While LED lights have certainly allowed for new applications, that article is nearly 10 years old and the future predicted has not come to pass. There has been no wave of LED-encrusted buildings. The roads don't glow. My bookshelves and whatnot don't either.
If LEDs deliver a 10x improvement in energy use, we'll have to use 10x as much light to offset the energy gains. How likely is that?
Lol. Give them time. Here's two examples off the top of my head, in my city: http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2015/07/aura-illuminates-downtow...
http://canderelresidential.com/files/styles/building/public/...
Speak for yourself :)
I agree, though; I use a lot more lights around the house, but they're small and very directed for their purpose. Many of them are controlled by cheap, ubiquitous PIR modules so that they're only on when needed, with absurdly low quiescent current. I use less light overall because it's only where I need it to be, and I find this to be much nicer on my eyes, and generally pleasing for the evening. The added efficiency is just a bonus on top of all that. Many are undervolted, as well, so should last a very long time; the main concern is the lifespan and quality of the power supplies.
Lots of led encrusted buildings.
I freaking love what Asia is doing with their urban environments...
I just wish that the US developers would take note.
We are building the tallest building in SF ("salesforce" tower) and its a mundane peice of shit building. Literally zero aesthetic innovation.
There are those solar roadway people who are hoping to fix that. (I'm not optimistic, though. :) )