The Guide for choosing the right LED bulb for home

And God said “Let there be light”, we have taken this forward with our innovations and new technology for various types of light. LEDs are here to shed some light on the future. They have become more and more popular due to their efficiency and long-lasting ability. It is believed to be the latest technology and has been lighting the way for around 50 years. The introduction of white light is what has made it appeal to the masses and brought it in the public eye lately. It could be seen as a replacement for the regular white light. Let nothing dim that light now LEDs are here to make it shine brighter. A brief introduction and a few “must-knows” will help you understand LEDs and help you choose the right light for your home.

WHAT IS AN LED?

Light fixtures that use one or more Light-emitting diodes are more commonly known as LED bulbs or lamps. Their lifespan extends longer than normal bulbs. LEDs emit full brightness instantly without a lag, unlike an incandescent light. Switching on and off doesn’t reduce its efficiency and hence is comparatively long-lasting. The ingenious incandescent light bulbs were the popular ones to date and its brightness was measured in watts. LEDs are measured in Lumens.

WHAT IS A LUMEN?

A watt determines the brightness of an incandescent bulb, so more watts means higher brightness. In LED’s we can’t possibly apply the same theory as it uses far fewer watts of energy than a regular incandescent bulb for the same amount of brightness. So, a 30 watts LED if compared to a 30 watts incandescent bulb will give you far more light or brightness, in fact, a 60-watt LED may just blind you with its light. Hence, we use lumens as an indicator of brightness in LEDs.

Lumens wasn’t designed just for LEDs, it has been used for nearly a decade now to measure light in a bulb, but it started appearing on packaging only recently. In 2011, the US federal trade made it mandatory for all bulb manufacturing companies (fluorescent, incandescent and LED) to use lumens as an indicator of the illumination of a bulb. Even though the original consumer is accustomed to watts which is a measurement of energy use, not brightness. Hence the dependency on watts alone for measurement was inconceivable, especially if the comparison is between different types of bulbs like traditional incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescents or LED. In simple terms, lumen is nothing but the extent of light evident to the human eye from any particular light source. Lumen is the new term of measurement for light. On bulb packets, the “lm” (number) indicates the lumen and higher the lumen brighter the bulb illumination.

LUMEN v/s. WATTS

An LED will help you save power by giving you even more light. Using the conversion chart of Lumens to incandescent and LED is the best way to determine what bulb to use. So, for example, at an 8 or 12 watt, a lumen of 800 will give you the same illumination as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. This table from CNET.com will help you understand better.

As you can see, for each lumen rating, the amount of wattage you will need varies with LEDs. This is because some LED brands have created bulbs for fewer wattage offerings and more lumens. Energy Star recommends finding a selection of bulbs with the most lumens and choosing one with the lowest wattage for best energy savings.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN LED FOR YOUR HOME?

Have you decided to go with an LED? Well, a few tips here will help you select the right bulb for various rooms in your home. As you are aware sunlight gives us energy similarly our light bulbs too have their advantages in the same way. Blue light waves produced by the bulbs help our brain produce serotonin which helps us focus, be alert and awake. On the other hand, bulbs that don’t emit blue light waves help our brain produce melatonin which helps us relax makes us drowsy and aids a good night’s sleep. Warm whites are due to the lower temperature of the bulbs, neutral whites are when the bulb has medium temperature and cool whites and mimic daylight are produced due to higher temperatures of the bulbs. The mood, the time of the day, the room you are in and the activity everything determines the lighting of any particular room.

LED LIGHT FOR YOUR BEDROOM

When sleep is sound, health and happiness are around. A bedroom is a place of serenity, a place to relax unwind from your hard day’s work and just let it go. It is best to avoid bright blue light waves here it will help your circadian rhythm differentiate between the natural light outside and the light in the bedroom. It helps your brain produce melatonin to help you sleep better. For bedside lamps its best to use soft blue or neutral tone especially if you like to read in the bedroom, the cool-white color creates a contrast with the pages.

LED FOR THE LIVING ROOM

The showcase of your home, where it all comes alive. A place to rewind and relax. A room to chat with friends or just relax with a movie, watch some television or read a book. Since the living room has activities of various kinds it will require lighting which can adapt to the mood and activity of the time. The bright blue light-emitting lamp is best avoided as it releases serotonin which gives us energy. Artwork, paintings should be highlighted with spotlights pointing to the walls. Table lamps with the new LED 3-way lamps can be used to give the living room a more exquisite look.

LED FOR THE DINING ROOM

Good food, good mood. The best memories are made when the family gathers around the dining table. The dining room is a place for family stories to build memories. The right kind of lighting is very important to set the mood for eating right and to release the appropriate digestive enzymes. An overhead chandelier with bright LED light is the perfect option for the dining area. Various colors of LEDs can be experimented with to add allure to the ambiance and the mood of your dining room.

LED FOR THE KITCHEN

The kitchen brings the family together, a workspace for the entire family. The bright blue light-emitting light bulbs play an important role here, it will help keep you alert and wide awake for your breakfast, dinners and all those in-between snacks. Overhead lighting from LED BR bulbs can give it a cool ambiance for the non-cooking times. A dimmer can add the oomph to the otherwise mundane look especially when there is no activity in the kitchen.

