A Comprehensive Study on LED Light Bulbs in the United Kingdom

1. Introduction to LED Technology

In recent years, the increasing rate of technological advancements has culminated in the shifting of global attention from the conventional incandescent lighting solutions to the environmentally friendly Light Emitting Diode technology. One of the several smart light solutions includes the Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lighting technology. The LED bulbs offer households an effective and energy-efficient lighting solution. In view of the relatively high cost of purchasing LED light bulbs, a comparative utility analysis of both the conventional incandescent and LED light bulbs was undertaken. The parameters considered in this household-based study include home location, number of bulbs at the household, number of daily light usage, wattage of the bulbs, current energy charge, and estimated bulb lifespan. A comprehensive study of the comparative usefulness of both the conventional light bulbs and LED bulbs in the United Kingdom was carried out. Further, the focus was on the savings from the monthly energy charges on a typical household. The potential time horizon was based on the estimated lifespan of the LED light bulb. With the information obtained, an average household in the United Kingdom enjoys significant savings over time using LED light bulbs for indoor lighting solutions. The income saved as a result of the reduced monthly energy charge, for an average household based in the United Kingdom, is more substantial relative to an average household in Ghana. There is, therefore, a need for the education and sensitization of the general public on the comparative usefulness and energy savings potential of the LED bulbs over their traditional counterpart(s).

2. Market Analysis of LED Light Bulbs in the UK

The LED light bulb is one of the most innovative technologies in lighting and it is constantly being improved. There are many different uses for LED bulbs. LEDs are used for lamps, automotive headlights, cameras, electronics (remote controls), streetlights, healthcare (curing cancer and as therapy), data centers to be cooled, plant-growth rooms, DLP-based projectors, helmets, safety, Vietnam Expressway, and fish detection. However, the largest use of LED packages is still being used for lighting. Lighting by LED light bulbs has greatly increased due to the greatly improved energy efficiency of a 60-watt incandescent light bulb. This has occurred since Philips put the LED Bulb 12N into mass production in 2009. In 2010, Argos was the first UK company selling the LED bulb for half the price of £20. A 40-watt LED light bulb with an efficacy of over 130 lm/W is €6.The Evolution of JCC Lighting: Innovations and Impact

1. Introduction to JCC Lighting

Formed originally under the name Algo at the end of 1989, JCC quickly established a reputation for excellence through the development of cutting-edge electronic lighting power management solutions. Then as the company expanded into the design and production of electronic control gear (ECG) for fluorescent and compact fluorescent lamps, Algo became JCC Electronics in 1996. JCC’s fast, profitable growth led to JCC absorbing its sister companies at the end of May 2001. In the beginning, JCC designs and manufactures its electromagnetic or electronic lighting power management products, ECGs, and associated lighting controls focusing on efficiency, economy, ease of installation, and reliability. At JCC, we are 'always innovating' via our four major pillars of design, efficiency, function, and value, and it is this philosophy of continuous progress that has led to repeated commercial success.

On industry is a family company aiming to maintain sustainability for future generations. JCC has invested much time and effort into the business and people who work within it, and as a result has reaped the rewards from continuous effort, creativity, and customer satisfaction. The result is that JCC’s customers have learned to trust the superior quality of JCC branded products and the performance that the brand has built up over the last thirteen years, as well as the value for money which JCC and all the Maxima companies bestow upon them.

2. Historical Background and Founding Principles

Despite the small workforce, the company gained a reputation for good quality, and a growing demand led the company to expand in size. In 1946, the company moved to its first large factory, located in Sutton, Surrey (now in Greater London). By the mid-1950s, the company was making rolled edge lightshades similar to the ones found in the Orient. However, powder-coated steel models were a vast improvement on the inferior products that were previously imported. The ability to produce high-quality, good value fittings enabled the company to grow in both size and product range. The 1950s also saw the company expanding its market base overseas, with sales being made to UK military bases and to customers in Hong Kong, Malaya, Spain, and the Caribbean, among others.

James G. Hamilton founded the company James G. Hamilton & Co. in London in the early 1920s. The primary products were electrical and general merchandise, sold across the UK from the company base in a shop at Michael Road, London SW6. Specialist light fittings for picture lighting through to chandeliers were made in a workshop at the rear of the shop, and the assembling, wiring, and dispatching were all done in the shop. Clearly, this was a small family business with a few employees.

