LEDs & Data Transmission & Wireless Internet Technology - Bulbs That Multitask

What if your light bulb could multitask?  LEDs are known for energy efficiency but now there are claims they can be productive too - by transmitting data like a wireless router.

There has been testing and research done on this technology for a few years now but recently German researchers successfully took regular white LED bulbs and converted them into optical wireless local area networks.  They were able to transfer data, 4 HD quality videos to 4 different laptops simultaneously, at a rate of 100 megabits per second over 10 square meters of area (that's over 100 square feet).  In previous tests by the Fraunhofer researchers, they sent data at the rate of 800 megabits per second in a lab by using a commercial bulb.

This technology works by flickering the light rapidly with a simple modulator, too quickly for the human eye to detect any change.  Light is converted by a receiver that detects small changes in the light's amplitude into an electronic signal.  Traditional light bulbs and fluorescent bulbs can't work because they don't have a semi-conductor in their designs - but LED bulbs do.

A professor of engineering at Edinburgh University, Harold Haas, streamed a video from a desk lamp at a conference in July 2011.  He says this technology is significant because we are running out of radio frequency spectrum from our appetite for wireless communication.  It can be used alone or you can piggy-back existing wireless services with the lighting equipment.  In addition to a virtually free high speed internet, this technology provides advantages like convenience and privacy.

The convenience factor is in that light bulbs are everywhere.  It is especially beneficial for places that restrict radio waves - airports, airplanes, and hospitals.  It's just the matter of having people catch on and switch to LED light bulbs.

Light is also more secure than radio waves since light cannot penetrate walls - thus it is more difficult to hack information or calls from a light wave than a radio wave.

Haas hopes to microchip every lighting device from street lamps, traffic lights, and overhead lights on planes.

There is room for improvement for this technology, for sure - but it is the future for wireless data transmission - and more of a reason to make a switch to LED bulbs and be part of the "smart lighting" revolution!

LED Fashion - Clothing of the Future?

Check out this evening dress made of LED lights that I stumbled upon from another blog.  It's made up of 24,000 LEDs and 4,000 Swarovski crystals.  
You can see this dress which has been on permanent display since 2009 in the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.  It was designed and created by Ryan Genz and Francesca Rosella, interactive fashion designers from CuteCircuit in London.  It is known as the Galaxy Dress.

Pretty incredible, huh?

You should check out CuteCircuit's website and see what else they have for "wearable technology" - very innovative and cute stuff!

We've already seen performers implement LED accessories and clothing into their shows - but what if this could be the future of everyday wear - or night wear?  It would be outstanding what designers would be able to create with their imagination and this technology.


See?  LED lights are so versatile and wonderful!  If you agree, share your thoughts and comments - and feel free to share this blog.

Watch the video below to see the full effect of this mesmerizing dress. 

Thank You to All of Our Supporters!! Contest . . . maybe??

This week's blog will be short and sweet!  We just want to say THANK YOU to all of our friends and supporters who've liked our Facebook page (we've reached 50 page likes!!), subscribed to our YouTube channel, and keep up with our blog.  Your support means the world to us - and it's a world we're trying to better with simple steps that will make a big impact.  With each new person supporting our efforts, energy conservation awareness is being spread - so please continue your support by sharing some of our social media with ones you know.  We will continue to strive to put out some more informational and (hopefully) entertaining posts.  Help us do better by sharing your input, requesting topics you'd like to know more about, and giving your advise - all is seriously appreciated!!

We're debating on starting a small contest through new Facebook likes sometime this month: suggest our Facebook page to people you know to like us & you and your friend may each both win a gift card.  What do you think of that?  If we decide to start the contest, depending on YOUR feedback, more info will be posted to clarify.

Thanks everyone!!

Local Governments and Communities Could Save Big

I've come upon a few articles about some cities, such as Seattle and Boston, to have saved loads of money by switching their lighting to LED lights. Here's a recent one from LEDs Magazine: LED street lights saving serious cash in Seattle.

