7 Latest Trends in LED lighting (2024)

The newest LED technologies are a combination of innovation and sustainability. These LED technologies completely redefine the lighting system of our homes, public spaces, working areas, etc. With advanced technologies, the LED industry is growing the fastest, and it completely changes the way we approach the lighting system. According to www.eia.gov approximately half of the US citizen uses LED lighting systems for their indoor and outdoor lighting. It is also estimated that by 2030 almost 87% of all light sources will be LEDs [ www.statista.com ].

This sustainable lighting system also helps in improving the quality of our environment. With the unbelievable growth LED lighting technology offers a more efficient and less costly lighting system. Thus it helps in lighting all the important sectors such as residential, educational, commercial, and horticulture fields in a better way.

In this new era of lighting, recent LED technologies improve our lives by offering an efficient, intelligent, and sustainable lighting system. In this blog, some newest technologies and latest trends in LED lighting are explained to give a complete idea about LED lighting systems to the readers.

What Is LED Technology?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. LED is a semiconductor device that emits light when a current flows through it. When the electron in the semiconductor device recombines with electron holes, then it emits energy in the form of a photon. This results in a tiny light source, that we can see as a visible light.

LED illuminates light in a specific direction and eliminates the need for reflectors and diffusers. LED technology is an advancement in the lighting industry. It is an energy-efficient lighting technology that is environmentally friendly and less costly.

LED lighting products are 90% more efficient and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. LED light bulbs are generally small in size and they are incorporated into bulbs for general lighting applications.

Importance of LED Lighting

Energy Efficiency:

The energy efficiency of LED lighting can be defined as the amount of light an LED bulb emits for every watt of energy it consumes. This is generally measured in terms of lumens or luminous efficacy. The estimated energy efficiency of an LED bulb is 80 to 90%, which means it can convert almost 80% of electrical energy into light, whereas 20 % of energy is converted to heat or other forms.

Long life:

One of the most significant features of LED lighting is its long life span. Quality LED lighting has an average lifespan of 30000-50000 hours or even more. It is up to 30 times longer than the incandescent bulb. These devices usually don’t burn out, they gradually become dimmer over time.

Environmental friendly:

LED lights contain no toxic material. They emit no infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) rays. Again they are also recyclable. So using LED lighting can significantly help in reducing carbon footprint. According to the International Energy Agency, LED lighting is highly energy efficient and produces about 11 lumens per watt.

Less heat emission:

LED lights emit very less amount of heat.

Flexible design:

LED lights can be used in several ways. They can be used in almost any environment. They are highly controllable, can be combined in any shape and color, and can be dimmed, to produce a highly efficient illumination. The LED lights can have a soothing effect on your eyes, mood, and mind.

Dimming capability:

You can use LED lights to create a beautiful ambiance and to conserve energy. These LED lights can work well with any percentage of rated power. By dimming these lights you can increase the energy efficiency.

Durable:

Led lights are highly durable and they work well with the roughest environmental conditions. So they can be applied in outdoor lighting.

Directional light:

LED bulbs emit light in a single direction. They don’t need any other components such as light reflectors to redirect the light. SO LED lighting can be used in several applications that need directional light.

Frequent switching:

You can instantaneously switch on and off the LED lights without decreasing the efficiency. This feature helps it to be used for various decorative purposes.

Newest Technologies in Lighting Technology

Sensor Technology

Lighting systems are combined with sensor technology to build an intelligent lighting control system. There are various types of sensors used in lighting systems to make a significant advancement in lighting systems. Sensors are used to convert physical signals to electrical signals. These electrical signals are again intelligently processed by using microcontrollers, analog to digital, and digital to analog converters to make an intelligent system.

Photosensitive sensor

The photosensitive sensor senses the illuminance of sunrise and sunset. Based on this information it automatically switched on/off the LED lights. These types of sensors are combined with street lights, garden lights, outdoor lights, etc. These sensors are designed in such a way that during the daylight, they turn off the LED lights automatically whereas during the evening and night they they again turn on the LED lights.

Infrared sensor

The infrared sensor senses the infrared radiation emitted by the human body. This sensor then converts this infrared energy into electrical energy. These types of sensors are used to check the presence of the human body in certain detection areas. It compares the temperature difference between the background and the human body to detect the presence of any human body in that area.

Ultrasonic sensor

Ultrasonic sensors combined with the LED light are used to sense the object movement in the lighting area. If there is any object movement in that lighting area, it automatically switches on/off the LED lights.

Temperature sensor

Temperature sensors are incorporated in LED lights for over-temperature protection. When the temperature reaches the threshold value the LED power automatically turns off and the lights turn on again when the temperature drops.

Voice sensor

The voice sensor compares the external sound intensity and original sounds. The LED lights integrated with the voice sensor turn on whenever there is a difference in the sound intensity.

These sensors convert physical signals into electrical signals, which are then intelligently processed by integrated circuit-based AD (analog to digital) converters, MCUs (microcontrollers), and DA (digital to analog) converters. This processing allows for the control of LED lighting, enabling features such as on/off functionality.

