or fuss with wallpaper designs that might age poorly when you can redesign a room in a matter of keystrokes? By integrating LEDs into wallpaper, you can take mood lighting to the next level by giving your walls a subtle and inviting glow. Best of all, with near-infinite color possibilities, the room can truly reflect your mood, whether you’re feeling warm or kind of blue.
