Unraveling the Jevons Paradox with LEDs (Light Emitting Diode)

Over the past decade, The world has witnessed a shift in lighting technology. LED lighting emerged back in the 1960s and grew to become more popular due to its durability and energy efficiency. Today, the technology is used in many industrial and residential applications. Developments like increases in life span, brightness, and energy efficiency have led to its popularization.

Light-emitting diodes have had a thriving spread globally due to their benefits over fluorescent or incandescent lights. The initial anticipation was that as cities shifted to LED lighting, there would have been a rise in cost-effectiveness and a notable decrease in the consumption of energy. However, research has revealed that the adoption of the LED system has contributed to the growing issue of light pollution.

Jevons Paradox:

The Jevons Paradox, named after William Stanley Jevons a 19th-century economist, suggests that the increase in efficiency of resource utilization due to technological advancements causes a paradoxical- opposite outcome.

In this case, Although LEDs are more energy efficient the overall consumption increases. According to the Light Pollution in Singapore article, “ The use of artificial lights outdoors increased by 2.2% per year globally.” It became more prone for these lights to be left on even when there was no human traffic which contributes to the paradox.

Could this be stopped?

This is a very challenging case. Given the inherent human desire for a well-lit environment both for residential and industrial purposes the demand for light is pretty price elastic. I think that policies and regulations can be put in place to constrain the excessive use of light. This can even include incentives for sustainable practices such as tax breaks or financial rewards. Even simply educating and raising awareness of the effects overconsumption can have and the rebound outcomes.