LED lighting

LED bulbs

LED bulbs are now available pretty well everywhere. They are now suitable for most residential applications and offer a number of advantages in regards to shape, luminosity and color. The quality of light they provide is similar to that of traditional incandescent bulbs, but they last at least 15 times longer and are even more efficient than compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). The helpful hints below will help you choose the best bulb for your fixture and your environment.

What’s an LED?

First used in electronics, an LED is a type of semiconductor device (diode) capable of emitting light when an electric current is passed through it. Unlike incandescent bulbs, which use only 5% of the power they draw to produce light and give off the rest as heat, LEDs use energy efficiently. LEDs produce a directional, focused light. You can buy LED replacement bulbs for your existing fixtures or LED-integrated fixtures.

LED fixtures are designed to take into account various thermal and electrical conditions.

Did you know?

  1. The lumen is a measure of light (or luminous flux) emitted by a source. It’s the best gauge of brightness.
  2. If you want a color similar to that of an incandescent bulb, choose a soft or warm white bulb (between 2,700 and 3,000 K).

Benefits of LED lighting

  • Typical energy savings between 70% and 90% compared to incandescent lighting
  • Ideal for high ceilings and other hard-to-reach spots
  • 15,000-hour lifespan
  • Choice of replacement bulbs for existing fixtures or LED-integrated fixtures
  • “Instant on” (just like incandescent bulbs)
  • Adjustable brightness with compatible dimmer
  • Low heat emission
  • Adjustable color temperature (some bulbs)

LED bulb shapes

The lighting effect created depends a lot on the shape of the bulb.

Directional or mood lighting? Indoor or outdoor? Select the shape based on the intended use.

LED bulbs: globe, regular, candle and three types of reflectors.

Color

The terms “warm white,” “cool white” and “natural light” refer to color temperature, which is measured in kelvins (K), 2,700 K, for example. The higher the number, the whiter (colder) the light. Conversely, the lower the kelvin number, the yellower (warmer) the light. If you are looking for color similar to that of an incandescent bulb, opt for a bulb between 2,700 and 3,000 K.

Brightness

It’s best to use the lumen (lm) to determine the brightness of a bulb. The number of watts is a less reliable indication for LED bulbs. Technology for LED bulbs continues to evolve. As a result, you can use fewer watts to create the same level of brightness.

 400 lumens
Incandescent Bulb (W)
 40 W
CFL (W)1
 9 W
LED Bulb (W)1
 7 W
 800 lumens
Incandescent Bulb (W)
 60 W
CFL (W)1
 13 W
LED Bulb (W)1
 10 W
1,600 lumens
Incandescent Bulb (W)1
 100 W
CFL (W)1
 23 W
LED Bulb (W)1
 19 W
Luminous Flux (LM)

Incandescent Bulb (W)

CFL (W)1

LED Bulb (W)1
400 lumens 40 W 9 W 7 W
800 lumens 60 W 13 W 9 W
1,600 lumens 100 W 23 W 19 W

1 Estimated

See also