Seattle is already saving $300,000 every year and estimates saving $2.4 million a year after all lights are replaced by 2014. 2.4 million dollars!!?!  That's tremendous!  Can you imagine what our local cities, governments, and school systems could do with savings like that?  Not only would it help relieve some of these big budget cuts, it would be putting less of a strain on our environment, too.  That’s what you call a Green Economy.

10 Ways to Save Energy in the Summer

It's hot.  I'm a person who thrives in the sun - but these days it's too hot for me to even walk from my car to a store.  So, when I can, I've been trying to stay indoors this summer.  However, by staying indoors, I'm using energy - energy that we should all try and conserve.  Here are a few simple tips to conserve energy while avoiding the heat at home.

1.  Windows - Keep your blinds and/or curtains down and drawn in the summer.  If you can also invest in solar control window shading/tinting film, not only are you conserving energy, you'll be blocking out some harmful UV rays.

2.  Thermostat -  Set your A/C to the highest temperature possible that is comfortable to you.  We keep ours at 80 degrees but it is usually recommended to keep it at least at 78 to be energy efficient.  Try adjusting it one degree higher every few hours or day (depending on how gradual you want to go) until your household grows accustomed.  Set your thermostat to at least 85 degrees when leaving.  When turning on your A/C, do not set the temperature cooler than the normal setting - it will not cool your space any faster and will result in an unnecessary expense.  Replace your filter - dirty filters restrict air flow and make your A/C run longer.  Avoid keeping your appliances, lights & lamps, and TV & other electronics directly near the thermostat.

3.  Use fans and vents - Ceiling fans help circulate the air to make you feel cooler even though the temperature is not, helping you feel more comfortable when your thermostat is set higher.  Use your bathroom vents during showers and baths to vent out humidity and heat.  (Try to take shorter showers rather than baths, too!)

4.  Laundry - Wash your clothes in cold water.  There are a lot of "cold water" detergents that are designed to be a better clean for your laundry.  You can use regular detergent on the cold cycle but I recommend using liquid over powder.  Do FULL loads to reduce how many loads per week.  Line dry your clothes as much as possible.  When using the dryer, use the moisture sensor option over timed dry and clean the lint after every load.

5.  Dishes - Choose to run your dishwasher over hand-washing.  Not only will it save you time, but also in water and electricity (the electricity that is consumes to heat the water).  Do FULL loads and let it air dry.  Don't pre-rinse before loading.  If you need to, use baking soda instead to scrape off clumps off food.

6.  Stock your fridge - Your fridge is the most efficient when full versus empty.  When it starts to empty and you can't make a run to the store, just fill it with refillable water bottles or pitchers.  Thaw frozen food in the fridge rather than on the counter or microwave.  Wait to put hot food in the fridge until it is cooler.

7.  Cooking - Use your stove and oven as little as possible.  Instead, use your microwave, toaster, or toaster oven.  When using your stove to boil water or other liquids, make sure to use the pot's cover for a faster boiling time.  When using your oven, try not to open the door too often - just use the oven light to take a peek.


8.  Be wise with time - Avoid running appliances at peak hours (typically 4 PM to 7 PM) for your laundry or dishwasher.

9.  Unplug appliances and electronics - Or connect TVs, DVD players, game consoles, computers, printers, etc. to power strips and turn off when not in use.

10.  Lighting - Since the days are longer, try as much as possible to use the natural light that shines through your blinds instead of turning on a light.  Turn lights off when leaving a room (simple but you'll be surprised how many people need reminding).  And of course . . . switch to LED bulbs.


Enjoy the rest of your summer!  Stay safe and cool.

Top 10 Reasons LED Lights are the Best Technology for Lighting

Remember those phones you had to plug into your wall and manually spin the number on the dial to make a call?  My parents had one until the mid-90s.  When making calls with numbers 9 or 0, you had to wait to dial the next number until it clicked all the way around.  It was fun to use on those lazy summer days, watching the dial turn and click; but it wasn't a very efficient way to make a call compared to the technology we have today.  Those rotary phones evolved to push button phones - and now we have smart phones that can practically do anything with soft nudges on a screen.  

