Considering the pace at which our planet is being robbed of its precious resources, that day is not far when the entire world population will be engulfed by the heat of depletion. Saving energy is on everybody’s mind but very few steps were being taken to save our planet from dying a slow, painful death.

Of course, the scenario is beginning to change. Until a few decades ago, nobody really cared about carbon emission, ozone depletion or global warming. But the pronounced impact of energy depletion on the life of every individual has changed the mindset of the public for the better. A good percentage of the population is genuinely concerned about saving earth and are willing to do what it that takes to make our planet a better place to live for the next generation.

The arrival of LED lighting systems and their increasing popularity as an energy efficient solution is the revolutionary initiative of the 21st century. LEDs first made their appearance in 1920 but their use was limited due to the high cost involved. Technological breakthroughs however, helped lower the cost of LEDs, making the technology affordable for everything from traffic lights and billboards to home lighting and halogen lamps.

Lighting is responsible for one-fourth of all energy consumptions around the world. By using energy efficient LED lighting systems for just one-twentieth of all the homes in the United States, the government can definitely, avoid the need for 13 new medium-sized (300MW) power plants every year. At the same time, the total associated greenhouse gas emissions can be lowered by up to 160 million metric tons annually, thus saving our planet from further depletion of natural resources.

LEDs offer double the efficiency of CFLs or Compact Fluorescent light bulbs that are commonly used as a green alternative in most buildings. The total absence of toxic mercury, incredibly long lifespan and faster turn-on times are other green features that make LEDs more appealing than other lighting solutions. It has been estimated by the Department of Energy that by the year 2025, LEDs could reduce national energy consumption for lighting by 29 percent, saving 125 billion on the electric bills of U.S. households.

As part of the “Save our Planet” campaign, many American cities have begun to replace street lights and parking structures with LEDs. Once this transition has been fully implemented at each and every U.S city, in less than 20 years, our planet will reveal a healthier, greener façade.

Even the car industry is switching over to LED lighting systems, especially for indicator lights on the dashboard and rear lights. A recent study suggested that if LED lights are used instead of conventional car lights, power consumption can be reduced by 90 percent for the same intensity of light. While standard halogen lights use 0.8 percent of the car's fuel consumption, LEDs use merely 0.1 percent.

LED lighting systems are making it increasingly convenient and affordable to make our planet greener by reducing the environmental impacts that have been depleting the earth’s natural resources beyond recognition.