LEDs are more energy efficient. LEDs last longer. These claims are becoming more and more prevalent, and rightfully so. But this breakthrough light source represents another tremendous advantage, one that is far less well known: the LED color spectrum. The “white” visible light emitted naturally by both the sun and artificial light sources is actually composed of a range of colors. These various colors can be viewed when the light is refracted through a dispersive prism. The different colors of light represent different wavelength frequencies — the typical human eye can perceive wavelengths from about 390 to 700 nm. While sunlight is composed of the richest compilation of color (within it you will see all the colors of the rainbow), many other forms of artificial “white” light are missing wide swaths of the color spectrum. Looking at the color distribution of incandescent (top) and CFLs (bottom) in the charts below, we see that there are large sections of the full spectrum missing from each of these forms of white light. In incandescents, the lower wavelengths of blue, green all the way to yellow are found at a greatly diminished value. In CFLs, on the other hand, the apparent white light is something like a visual trick, composing narrow bands of violet, blue, green and orange color frequencies to trick our brains into thinking we’re seeing white light. Below is the color spectrum found in LEDs. Notice how the LED color spectrum is heavier on the blues, and claims a more even distribution than CFLs or red heavy incandescents. The reason for this is that many LEDs are run using more efficient blue chips which shines through a phosphor coating that turn the light white. So what’s the difference between the LED color spectrum and the spectrum found in other artificial light sources? The main difference is that the LED spectrum is closer to natural daylight than incandescents, which more closely resemble sunset light, or CFLs, which are composed of narrow bands of light. The color spectrum of LED lights signal to our body’s internal circadian rhythm, a critical player in cognition and mood, that we are in a daylight situation. This makes us feel more alert, in addition to helping fight symptoms of depression. In contrast, incandescents, heavy on the red spectrum, can actually decrease alertness and increase fatigue. Interestingly, the LED color spectrum has also proven beneficial in poultry LED lighting. Chickens raised under LED lights were found to respond positively to the LED color spectrum, which enhanced growth rates while reducing food costs and increasing the amount of eggs per chicken. Furthermore, the LED color spectrum has led to great results for indoor gardeners and horticulturists. Up until now, we have only covered one way to make white LED light — a blue LED light shone through phosphor. Another method is known as RGB, which blends red, green and blue LEDs together into white. While a less developed technology than phosphor-based white LEDs, RGB-based LEDs have the advantage of increasing the dynamism of the LED color spectrum. By using remote-controlled color-changing RGBs, the LED color spectrum can be adjusted to change at different times of the day or for various situations at home or work. Any Questions? Inspired to learn more about LED lights? We’d love to lend a hand and discuss LED strip lighting possibilities whenever you’re ready. Contact: Phone: 1-844-FLEXFIRE (1-844-353-9347) Email: info@flexfireleds.com Website: flexfireleds.com    ...

What’s the biggest difference between LEDs and other forms of lighting systems? Is it that they’re 85% more efficient than incandescent bulbs? Or that they last thousands of hours longer than CFLs? While there are obvious benefits, according to Fast Company, the most revolutionary component of LEDs is likely to be their ability to recognize digital signals. For the first time, our lighting systems are going from analog to digital. No longer do lights just turn “off” or “on.” Now they can be “tuned” to emit any color of the rainbow, or change temperature and brightness, all from the touch of a finger on your smartphone app. We’re now staring at the future of LED lighting, and it’s a beautiful, brave new world. Since 2007, the U.S. has been effectively phasing out inefficient incandescent lighting through federal regulations enacted in the Energy Independence and Security Act. After starting out with an effective ban on 100-watt incandescent bulbs in 2012, followed by 75-watt bulbs in 2013 and 60- and 40-watt in 2014, LEDs have been the industry favorite as a replacement for Edison’s monumental invention over a century ago. One of the first reasons that LEDs took off instead of efficient but sterile CFLs is that they contain solid-state lighting (SSL) semiconductors. It was just twenty years ago Nichia’s Shuji Nakamura invented the blue LED in Japan. By covering the blue light in phosphorous coating, the industry was soon able to introduce a white LED light onto the market. While the first generation of LED lighting failed to outperform traditional lighting sources in performance and pricing, the predictable improvement curve of SSL has led prices to fall dramatically as product research and investment has skyrocketed. By 2013, Cree had released a LED bulb that looked and felt like a 60-watt incandescent, priced at under $14. By 2014, the LED lighting market is estimated at $17.4 billion and is predicted for rapid growth through 2020. The current rise can be explained mostly by LED technology’s superior durability, efficiency and performance in comparison to other lighting technologies. Further, the emergence of home automation and the “Internet of Things” will only serve to catapult LEDs to deeper and deeper market penetration rates. Here are benefits that digital networks and intelligent home automation systems hold for the future of LED lighting and human well-being. Health Benefits: “You have to start thinking of light as a drug,” said Terry K. McGowan, the director of engineering for the American Lighting Association, in an interview with nytimes.com. That means that we have to start recognizing the impact lighting has on our mental and emotional states. As artists have known for a long time, color affects our moods and can elicit emotional and physiological responses. For example, blue wavelengths in light — which LEDs are rich in due to their reliance on blue lights — have been shown to help us stay awake. Furthermore, LED lights can be programmed to follow the natural light rhythms of sunlight. This will increase human well-being by maximizing the efficiency of our circadian rhythms to indoor lighting, increasing focus, energy and fighting insomnia and depression disorders. Installed at work, automated LEDs will be able to increase worker productivity. Installed in the bedroom, automated LEDs will be able to help us fall asleep and wake up on time. Not only that, but LEDs are an amazing tool for indoor gardening, which help people, even those living in poor growing climates, to produce their own organic food and plants. Energy Efficiency Benefits: LEDs are already 80% more efficient that incandescents and a good 20% to 30% more efficient than most CFL options. But the efficiency of the technology doesn’t end at the individual diode. LEDs are much better than CFLs for home automation systems due to the advanced control options and rapid response switching and dimming. Using home automation systems, LED lights can be programmed to turn off or dim down...