Light-emitting diode (LED) technology offers hospitals many advantages over traditional lighting, such as energy savings, longer life, lower heat output and design flexibility. Little wonder that it can be found everywhere from parking lots to surgical suites.

During the past decade, most health care facil­ities upgraded their lighting to energy-efficient fluorescent technology, industry experts say. During the next five years, however, more hospitals will upgrade to LED technology.

Advantages provided by LED lighting include a uniform, bright white light, reduced heat output, long lamp life and the ability to be dimmed without shifting color.

“Fluorescent fixtures still deliver the best bang for the buck,” says Mark Phillips, product manager, Lutron Electronics Co., Coopersburg, Pa. “However, as LED costs drop and color quality improves, we will see LEDs spread into more traditional spaces.”