3. Key Innovations and Technological Advancements

Today, most lighting companies produce such products. The PLC was the next product of the JCC revolution. Recessed lighting had become a must. The Skytile was at the right place at the right time when the need was overwhelming. Here was a product that was not only fast and easy to install, but also well built - the latter was far from the first of JCC's stacks. As with the Conseal, this product earned its cost premium in the first year. The vibrations have been done via savings linked to shorter project completion timescales rather than multi-savings. The Skytile range has now been adapted further - nonh version, twin versions and so on - another part of the JCC strategy of expansion as smaller manufacturers may lay in wait. The PLC and all its variants have multiple sources now. JCC opted for exclusivity until it got big enough and benefited from an expansion strategy that has now let it do all the extra sequences as well.

The Conseal was the original big winner and started the move. The open fronted form of this surface mounted up-and down-lighting product was a first of its kind. A simpler, quicker install that enabled the end user to revamp their lighting without incurring a building cost as well. SMEs and residential respondents were particularly pleased. The Conseal became the top earner in 4 years, well documenting the rapid pace of innovation, and enabling the further expansion of the range.

We have seen several major JCC innovations: the Conseal, Skytile, the Slimline, and the more recent Fireguard and V50 downlights. These are products designed to solve genuine industry problems. However, JCC has, through the evolution of its products, added more. There has been a willingness to change with the market rather than be pulled - a mixture of genuine new options and some packaging. Our work will take a brief look at these.

4. Impact on the Lighting Industry and Sustainable Practices

Moreover, its in-house engineering capability ensures that it can change light engines and adapt fixtures on a rapid turnaround, sometimes as quick as just 36 hours. As part of a commitment to enacting the principles of the circular economy, and to make it simpler to dispose of end-of-life luminaires, JCC can also recycle the products that it has manufactured at the end of their commercial life. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Norfolk, currently, 80% of JCC's products are researched, designed, and manufactured in the UK. Its parent company, Zhahao Holdings, bases the entire manufacturing process in the UK, following a decision to concentrate solely on serving the domestic market to avoid any confusion caused by changing regional regulations. As well as allowing JCC to get closer to its customers and ensure better control over stock, the UK manufacturing environment also supports JCC's green practices and the circular economy initiatives that the business maintains. Besides giving JCC full electrical, mechanical, photometric, and environmental testing capabilities, it's lighting considerate so more tests can be carried out simultaneously.

JCC Lighting's contribution to emergency lighting is frequently recognized, but it has also sought to lead in other areas critical to ensuring industry-wide best practice. For example, its commitment to energy efficiency, sustainability, and a circular economy is reflected in a comprehensive product portfolio. As a relatively small business, and one committed to ensuring its solutions are affordable and accessible to the full market, it doggedly pursues opportunities to leverage design and technology to make a difference to the industry. For example, alongside the range of lighting solutions suitable for retrofit into existing installations, JCC continues to innovate to address the shortfall in provision for listed and historic buildings.

5. Future Trends and Prospects

Changes in the future will not only be noticeable in the increased quality of lamp sources, and hence light-emitting devices (LEDs), but also the structural light conversion components used in systems as a whole. On the basis of the foregoing, in the future the principal types of products are expected to be highly luminous products, protective elements, control devices, information board systems, dimmable white-light sources, luminaire and solid-state luminaire systems and high-power (or high-flux-output) illuminators.

In the immediate future, focusing on expanding the use of LEDs in light infrastructure systems is expected. Not only will the lighting market grow, but there are solid prospects for penetration of general lighting products. The changes in the principal manufacturing technique for lighting source luminosity allow new possibilities for industrial designers, as viewed from the perspective of redesigning the most common products in lighting systems and going over to new lighting devices that differ greatly from those currently used.

Development of LED technology, on the basis of which innovative LED products are created, shows no signs of declining. On the contrary, the emergent trend of extending the range of goods to be manufactured and simplifying the structure of products will determine, to a certain extent, the price slump in the marketplace of innovative lighting systems.25 at IKEA (2020). The significance of the LED light bulb is that it is the first light bulb that allows electricity generated by renewable energy to be stored as light and the light is used only when it is needed.

2.2. Uses of LED Light Bulbs in the United Kingdom

The most advanced type of light bulb is the LED light bulb. The use of LED light bulbs is increasing in the UK at a rapid rate. However, little is known about this in terms of who is most likely to use them, why they are being used, and what benefits are seen in them. This section presents the residential characteristics of those using LED bulbs, when they are most used, and why those who use them use them. It is found that, while people from all different socioeconomic backgrounds are using LED light bulbs, they are more likely to be used by those who are aged 44–54, female, unemployed but looking for work or retired, hold an undergraduate degree, have children, live in a rented house, and/or live in a locality of central Scotland. The most important reason as to why LED bulbs are used by UK residents is due to luminosity.

