LED Technology Surpasses Other Lighting Technology

by: Ben Anton

LED, or light emitting diode, technology is something consumers are hearing more and more about from television advertisements, magazine ads and news reports. However, very few people understand why this light source is such a powerful alternative to traditional lighting. The advantages of LED light sources over other technologies are numerous but can be simplified into two main categories: 1.) energy efficiency & longevity and 2.) power & versatility.

Benefits: Energy-Efficiency & Longevity

- LED light bulbs generate only trace amounts of heat, resulting in nearly all of the electrical energy consumed being used toward creating the light itself. Incandescent, halogen or fluorescent lights can use up to 90% of their energy consumption producing heat-carrying infrared light photons which do not produce visible light.

- LED light bulbs produce more light per watt of energy.

- Standard LED light bulb are estimated to burn for 35,000 to 50,000 hours at full capacity before requiring replacement (some high-quality LEDs even boast 100,000 hours). Incandescent burn for 1,000 to 2,000 hours.

- LED technology is perfect for applications that are frequently turned off and on, like flashlights. Fluorescent bulbs burn out more quickly when they are frequently switched on and off.

- LED light bulbs are solid state components, which are difficult to break, unlike incandescent, fluorescent and halogen bulbs which have internal filaments that can easily break.

Benefits: Power & Versatility

- When compared watt-for-watt to an incandescent bulb, LED light bulbs produce more light per watt than any other light bulb.

- A single LED bulb can produce twice as much light (as measured in lumens) as a traditional bulb.

- LED light bulbs light up quickly, providing full brightness in micro-seconds.

- LED light bulb are much smaller than regular bulbs making them perfect for a variety of applications

- LED light bulbs do not use any mercury.

- LED technology is designed to focus the light better for a more intense, bright light.

- LED light bulbs maintain their color when dimmed, unlike incandescent bulbs which turn yellow.

- LED light bulbs can be built to emit color without using costly colored filters, which drive up the cost of traditional colored lights.

With these benefits, LED light bulbs can be used in a countless number of applications. Hunting, fishing and camping enthusiasts can be confident that with a LED flashlight in their gear, they will have adequate, powerful light that will last for days on one set of batteries and years on one light bulb. They will also be pleased to find this technology built into a number of form factors, all specifically designed for specific activities – headlamps for cave hikers, flexlights for fishermen, lanterns for campers and torches for hunters.

Home owners will be able to see power consumption reduction and lower electric bills within one month by transitioning light bulbs in the kitchen, bathroom or living room to LED replacement bulbs.

Perhaps one of the best reasons to switch to LED light sources is to lessen your footprint on the environment. By switching to LED light bulbs, you are not only saving money by using less energy, you are also helping the environment by preserving our resources. In an environment that needs the earth’s inhabitants to use less and save more, LED technology lights the way.

Are Bosch Water Heaters Worth Buying?

by: Richard J Runion

Conventional storage, heat pump, tank-less coil, indirect and solar heaters are among the variety of water heaters available in the market. Consider the pros and cons of the different water heater models to help you select the one you’ll be happy with. Efficiency, cost, capacity, and particular needs, if you have any, are some qualities you should look for.

About 20 to 80 gallons of hot water are stored by a typical tank heater. The water, which is heated up slowly, is stored for later use. Reheating at a pre-set temperature may need to be done, as water often loses heat, as it sits in the tank waiting to be used. A "standby heat loss" occurs as energy is lost from warmed water sitting unused in a tank.

As their name implies, tank-less heaters lack a holding tank. When you turn on a hot-water tap, the heating process begins. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the cold water that travels through a pipe into the unit, quickly. According to Richard H. Karney, Energy Star program manager for the DOE, tank-less water heaters "do save energy because they eliminate parasitic energy losses in the tank.”

And it is because of their energy saving characteristic that a federal tax deduction is allowed on the purchase of some tank-less water heaters.

Bosch the manufacturers of water heaters produce a variety of tank-less heaters. They heat water faster; their maintenance is negligible, and unlike tank heaters, they save space, are easy to install and are available in a variety of sizes, and heating capacity, both in electric and gas models

The 250 series higher-end model enables you to access hot water from multiple faucets simultaneously. The 125 series is a single-faucet model providing access to one outlet.

Bosch Water Heaters are known to last from 0 to 20 years.

Bosch offers 24X7 telephonic support. A wide network of dealership insures easy access to repairers. Bosch water heaters come with a ten year warranty on the main unit, and a one year warranty on other parts.

The gas lines and vents needed to run your tank-less heater must be considered, before you select a heater to buy, as well as the costs associated with conversion. The servicing needs, the availability of replacement parts and technicians to service it are the other things you should take into account before you buy your water heater.

Five Reasons Why I recommend Dyson Vaccum Cleaner As A Good Buy

by: Richard J Runion

In recent years, Dyson has eaten into market leader Hoover’s share. The main reason for this is that Dyson came into the market on the initiative of its inventor, who actually offered the innovative vacuum cleaner to Hoover.

In fact, he approached all the major manufacturers, and everyone of them turned him down. This could rank as one of the most short-sighted decisions in the history of the vacuum cleaner industry. In fact, a Hoover spokesman once admitted the folly of not accepting Dyson’s product. Had Hoover consented, he said, they wouldn’t have had to face the competition they now do, as the new technology was likely to have then decayed, on a shelf.

That’s when Dyson decided to manufacture and market his product on his own. It took him about five years to get a patent, but there was no looking back after that.

So, how does Dyson’s cleaner do what traditional vacuum cleaners do not? These are the seven reasons I rate Dyson as a cleaner worth buying, over traditional vacuum cleaners:

1. No Clogging:

There’s no clogging of the bag, in a Dyson cleaner, because there is no bag. The bag present on traditional cleaners was dispensed with, after it was found that clogging of the bag reduced suction.

2. Advantage of being bag-less:

The cleaner does not have a bag. That means there’s no bag to empty, from time to time.

3. Good Airflow:

High Velocity Airflow technology insures good airflow and better cleaning, in a Dyson.

4. Quality Filter:

The HEPA filter used on a Dyson cleaner prevents clogging of the filter which traditional machines suffer.

5. Maneuverability:

Vacuum cleaners are no fun when you struggle to move them. The ball in the Dysoin’s vacuum head prevents this problem.

6. Build Quality:

These cleaners are rugged because the manufacturers use ABS and polycarbonate for the casing. (You will find this material in cars, and crash helmets.) Also, you will agree with me when I say that the upright design looks sleek and radical.

7. Innovation:

Above everything else, I credit Dyson for thinking innovatively, for thinking about the buyer, and not just about profits.

Though these cleaners are a bit heavy and some of them have high clearance making it hard to clean under furniture, I recommend Dyson Vaccum Cleaner as the pluses are more than the minuses.