We've made good use of our Edison-made incandescent light bulbs but don't you think it's about time that we evolve our lighting to more efficient "smart" lighting?

Think of rotary phones as traditional incandescent light bulbs, push dial phones as CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulb), and our smart phones to LEDs.

When efficiency was wanted in how we use our phones, we’ve been pretty progressive.  The reason why lighting technology hasn’t progressed and become more widespread as far as our phones is because we didn’t see the need.  Now that making a greener world is more of a widespread concern (Thank goodness!), lighting technology has become really forthcoming with energy efficiency.  CFLs were making their way into the mainstream; but with LED technology surpassing CFL lighting in so many ways, LEDs are becoming the "smart" lighting technology that everyone will want to have.

There is now legislation for incandescent bulbs to be phased out and banned in the United States, following the footsteps of other green energy conscience countries.  So, our main two contenders are CFLs and LEDs.   

Here are the top 10 reasons why LEDs are the smart solution. 


1.  Long lifespan.  The lifespan of an LED bulb is two times longer than a CFL bulb and twenty times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb.  A CFLs rated lifetime of 10,000 hours becomes a significantly shorter lifespan if switched on/off too often.  It is recommended with CFLs to keep them on for longer than 15 minutes to keep their lifespan.  That's fine in my living room, but not in my garage, closets, hallways . . . you get the point.  However, there is no wear and tear when turning LEDs on and off.  LEDs can also stay at full brightness for up to 100,000 hours of use and will get gradually dimmer over time when burning out.  No more of the pop of burnt out filaments from incandescent bulbs, either.


2.  LEDs are silent.  No humming, buzzing, flickering, popping, or short tick sounds with LEDs.


3.  LEDs are durable because they are built inside solid cases which reduce the risk of broken glass.


4.  No more burnt fingers with a cool to the touch LED bulb.  LEDs are significantly cooler when lit and are less of a fire hazard than incandescents and CFLs.  Incandescents and CFLs both can get pretty darn hot and give you a nice, small space heater effect.  Which brings us to reason number . . . 


5.  LEDs are the most energy efficient.  While incandescent bulbs lose up to 90% of its energy to heat and remit 10% as light and CFL bulbs lose about 80% to heat, LED bulbs lose only about 20% to heat.  Which means, all of the nonrenewable energy plants (nuclear, gas, oil) that produce our electricity can consume less of our resources.  The consumer will also spend less on their electric bill from lighting savings and reduced A/C use.


*Quick side story - When I was in elementary school, I tried to trick my mom into thinking I had a fever so I could stay home.  I held up a thermometer to a bulb (think I saw it in a movie or something) and the thermometer burst. . . which leads us to reason . . .


6.  LEDs do not contain toxic substances.   CFLs contain mercury.  They work because they're gas-filled - mercury is the vapor inside the glass bulb that gets converted to light from an electric current.  This is very dangerous for your home if the bulb happens to break.  It is even worse for our environment when they go into our landfills. LEDs, on the other hand, are a solid state lighting (SSL) technology.  They don't need filaments or toxic gas to produce light.  An LED bulb works from using a semiconductor (a chip) and electroluminescence (when electrons are combined with electron holes inside an LED bulb to release photons - which emit as light).  It is completely safe.


7.  No UV emissions.  CFLs radiate Ultra-Violet light; therefore, it is recommended that a bulb stay at least 1 foot away from you.  LED bulbs don't produce any UV light.  Another benefit for this is that most insects are more attracted to UV light.  So you'll have the comfort in knowing that you reduce your health risks from UV light and have a reduction in bugs swarming your home or business.  Isn't it gross cleaning out those dead bugs from your lighting?  


8.  LEDs are versatile and have so many possibilities.  Colors without filters, dimming, water-proof and resistant - these are some of the features of an LED bulb.  With so many functions and purposes, you can use them for spotlighting, ambiance, street lights, landscaping lighting, typical household use, and the list goes on.  It's pretty darn cool what people choose to do with them. 


9.  LEDs are the best option to use with solar panels.  Because so much less energy is required to use an LED light, solar panels can provide enough energy and still conserve stored energy for a longer period of time.


