Since old fashioned incandescent light bulbs have recently been banned by governments around the world, most home owners have had to consider low energy alternatives to replace defunct light bulbs. And the favourite choice now is LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs, which are currently leading the field in terms of energy savings, product life and ease of use. But how many of us understand the ways in which LED bulbs are different to incandescent models, and how to ensure that when we upgrade our lighting we actually make the right choices?
Let’s start
with some basic facts about LED bulbs.
Basically,
they offer a number of significant advantages to the obsolete incandescent
types:
1. Major power savings. LEDs use approximately five times less energy as incandescent bulbs. As
an example, you can replace an old 40W reading light bulb with an 8W LED. And since
LEDs offer a more focused light, the energy savings could be up to 90%, and you
can therefore have a lower-wattage bulb.
2. Cleaner’ Product. LEDs are non-toxic, and in particular contain no mercury..
3. Less Heat. Much
less heat is produced by LED bulbs, in comparison with incandescent lights.
That is especially important in Southern climates where air-conditioning is
used.
4. Longer Life. LED bulbs do not need to be replaced very
often – they can last up to twenty years in regular use.
5. Better Investment. They do cost more to buy, but when you consider their longer life and
energy savings, they are a great investment.
So, when the
time comes to replace old light bulbs, LEDs are the obvious choice, but how do
we go about making the right selection for our home? There are so many styles,
sizes, shapes and special formats on the market now, how do you know which is
the right one?
Here are
some tips to help you make the right decision…..
Consider how much brightness you need
What about quality of light?
Depending on
where you are planning to use the LED bulbs, the quality of light may well be
an important factor. Light quality is generally measured by CRI or Colour
Rendering Index. This number indicates how accurately the bulb illuminates colours
on a scale from 1 to 100. If you plan to use the lamp frequently – say in a
living room - or it is going to be used in a prominent location like an
entrance hall, CRI is a very important metric to consider. However, if it’s
going to go into an airing cupboard or toilet, CRI isn’t as crucial. CRI ratings
in excess of 80 and above are indications of very good colour rendering.
Are “warm” or “cool” light colours
important?
There is a wide variety of LED bulbs available now, offering a range of light “colour temperatures” in Degrees Kelvin, or simply “K”. How do you know what colour temperature works for you? Colour temperatures with high K ratings, 6,000 or more, are classified as 'cool' colours, while those with lower K ratings, 3,500 or less, are classified as 'warm.' You will find most retailers referring to their products as cool white and warm white LED Bulbs. Warm white bears a close resemblance to the light produced by halogens and incandescent bulbs. It is soft, easy on the eyes and promotes a comfortable and domestic aesthetic. As a rule of thumb, warm white bulbs should be used in 'habitat' spaces, such as living rooms, hallways and bedrooms, and as general illumination. In contrast, cool white is a very bright, sharp white light; less suitable for domestic spaces where the brightness of the light can be too harsh and even create a clinical effect.
What shape or type of LED Bulb Do You Need?
LEDs now come
in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and will be suitable for replacing just
about any kind of incandescent light bulb. You will now find LED globe light
bulbs, chandelier light bulbs, and reflector light bulbs – along with lots of
newly manufactured shades, lamps and fixings that have them built-in.
The
traditional “light bulb” shapes are designed to give an all-round source of
light, for instance in a table lamp or ceiling fitting, and are known as “omni-directional”.
Reflector types are designed to give light off in one direction, so they’re best
for overhead lighting, spotlights, and display lighting.
How about replacing incandescent bulbs
in dimming systems?
Unfortunately,
many old incandescent dimmers aren’t fully compatible with LED lighting, so you
need to be careful when considering dimming. Many of the newer types of LED
light bulb do have dimming capabilities - a great option if you want to save
even more energy and control the room’s ambient environment. But you may need
to invest in an LED-specific dimmer. If you’re looking for a dimmable LED,
carefully check the specification on the bulb’s packaging and make sure you
control it with a compatible dimmer.
Some don’t like it hot!
LED based
light bulbs work best when they are kept cool. If you use an LED outdoors in
winter or inside a refrigerator, it will actually last longer. However, excessive
heat can cause problems, particularly as LEDs exposed to extreme heat may
degrade more quickly over time. So, if you plan to use them in an area that can
get hot (like in overhead recessed spotlights) it would be better to invest in high-temperature
specification types which use an advanced cooling system – like the types
produced by Megaman.
And finally, how can you actually get
the ball rolling to take advantage of LED technology in your home?
Right at the
beginning it takes a little research effort - initially you need to go round
your home and make a note of all the bulbs you are currently using – including
wattage (60W, 100W etc.), type of fixture (screw, bayonet etc.), bulb type
(reflector, standard, golf ball, etc.) size and colour (warm, cool, etc.). Also
approximately how much usage each bulb gets.
Next you
need to figure out the type of LED bulb which can be used to replace each
incandescent type in terms of lumens, shape, size and fixture. Check out
dimming requirements carefully, then make a comprehensive list and check prices
on the Internet or through lighting retail outlets
.
All that’s
needed then is to make the investment, change the bulbs, and start making real
savings on your electricity bill!
Visit Megaman UK: www.megamanuk.com
