Fifty years ago this month, GE scientist Dr. Nick Holonyak, Jr., invented the first practical visible-spectrum light-emitting diode (LED). In the five decades since, businesses and municipalities the world over have embraced LED systems for both their cost and maintenance savings, including:
 
 The City of Las Vegas
Las Vegas is best known for the bright lights of 'The Strip,' but thanks to new LED fixtures, the city's surrounding streets are starting to take on a shine of their own. Far from a gamble, an investment in GE LED streetlights will soon save The Entertainment Capital of the World nearly $1.7 million in annual energy costs by reducing electricity use by more than 20 million kilowatt hours.

Marriott Headquarters
Looking to enrich lighting quality, heighten employee security and improve energy efficiency, Marriott International Headquarters set out on a corporate campus-wide lighting upgrade using LEDs. Use of LEDs in hallways, foyers, auditoriums, parking lots, parking decks and other areas will save the company more than $120,000 annually in combined energy and maintenance costs.

London Tower Bridge
The world's most recognizable capital landmark, the London Tower Bridge, unveiled a new world-class LED lighting system ahead of this year's summer Olympics. In total 1,800 special energy-efficient LED lights have been fitted, along with 2,000 meters of energy-efficient LED linear lights, 5,000 meters of cable and 1,000 junction boxes.

Wawa Convenience Stores
While looking for easy-to-install, visually appealing new lighting for refrigerated display cases, Wawa Inc. discovered how much LED refrigerated display lights could mean in annual savings. Since installing LED refrigerated systems, the company is saving a combined 78 percent in electricity and maintenance costs, equating to $1.2 million in annual savings across its 600-store chain.

Public Storage
Public Storage, the world's largest owner and operator of self-storage facilities, is expected to save up to $1.9 million in lighting costs annually after refitting its exterior signage with long-lasting LEDs.

50 Years of LED Innovation
Oct. 9, 1962, GE scientist Dr. Nick Holonyak, Jr., invented the first practical visible-spectrum light-emitting diode (LED). In the 50 years since, GE has been on the forefront of LED innovation. The company has released inspired LED products for both residential and commercial settings, from the first ENERGY STAR®-qualified A19-shaped LED bulb to LED street lighting that illuminates cityscapes the world over.