LED LIGHTING BUYERS GUIDE
Incredibly efficient LED Lighting can save you a fortune on energy bills
It is clear that with such obvious benefits, LED lighting is the future of lighting. With huge budgets pouring into research and development the technology behind the lights is already improving at an incredible pace and with every new generation of LED lights the price drops making them more affordable for the average household.
How do LED lights work?
Invented over 40 years ago the uses the same technology that is in your computer, the "Light Emitting Diode" is essentially a semiconductor which when charged produce excited electrons that emit light from the surface. Compared with traditional incandescent bulbs the LED doesn't require a filament which will break over time so their lifespan is immense, up to 20 years.
What are the benefits to using LED lighting?
LED lights convert an average of 80% of the electricity they draw directly into light which makes them incredibly efficient when compared with traditional incandescent bulbs that only convert 20% of their energy into light, wasting other 80% as heat. The result is a reduction in lighting energy costs by up to 90%.
And unlike other energy efficient CFL light bulbs, LED lights do not use mercury in their construction which means they are safe to use in the home and dispose of in a regular landfill. However with an average lifespan of 50,000 hours you won't need to replace an LED light bulb for a very long time.
Why do LED lights cost more than conventional lighting?
LED lighting for homes have been available for many years but it is only recently that it has made economical sense to switch over to the new technology, although with the average LED light bulb costing between £10 - £20 they still require some initial investment.
The increased cost of LED lighting is due to the fact it is still a very new technology with significant research and development costs for the manufacturers, the cost however is falling rapidly and some products are half the price they were 12 months ago. As more and more people switch over to LED lighting we expect the cost to fall even further.
When compared with a traditional bulb which can cost less than £1 the cost of a replacement LED light bulb or LED fitting may seem expensive but with LED energy costs just 10% of traditional lighting you will see a return as soon as you receive your first energy bill
What about LED light quality?
With the invention of new production techniques the quality of the light produced by a LED light bulb has improved considerably over the past few years, it is now possible to recreate the warm glow of incandescent light for home use or produce cooler whites for task lighting and use in commercial spaces
The colour temperature is displayed on all our product pages and is measured in Kelvin (K). If you are looking for lighting at the warmer end of the spectrum aim for lighting with a colour temperatures of around 3,000K, lights with a clear white/blueish hue are closer to the 5,000k and are ideal for kitchens, bathrooms and commercial use.
Should I use LED Lighting in every room in my home?
If your budget can stretch to the initial investment for the light bulbs then the answer is yes, if you have a limited budget however you should consider focusing on the rooms in your house which need lighting for the longest periods, typically these are kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms.
Types of LED lighting
The range of LED lighting available now matches that of traditional lighting, take a look here if you are looking to replace a light bulb in an existing fitting with an LED light bulb or looking for a brand new LED fitting we have solution for you, take a look at our full range of LED lighting here