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Abstract
Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lighting products require more reliable data to inform Life Cycle Assessment. Understanding why and when they fail under real operating conditions provides better data for this assessment contributing to: (1) understanding of how to extend its lifespan, (2) informing design recommendations to extend their lifespan and (3) reducing the total amount of waste produced by LED lighting products. This paper investigates the life span of LED lighting products under real operating conditions and explores the causes of failure or replacement of the products. The study consisted of close-ended questionnaires distributed to LED lighting product manufacturers and consumers in four EU countries. Out of 140 respondents of the questionnaire survey, 57 were manufacturing organizations and 83 were consumers. The results indicate that: (1) the causes of failure were primarily due to wear and tear of components, and changes in consumer requirements; (2) the consumers' survey showed that, the lifespan is 27,375 h in the best case scenario and 1460 h in the worst case scenario, indicating that the worst case scenarios can be substantially improved through proper use and maintenance, as well as selection of products with features to enhance the lifespan; (3) the manufacturers' survey showed that, the lifespan is 32,850 h in the best case scenario and 3650 h in the worst case scenario, indicating the need for better design and manufacturing guidelines to extend their lifespan. The paper concludes with recommendations for both manufacturers and consumers, based on a combined analysis of the survey data and a comprehensive literature review of recommendations to extend the lifespan of LED lighting products.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the following companies for conducting the survey, results of which were used in this paper: Ona Product S.L., Spain (www.ona.es), Braun Lighting Solutions E.K., Germany (http://www.berliner-leuchten.de), Riva GmbH Lighting, Germany (www.riva.sc), ETAP N.V., Belgium (www.etaplighting.com) and former LED in Light Ltd., UK. They are also grateful for the comments given by Grant Anderson (Environmental Manager of Nottingham Trent University, UK), Max Marwede (Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration, Germany), and the reviewers.