LED FOR THE BATHROOMS

When everything fails, take a bath. The most important place for the “you” time. Before rushing to work or school, this is the place where you wake up. It has to be illuminated well and bright so that you don’t miss that shaving spot or mess up the makeup or just for that neat tie look before going to school. The light coming from behind the mirror rather than the ceiling looks more elegant. A globe light bulb around the mirror or atop the fixtures helps light up the bathroom on the whole.
The type of room, your mood, the activity, everything determines the lighting of your home. We have explained some important details to guide homeowners to choose the right LED and avoid pitfalls. These introductions will help LED lighting be a success for your home.

Nine Things to Consider while Buying LED Lights

LED the future of advanced lighting is here to illuminate your homes and hearts. LEDs have changed our view on light completely. If you have always been attracted to LEDs but have never got the time to switch to it, here is all the information you need to make a decision. LEDs have proven its energy efficiency and durability for as long as 20 years. It has an array of light options to choose from. You can buy warmer colors of light unlike the intense white light in CFL bulbs. LED bulbs even though highly-priced than the regular incandescent bulb, are more economical in the long run. The less power consumption and more light model have made LED indeed a bright idea.

We will look at all the advantages of LED bulbs over traditional incandescent bulbs. Their prices too have seen a certain decline over the years. The LEDs come in different colors, shapes, and brightness. Here are a few tips to consider while choosing the right bulb suited to your needs. Because your home deserves the best.

1. ITS LUMENS NOT WATTS

Lumens are for LEDs as watts are for CFLs. For the regular incandescent bulbs, we are well aware of the extent of watts to be brought, 60 watt or 100 watts. Since these bulbs have been around for generations this information is something we have heard our parents talk about and have some knowledge about it in advance. We are also aware of how much light we can expect from a particular watt of the bulb. The change from CFL to LED hence will need some understanding and learning. LED bulbs are also rated by watts but it is difficult to compare it with the incandescent bulb as there is no uniformity for comparison. Consequently, the use of lumens as a base to measure brightness is more appropriate, for example for a 60-watt incandescent light an 800 lumen LED can be brought. Please refer to the table in Guide to choosing the right LED bulb for more details.

2. SHAPE MATTERS, MATCH IT WITH YOUR FIXTURES.

Unlike incandescent, LED bulbs come in an array of shapes and sizes. This gives us the option to play with the aesthetics and visual appeal of our homes. There are spiral bulbs, large formats, globes, golf balls, spotlights, floodlights. Some may be in exquisite candle shapes to give it a more antiquated look. MR16 is a small cone-shaped bulb used very extensively. The large formats with filaments in a retro style or a GLS (general lighting service) which is more of a classic type look or a golf ball more suited to your pendant lights. With so many options you are spoiled for choice. In general, large bulbs go with large lamps and small bulbs with smaller lamps. Make sure the bulb fits perfectly inside the lamp. A clear large bulb with filament adds that distinct touch to your rooms adding charisma with beauty. The lamp, however, has to be pendant shaped to fit in a filament bulb. Pearl colored white is usually preferred for table lamps and floor lamps with a shade.

3. DEPLOY LED’S WHERE MOST REQUIRED

LEDs may be appealing and help us save on energy power but are still comparatively expensive hence should be used only at places most essential. LEDs should be fixed in spots that are easily visible and require lots of light, it should add an aesthetic appeal. LEDs are best avoided in hidden and less frequently used areas. The LED’s even though expensive will give you return on investment in the long run. Your investment will payback in terms of durability and energy savings. It is best to use LEDs where the payoffs are the highest, place them where the brightness is required and the home traffic is highest.

4. OPTIMIZE FOR THE DIMMERS

Using dimmers is an excellent choice to change the mood of any room. LEDs may not be the best choice for dimmers. Many of the bulbs are not compatible with dimmers, some flicker, some buzz and others just fail to respond to the dimmers. But companies are coming up with more options to choose from for the use of dimmers. Do read the packaging for details if you want to use it along with a dimmer switch. Another option is to replace your dimmer switch which is compatible with both CFL and LED bulbs, there are quite a few now available in the market. This is also a good option if you are renovating your house from scratch.

5. COLORED BULBS

LED bulbs have diverse options in terms of color. If the harsh white light of the CFL brought discomfort to your eyes, LED is your savior. LED bulbs have options like warmer yellow-white, whiter white and a more blueish white to choose from. The color can be chosen based on the room, area, and mood you desire. An icing on the cake is that they also have an option of having all three colors in the very same bulb. All you need to do is switch on and off to change the color. An off-white bulb can help draw one’s attention to the home décor to show off the corners and artifacts of the house, but make sure you don’t go too bright. Always check the packaging for the color, it is determined by the temperature shown on the Kevin scale. Higher the Kevin number bluer the light and lower Kevin number the warmer the light.

6. WORTH THE SAVINGS

The initial cost may seem expensive but in the long run, it is very economical to invest in an LED. An LED may cost you 10 or 20% more than a regular incandescent bulb but energy savings are 50% less so has proven to be more cost-effective in the long run. Energy.gov has compared a 60-watt incandescent bulb to an equivalent 12-watt LED. Here are a few pointers to help you understand.