10.  Environmentally green saving while saving the green in your wallet.  LED bulbs save you money in so many ways due to the long lifespan and energy efficiency,.  The number one complaint that people have with LEDs are that each bulb is more than what they're used to paying for a light bulb.  However, CFLs have recently been reported to have an increase in price (due to the mercury concerns) by 25% while advancements in LED technology have been facilitating a price decrease.  A consumer won't have to buy as many light bulbs - which also free up landfill space.  LEDs are completely recyclable, too.  As mentioned before, because of their energy efficiency and ability to produce less heat, they will also save on your electric bill.  In fact, the Department of Energy estimates that if everyone opts for LED lights over the next 20 years, we can reduce electricity demands by 62%, eliminating 258 million metric tons of carbon emissions, and saving us from building 133 new power plants.  That's pretty incredible, if you ask me.  


So there's the list.  I tried to keep it short, I promise.  This entry turned out a lot longer than what I wanted but there are so many benefits for LEDs and I didn't want to skimp in letting you know them.
Please leave your feedback with your thoughts and opinions!

We're blogging too!

Hi everyone!

If you've found our blog, it's most likely because you've liked our Facebook page. (Thanks!)  If you haven't already, please like us.  :)  Why?  We're trying to take FULL advantage of this little thing called social media to get our name out there.  This is how –

Including our website (www.led-kinetics.com), we are now on . . .

Facebook (www.facebook.com/ledkinetics)

YouTube (www.YouTube.com/user/ledkinetics)

and blogging, here on blogspot.com by the name…. LED-Kinetics!

Yes, thanks for noticing all of our shameless plugs!  We'd really appreciate your 'likes', subscriptions, and comments on all our outlets.  We’ve already posted some videos on YouTube, which, I think, are pretty cool.  Check them out – and give us some feedback in what you want to see next.

So here’s a bit of who we are:

We are a company trying to make a little bit of a difference through educating and introducing LED lights and lighting solutions to anyone who will listen.  LED lights are the best alternative to all of the inefficient choices in lighting.  Not only do they reduce a user’s carbon footprint, they will reduce his/her electricity bill – and the lights are just plain awesome.  There are so many different possibilities with LEDs that it’s mind blowing.  With research and development of this technology advancing, LEDs will progressively become the main source of lighting within the near future.  It’s just the smartest solution – eco-friendly, beautiful, long lasting lighting.  Who has an argument against that?

So anyway – we’ve spent a lot of time (over a year) researching the technology, market, and benefits of LED lights.  One of our partners has spent more than 10 years as an Electrical Contractor and has worked with LED lights – so we had an upper hand with his knowledge.  The more we researched, the more we realized that we couldn't help but spread the word on LEDs.  We were becoming too passionate to let it sit as an idea.  We then made the decision to dive into our new business, spending months scouting and talking to different manufacturers of LED lighting, preparing our business plan, and finally, spending the whole month May meeting with the manufacturers that stood out - traveling across the world to find QUALITY lights that will be in price competition with the less-quality value brands.  


Our meetings with Stonlite were distinctive to the other manufacturers because their product was exactly what we were looking for, their facilities were impressive, and their people were amazing.  They were equally impressed with our knowledge and drive.  Stonlite has had other American entrepreneurs approach them wanting to partner up, but turned them down because they just didn’t know what they were talking about.  We are now the sole distributors of these lights in the U.S. and plan on making Stonlite Lights a household name.

We plan on doing some retrofits (physically replacing standard, inefficient lighting to LED lighting ourselves), web marketing and sales, and distributing these lights for the mainstream market.

If you follow our blog, you’ll learn more of the benefits & advantages of LED lights, see some of the projects we’re working on, and get a better perspective of who we are and what we do.

Thanks for reading.  Thanks again for subscribing and liking our Facebook & YouTube pages (wink wink)!
Don’t forget to visit our main website. 

Oh!  By the way, feedback please on the Evolution of Lighting graphic up there.  Too busy?  Or is it ok?  All feedback is greatly appreciated!

-         -  LED Kinetics