Looking to make the switch to LED lighting ? Whether you're drawn to the longevity, advanced energy efficiency standards, or sustainable nature, there's likely an LED bulb that meets your needs.
While this technology may have a higher initial cost, prices have come down and it will save you money in the long run. Keep an eye out for rebate programs in your area, which can significantly reduce the initial investment.
Here's how to take action.
1. Make a list
Count the number and types of light bulbs in your home. You may be surprised at how many bulbs you have! Most of them have a label that indicates the wattage, voltage, and even the bulb base .
The most common light bulb used in homes is the A19 medium screw bulb. Reflector bulbs are often used in recessed lighting, track lighting, or as outdoor security spotlights, and candelabra bulbs are often used in decorative fixtures such as chandeliers and wall sconces .
Depending on your home or business lighting, you may also be interested in replacing your linear fluorescent lamps.
There's an LED for these lights too! Make a list of the shapes and sizes of your current bulbs to help you find equivalents when shopping.
2. What color of light do you want?
Choosing the right lighting for your space can make all the difference. The Kelvin scale is used to describe the appearance of light. Lower Kelvin ratings indicate a warmer, yellow-white light, and higher Kelvin ratings indicate a blue-white light.
- Warm white (2,700 Kelvin) is closest to a traditional incandescent bulb and is preferred in bedrooms and living rooms. It provides a warm, welcoming light.
- Neutral white (3500 Kelvin) can be used in almost any space because it is neutral. Offices and workspaces often use this color temperature. Kitchens, bathrooms, and workspaces can benefit from a cooler color temperature (4100-5000 K).
- Daylight white (6500K) can be used for task lighting, detailing or many industrial applications.
3. Distinguish between watts and lumens (brightness or luminous efficiency)
There was a time when the number of watts was considered a measure of the brightness of the bulb . In fact, the number of watts indicates the amount of energy consumed by a bulb and in the case of traditional incandescent bulbs, a higher number of watts corresponds to a brighter bulb.
However, newer, more efficient compact fluorescent ( CFL ) and LED bulbs use much less energy, so wattage is no longer an accurate indicator of a bulb's brightness.
Instead, look for the lumen (lm) rating, which describes the amount of light a bulb emits, or how bright it is. This is the most accurate way to gauge how bright bulbs are compared to incandescent bulbs.
4. Calculate your financial and environmental savings
LEDs are one of the most expensive types of light bulbs on the market today, but recent advances in LED technology have significantly reduced the cost. To help reduce the initial cost, many electric companies offer rebate programs.
LED bulbs are an investment and over their long life they will save you money due to their high energy efficiency. They have the lowest total cost of ownership of all bulb types.
5. Start with a light bulb
Now that you know what to look for, you're ready to buy your first LED bulbs. For your first LED bulb purchase , you can start small.
Buy one or two LED bulbs for a lamp or ceiling light . It's important to find the right replacement bulbs before investing in multiple bulbs for your entire home.
6. Evaluate your test bulbs
Do you like the quality of light produced by the bulbs? Are they bright enough? Do they have the right color temperature? Take notes on appearance, initial cost, energy consumption, and brightness.
7. Consider the longevity of the bulbs
Unlike other bulbs, LEDs do not turn off ; they gradually fade over time. LEDs are considered to be at the end of their life when their brightness drops below 70% of the initial brightness when purchased.
Traditional light bulbs have a much shorter lifespan than LEDs. Incandescent bulbs last about 1,000 hours , while a CFL can last 5,000 to 8,000 hours . LEDs are designed to maintain their initial brightness for 10,000 to 25,000 hours.
If you have a bulb that is difficult to replace because it is installed in a hard-to-reach location, you may want to consider replacing it as soon as possible. You won't have to replace it for several years. For example, bulbs with a lifespan of 25,000 hours will last more than 20 years when used for about 3 hours per day.
8. Beware of closed light fixtures
LED bulbs emit much less heat than incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs use 10% of their energy to produce light, while 90% is wasted as heat.
For an LED, 95% of the energy is used to produce light and only 5% as heat. It should be kept in mind that LEDs are more sensitive to heat and most of them should not be used in fully enclosed fixtures.
This is why it is generally recommended to install LEDs in open fixtures that allow for better heat dissipation. If you are replacing a bulb in an enclosed fixture, make sure the LED you purchase is designed to be used in that space.
9. LEDs and dimmers
When replacing traditional bulbs with LEDs, you may want to replace dimmer switches that may not be compatible with LEDs.
Although most LED bulbs are dimmable , not all are compatible with traditional dimmers.
For optimal performance, look for dimmers specifically designed for LED wall lights . Using a dimmable LED with a non-compatible dimmer may result in buzzing and reduced dimming range.
Low voltage bulbs may not be compatible with your existing transformers.
LED bulbs may not be compatible with all transformers because they consume much less power and some transformers require a minimum wattage to operate.
You may need to replace or modify your existing systems.
For example, a new 7-watt LED bulb will not be compatible with a halogen track system that requires a minimum of 10 watts to operate.
You may need to replace the track system or add additional bulbs to meet the minimum wattage requirement.
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