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U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Using LEDs

Resources

LED MR16 Lamps

Using LEDs to Their Best AdvantagePDF

Establishing LED EquivalencyPDF

Recessed LED DownlightsPDF

Outdoor Area LightingPDF

LED Replacements for Four-Foot Linear Fluorescent LampsPDF

General Service LED Lamps

More Resources

This section includes general guidelines for buying LED products and addresses how these products perform in specific applications. For more details, see Resources at right. 

With their unique design and performance characteristics—such as directional light emission, compact profile, superior optical control, energy efficiency, breakage resistance, reduced maintenance, and long life—LEDs are well suited to a variety of lighting applications. LED products are most competitive in applications where these performance characteristics outweigh their first-cost disadvantages. In addition, since effective thermal management is more difficult to achieve in small LED luminaires and replacement lamps, larger LED assemblies—such as outdoor area lighting—have led the way in market penetration. 

In the rapidly changing LED marketplace, "buyer beware" remains the watchword. While high-quality LED products are now available for many lighting applications, some manufacturers' claims concerning their LED devices are not borne out in independent laboratory testing by the Department of Energy. Several sources of information are essential to sound buying decisions:

  • Standards facilitate "apples to apples" comparisons of LED products as well as evaluation of LEDs versus other lighting options.
  • A growing number of LED products now carry the Lighting Facts® label, which allows buyers to compare lighting options based on objective performance measurements.
  • Demonstrations, including those conducted through DOE'S GATEWAY program and Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium, offer insights on real-world product performance.
  • Buyers also are encouraged to review DOE's CALiPER test results for LED products to verify performance levels.
Horizontal grouping of 6 SSL product photos.

 

With ongoing research and product development, SSL performance has been increasing steadily. Today, many well-designed SSL products can achieve appropriate light distribution in addition to high efficacy and adequate light output. Market segments where LEDs have made the greatest inroads to date include residential recessed downlights, kitchen undercabinet lighting, portable desk/task lighting, and outdoor area lighting. On top of their superior efficacy, SSL products can be more controllable than traditional lighting technologies and their lifetimes are not impacted by frequent on-and-off cycling. Adjusting actual usage to better reflect the application's needs—for example, with an occupancy sensor—could result in even greater energy savings.