Goal For The Green

Para-education and green living information

Archive for August, 2014

Growing plants indoors can be a lot of fun, and it enables people with no land to grow their favorite flower or plant. Traditionally, it has been the fluorescent light bulb that has been the choice for indoor growing, but the lights made with light emitting diodes offer several advantages.

Photograph of a Fluorescent tube light reflect...

Photograph of a Fluorescent tube light reflected in a CD, showing distinct bands of colour. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They are safer to use than fluorescent bulbs
Fluorescent bulbs utilize mercury inside of a vacuum. When one of these bulbs breaks, you must be careful not to inhale the vapor. Mercury vapor is poisonous. You also need to be concerned about the vapors when you are disposing of the bad tubes. Even when they break, when throwing them inside a dumpster, the fumes can still be inhaled accidentally. LED lights have no chemicals to be concerned about.

They operate using less electricity
An LED light will cost less than a fluorescent bulb, and if you are using several of them, this can represent a significant savings on your electric bill.

The cost of ownership is lower
Although LED lights cost more money, they last longer than fluorescent bulbs. The cost per hour of usage is lower than with fluorescent lighting.

They are quiet when operating
When using fluorescent bulbs, the ballast inside the lamp will often create an irritating buzzing noise. LED lights are quiet. You never notice they are in operation.

LED grow lights for your indoor plants are available in panels. They can be purchased from several companies online and delivered right to your door. Dorm Grow is one example of an LED panel lighting company.