Smart Lighting

Smart lighting is an intelligent lighting system that allows you to automatically control your lighting system. Smart light has a chip inside it that communicates with other devices wirelessly. These types of lights generally use Bluetooth or WiFi technology to automatically control the lights such as dimming the lights, changing the colors of the lights, switching on/off the lights, etc. This technology can also detect the presence of the human body, object movement, etc, and allows the lights to automatically turn on and turn off.

Lighting Control Technology

LED lighting control technology is an excellent way to save energy. By using this technique you can control the light when and where you need it the most. You can easily adjust the light output during daylight, you can easily dim the light according to your comfort and requirements.

This technology detects motion or object movement and controls the light accordingly. It also reduces the lighting loads during the peak usage time.

Color Tunable Lighting System

The lighting system that has the ability to tune the light source’s color temperature output is known as a color-tunable lighting system. In this technique, LEDs of various color temperatures are integrated into a single bulb. By controlling these LEDs inside the bulb you can easily tune/adjust the light color temperature.

Latest Trends in LED Lighting

Sustainable Lighting

The main goal of sustainable lighting technology is to improve energy saving by reducing energy consumption. The LED lighting system is a perfect example of a sustainable lighting system as it consumes less energy and is also recyclable. Less energy consumption leads to less carbon dioxide (CO2) emission and a better environment.

As the products are environmentally friendly and reduce operational costs, these are preferable for industrial and residential use. It provides a healthy work environment. Again LED products are highly durable so you don’t have to replace them frequently. This reduces the waste of materials.
Automotive Lighting

Automotive lightings are used to ensure the safety and functionality of vehicles. Automotive lighting technologies are combined with advanced LED and laser technologies to improve visibility and safety. This lighting system is highly efficient, reliable, and durable. The adaptability feature of these lights can automatically adjust the beam pattern, shape, and intensity of lights to enhance visibility. This also gives a modern look to the vehicles.

Some advanced technologies used in automotive lighting are:

Bendable headlights with LED
Organic LEDs
Adaptable OLEDs
Adaptive forward lighting system

Indoor/Outdoor Lighting

The newest smart LED technologies are used in both indoor and outdoor applications to improve the ambiance of the environment, give a modern look, reduce energy consumption, etc. By using smart LED technology you can handle the lighting system of your home by using your smartphone. This technique not only gives a good look but also makes life easier. You don’t have to worry if you have left your house without turning them off.

Outdoor lighting systems such as street lighting, outdoor lamps, garden lights, underwater pool lighting systems, etc are the major applications of LED technology. LED lights are also integrated with adaptive techniques and photo-sensitive sensors. This technology makes them automatically turn on and off by sensing the outside temperature.

Decorative Lighting

LED lighting technology plays an important role in embracing interior design. These LED lights help to enhance brightness and color accuracy. The recent trends in the utilization of LED lights for decorative purposes are listed below.

Layer lighting
Mood-enhancing lighting
Minimalistic lighting
Matching the walls
Smart lighting
Hidden lighting

Small Space Lighting

To enhance the overall ambiance and visual interest of small spaces LED lighting technologies are a great option. Pendent lights are a great choice for small spaces which gives a soft and minimalistic look. Also, wall wall-mounted lighting system is a great option for small spaces as it saves the valuable floor shape and also gives a great look.

Healthy Lighting

LED lights are highly controllable. You can easily control the lights or dim the lights according to your moods and preferences. As LEDs are able to emit light in a specific wavelength they always offer a positive impact on body and mind. LED lighting systems are used for many health benefits such as

To decrease headaches
To improve moods
To decrease stress and anxiety
To offer a productive environment for patients

Horticultural Lighting

The controllable illuminance and spectrum of LED lights are used in the cultivation of crops, vegies, herbs, etc. This horticulture lighting technology provides a great option for indoor agriculture. By using this technology a plant can be grown at a much faster rate than the usual timing. This technology is a substitute for high-quality sunlight.

Horticulture lighting technology is growing at a rapid rate. They are especially useful for places where the weather conditions and sunlight are not preferable for growing crops and veggies.

Conclusion

The latest trends in LED lighting include some advanced technologies like sensor techniques, lighting control techniques, smart lighting, adaptive techniques, etc. These techniques are combined with LED lights to produce innovative products. These LED lights are highly energy efficient, consume less power, save more energy, and are also sustainable. The applications of LED lighting systems are used for various applications like indoor/outdoor lighting, automotive lighting, small space lighting, horticulture, and for decorative purposes.

In upcoming years sustainable energy demand will further increase and LED lighting technology will bring more exciting and advanced features to make the world a better place to live.

FAQS

What is the newest LED light technology?

The newest LED light technology includes

1. IoT (Internet of Things) enabled LED lights will create a smart building or, a home that can optimize air conditioning, heating power grid management, etc.

2. Li-Fi integrated LED lighting system will improve internet connectivity in commercial buildings and larger spaces.

3. Human-centric LED lighting technology uses dimmable and occupancy sensing capabilities to decrease energy loss.

2. What is the future of LED lighting technology?

According to www.energy.gov by 2035 LED lighting will lead the lighting industry with maximum installation. This will decrease almost 75% of energy consumption in the USA. The ongoing research will further increase the energy efficiency, energy savings, and lighting performance of LED lights. The future LED lighting system will benefit health, productivity, indoor plant growth, outdoor lighting, and learning.