A lot of people nowadays are converting to LED lighting. There are even those who switch their fridge light to LED.
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Only a few years ago, using light bulbs that are energy efficient meant going green. I mean literally green with the entire ghoulish tint that compact and spiral-shaped fluorescent bulbs cast inside the house.
However, all that has changed with the high tech LED bulbs at affordable prices. It’s ranging from $6 to $10 for a 75-watt bulb.
Converting to Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs can significantly help reduce your electric bills. It can even illuminate your room with bright, white light. The best part? You get to help the environment.
But, buying LED bulbs isn’t as simple as going shopping for watt equivalence of the current bulbs you want to replace. Here are four things you need to know before buying LED lights.
LEDs brighten the room
If you need more lamps and light fixtures to illuminate your room, you can use LEDs instead. Choose a higher watt equivalency that’s higher than your old light bulbs.
A lot of accessories have a warning not to use a lamp that has a wattage that’s higher than 60 watts. It is mainly for safety purposes. The fixture will not be able to take the heat that higher wattage bulbs generate.
However, there’s no problem when you use a LED bulb that has a 100-watt equivalent. Wherein it is only around 17 watts and is below the safety limit of 60 watts.
You have lower energy costs and twice the brightness. Therefore saving you from shelling out money on new floor lamps or hard-wired fixtures that cost around $300 to $800 each.
You will need new dimmers
Replace dimmer switches and select dimmable LED lightings when you plan to add LED bulbs to fixtures. Dimmable LEDs is not merely screwing one onto an existing installation. Dimmers for the standard incandescent bulbs have an annoying buzz or hum.
You will need to change your dimmer into a LED friendly one. Also, check that it is compatible with the bulb as indicated on the packaging. You might have to pay $25 for the switch and another $25 to have a professional installation.
Contrary to your expectations, LED bulbs have a shorter lifespan
Screw-in LEDs don’t need retrofitting into your current sockets. They contain both the light-emitting diode and an electronic driver that makes it all work together.
But for a particular LED fixture, the bulb only includes the diode, and the driver is in the light fixture.
Advertisements may claim that LED bulbs can last for 40 years, but it is the driver that will determine the bulb’s lifespan.
You’re even lucky if you receive a five-year warranty for bulbs that have built-in drivers. You’ll expect a super long bulb lifespan when you swap in LED trim kits with the higher quality drivers. It will cost you around $50 to $85 each.
LED bulbs have a wide range of colors
When buying a LED light bulb, always check the LED packaging to see its K ratings. K is for Kelvin and is the measurement of the color of light termed as ‘color temperature.’ You can find bulbs ranging from 2700 to 6500 Kelvin.
Bulbs below 3000 K have a warm and slightly light that is relaxing. It is perfect for general living spaces. On the other hand, bulbs with the range of 3200 K to 4500 K are white lights.
These lights are ideal for work-spaces like the bathroom, kitchen, and garage. Finally, bulbs with more than 4600 K are considered daylight and best for security and outdoor landscape lighting.
Another way to measure the color quality is the color rendering index (CRI). It shows how precise colors look in the light from the bulb. Check that your LEDs have a CRI of 80 or higher when buying.
LEDs brighten the room
Using LED Lighting in Your Home
Take the following steps to enjoy the advantages of LED lighting without spending a lot of money.
1. Install LED bulbs in light fixtures that are hard to reach
One of the main advantages of LED bulbs is their long lifespan. This benefit makes them perfect for placing in hard to reach fixtures where bulbs are a pain to replace.
It includes high-hanging pendant lamps and very high ceilings. Reduce the number of times you replace the light bulb by using LED bulbs.
2. Use LED lighting in heavily trafficked areas
To see the effect of LEDs on your energy costs, install them mainly on areas that get used a lot. For example, replace the bulbs in the living room or kitchen only.
It will help you get the most out of the low consumption of energy on these types of bulbs.
3. Improve your task lighting with LED bulbs
LED bulbs are well known to provide a clean, bright light compared to an incandescents’ warm glow. This clean light makes LED bulbs perfect for task lighting.
It is best to consider using LED bulbs to light up your kitchen and desk work space. They can help lower the strain on our eyes with the bright and clear lighting.
4. Fit your outdoor flood lights with LED bulbs
Despite producing an intense amount of heat and burning out faster, large halogen bulbs are mainly used for outdoor security lighting most of the time.
Instead, you should use LED bulbs for floodlight fixtures. They not only consume less energy but they also don’t need to be replaced as often as its halogen counterparts.
These benefits make it perfect for keeping them turned on all night long for a more sustainable solution. Plus, they work great for hard to reach floodlights.
5. Accent art with LED lighting
Using LED lighting, you can make your favorite architectural features stand out. With the LED bulb’s tiny sizes, they are great for lighting an artwork without competing for attention.
It also presents the feature in the most natural way possible.
LEDs brighten the room
Conclusion
All in all, LED light bulbs are one of the best innovations in today’s world. It is more energy efficient and has a longer lifespan. The next time you buy some bulbs, consider getting LEDs. They’re perfect for any usage.
