Although their low energy consumption made LEDs ideal for diesel and solar-powered lighting in Nepal, they were just too expesnve.
Not any more. Prices of LEDs (light emitting diodes) have come down dramatically, and with Nepal's energy crisis here to stay, these high-tech fixtures have become affordable for home, office, and factory lighting.
Nepal made the switch from incandescent and fluorescent tubes to CFLs some five years ago, but LEDs save even more energy and money. In an LED bulb, electrons hit holes within the device to create electroluminescence, and depending on the quality of LED lights they last up to 40,000 hours - four times more than fluorescent tubes and 10 times longer than incandescent lights.LED bulbs were initially used in rural electrification but are now becoming popular in cities as well.
Illuminium in Kupondole which introduced customised LED lighting three years ago has seen a steady rise in customers with large corporate houses to restaurants and hotels (see box) eager to make the switch from CFL to LED.
"The leap from CFL to LED hasn't been as swift and massive as the switch from incandescent bulbs to CFL, but the demand for LED lights has definitely increased," says Anil Karki of Illuminium, who urges that LEDs be arranged sensibly around the home or office to take maximum advantage of the interior.
What has deterred many Nepalis to adopt LEDs so soon after switching to CFL, however, is the cost of the bulbs. Lighting companies believe it will still take some more years for individual households to join the LED revolution.
Not any more. Prices of LEDs (light emitting diodes) have come down dramatically, and with Nepal's energy crisis here to stay, these high-tech fixtures have become affordable for home, office, and factory lighting.
Nepal made the switch from incandescent and fluorescent tubes to CFLs some five years ago, but LEDs save even more energy and money. In an LED bulb, electrons hit holes within the device to create electroluminescence, and depending on the quality of LED lights they last up to 40,000 hours - four times more than fluorescent tubes and 10 times longer than incandescent lights.LED bulbs were initially used in rural electrification but are now becoming popular in cities as well.
Illuminium in Kupondole which introduced customised LED lighting three years ago has seen a steady rise in customers with large corporate houses to restaurants and hotels (see box) eager to make the switch from CFL to LED.
"The leap from CFL to LED hasn't been as swift and massive as the switch from incandescent bulbs to CFL, but the demand for LED lights has definitely increased," says Anil Karki of Illuminium, who urges that LEDs be arranged sensibly around the home or office to take maximum advantage of the interior.
What has deterred many Nepalis to adopt LEDs so soon after switching to CFL, however, is the cost of the bulbs. Lighting companies believe it will still take some more years for individual households to join the LED revolution.
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