2.1. Introduction

3. Environmental Impact and Energy Efficiency of LED Bulbs

Current trends in lighting technologies are moving in the direction of the use, emission, and the increasing reliance on LED light bulbs. This massive application has been associated with increasing concerns about the disposal of hazardous materials, the durability of the design, and the overall environmental impact of the product. This chapter outlines the major concerns associated with the disposal of LED bulbs, highlights valid arguments regarding its recycling and reusability, and emphasizes the practical benefits of using LED bulbs. The recycling process involves various steps, including collection, dismantling, segregation, mechanical processing/crushing/sieving, aspiration, and chemical processing and extraction of metals and melting/other treatments. Although fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lamps are, in general, highly recyclable, most LED lamps seem not to be designed to be efficiently disassembled and recycled. As the use of these light sources increases both in volume and in sales numbers, the proper management of electric and electronic waste is likely to become vital to both the economic and natural systems of a community.
This chapter was developed using an extensive review of journal publications, news, and reports from governmental organizations to highlight the major concerns associated with the disposal of LED bulbs, to discuss the validity of arguments regarding recycling and reusability, to underline practical benefits of using LED bulbs, and to guide municipal and corporate leaders on proper management of electric and electronic waste. This chapter aims to serve as a guide to municipalities and city managers on how to reimagine the management of waste as part of inclusive and sustainable development. The review of recommendations and municipal practices could serve as a guide while ensuring that municipal managers have the tools to create a safe and sustainable environment in public spaces.

4. Consumer Trends and Preferences in the UK LED Lighting Market

The analysis of sales transactions helps to determine the purchase pattern or the time of demand, the LED product shape, the color temperature, the dimming feature, the size, and the brightness level. Some characteristics could have visible logical correlations. If, for example, most customers are purchasing market-type bulbs during the summer, it is very likely that these bulbs are used to light outdoor market stalls. Other logical relations may not be visible, and by analyzing product demand transaction details, can represent useful knowledge that may drive a considerable advantage. Their most popular LED lighting product type was uncovered during the investigation. More than 60 percent of the consumers preferred the traditional LED shape by purchasing bulbs such as candles, golf balls, and globes during the entire period of analysis. More than forty percent of anticipators bought the LED bulbs with a color temperature of 2700 K, while a CCT of 6500 K corresponded to 33.66% of sales. This meant that more than 70 percent of the market demand preferred warm or daylight-colored LED light bulbs. Furthermore, more than 60 percent of the LED components were of the non-dimmable type. Moreover, the brightness levels were very close to the traditional incandescent bulb ones. QMap has profiled the consumer activities over the years (2014 to 2017) as markets were created and artificial light bloomed all around—day and night.

A consumer is the ultimate boss, as they are the ones purchasing products, such that their demands shape the economy. By analyzing patterns, preferences, and behavior hidden in historical sales, businesses are able to make accurate predictions, create targeted advertising, design promotion events, improve products, and ensure customer satisfaction. This, in turn, leads to a larger, loyal customer base and greater profits. Producing tailored products based on the newest popular trends is always valuable to lighting manufacturers. After all, preferences vary from person to person. Therefore, throughout this research, trends in the UK-LED light bulb market have been found and studied concerning how they are related to six consumer activities: concerning the time of demand, the LED product type, the product color temperature, the dimming feature, the bulb size, and the brightness level.

5. Future Developments and Innovations in LED Technology

One of the main objectives of the government's investment in research and development is to come up with solutions to existing problems, assisting in the establishment of an innovation system. Driven by the market, both existing and novel companies, together with research organizations and interest groups, are ready to meet these challenges, improving the knowledge level, skills, awareness, and stimulating (commercial) development. This chapter mainly discusses the background, progress, and future of solid-state lighting (SSL). Although today's LED technology is capable enough to meet the need for energy-efficient products, future research and development are necessary to further extend energy savings, environmental benefits, and application areas, enlarge the market, and enhance non-energy-related criteria and requirements. The government, at regional, national, and European levels, therefore continues investing in research and development on novel materials, design, and production techniques as well as the wider implications.

Ongoing research is set to improve the overall performance of LED light sources. The scope of future developments includes: improving the overall aesthetics; improving system performance through supply stabilization and improved luminaire design; optimization of spectral content to enhance the experience of light and may improve its health effects; and lastly, the integration of the SSL within the IoT to be used as a data hub. This has the potential to render the SSL a core frame element illustrating the visual, psychological, and health-promoting concepts growing and fostering sustainable communities and cities.