• Cost for an incandescent bulb maybe 4 times or more higher than LED’s
• Using LEDs can cut your energy cost by 75% to 80%
• The LED burns for 25000 hours v/s. the incandescent which burns for 1000 hours.

7. CHECK THE SOCKETS

Make sure the new LED bulbs fit into your old sockets. The bulbs are made to fit into the traditional sockets but can have some variations. The right position, the depth and the type of socket should always be kept in mind before buying a new LED especially if you are replacing it from CFL to LED. Old and worn out sockets should always be replaced.

8. QUALITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT

Quality is key. LEDs are famous for their long lives, but if the manufacturers do not deliver the quality it can work the reverse. Always choose a reliable manufacturer with good reviews even if it costs on higher side. Poor quality LED’s may die out even before a CFL bulb.

9. HEAT AND LED’S

LED bulbs produce only small amounts of heat but they are highly susceptible to heat damage. Hence if LEDs are fitted in enclosed lamps, the heat gets entrapped in the lamp and causes damage to the bulb. Too much heat in the enclosure can kill an LED bulb. As a precautionary measure, it’s best to use LEDs for average temperatures – not too hot not too cold for longevity.

LEDs are here to stay. It has proven itself in terms of cost-effectiveness and durability in the long run. It helps you enhance the interior and exterior of your home. So be smart, power smart, LED is a bulb that lasts.

8 WAYS YOU’RE WASTING ELECTRICITY

WITHOUT REALIZING IT

With energy prices on the rise and antique power grids patched together with gum and twine, it’s time to take some control and get serious about reducing your use of the juice.

1. PLUGGING, BUT NOT PLAYING

Forget about the zombies; it’s much more likely that your home is filled with vampires. Energy vampires are those devices and appliances we tend to leave plugged in 24/7 whether we’re using them or not. And – on or off – every item that’s plugged in is sucking power vampire-style. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, vampire energy can add as much as 10% to a consumer’s monthly energy bill. Let’s use your microwave as an example. How often throughout the day do you use it to prepare food? And yet, it remains plugged in, digitally displaying the time and silently sipping electricity in the process. It’s a like a 30-pound clock with a motor and rotating cooking tray. Any appliance that uses energy to do virtually nothing should at least pay you a sincere compliment every time you walk by it (a feature that industrial engineers should diligently be working on, in my humble opinion).

Help drain energy vampires by unplugging electronics and appliances you seldom use. And if you’re a gadget hound, read up on the Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor. For around $30.00, this handy little product calculates the energy consumed by keeping any electronic appliance plugged in and forecasts your related costs weekly, monthly, and yearly. Just plug it into an outlet, plug your device or appliance into it, and get a digital read-out. Once you see how the numbers add up, it’ll be difficult to leave those vampires alone.

2. CRANKING UP THE OVEN

When it comes to cooking a single item, an oven is often the “nuclear option.” That single-serving pizza or leftover tuna casserole could be warmed up in the microwave and then finished in the toaster oven. For little jobs, consider how to cook in stages using smaller appliances that sip electricity instead of automatically gravitating toward the power-sucking behemoths.

3. GETTING IN HOT WATER

According to EnergyStar.gov, simply heating the water accounts for 90% of the total power it takes wash a load of laundry. That’s a whole lot of wattage. For regular loads, switch to cold water for a month and see if you notice any difference in the cleanliness of your duds. Reserve warmer water settings for fighting oil-based stains. Your budget will thank you for it.

4. DISH-DRYING

Hot water helps your dishwasher do its job, but drying with heat is added energy drain that’s largely unnecessary. Today, most dishwashers feature a heated drying option that you can simply choose not to use. And though heated drying does help avoid spots on dishes, you can get the same benefit by adding a rinsing agent.

5. FIGHTING THE FLOW

As obvious as it sounds, if your home features a central air-conditioning and heating system, check your vents. Vents have a way of blending into the background of our homes; many get closed inadvertently and that can result in systems that have to work extra hard to do the job. While you’re at it, make sure vents, ducts, and any filters are clean and installed properly. If you find dirt or debris that’s unreachable, or if you see visible signs of mold, it may be time to have your air ducts professionally cleaned.

6. LIGHTING UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Still using your dad’s old string of holiday lights from 1975? Well, those incandescent bulbs are using just enough electricity to drain your gift-buying budget. Ditch the old and switch to new LED lights. You’ll get hours of twinkling for a tiny fraction of the electric output.

7. FRIDGE-GAZING

It’s a popular pastime, but standing in front of that open fridge trying decide if you have enough ingredients for a decent turkey club isn’t doing your electric bill any favors. Ponder before you open the fridge or after you’ve quickly scanned its contents and shut the door. And while we’re on the subject, make sure you’re doing all you can to help your refrigerator last for years.

8. IGNORING POWER HOURS

Though it might not cut your electricity consumption, reserving energy-intensive tasks for off-peak hours can reduce the rate you pay. Since many power companies offer discounted rates after 8:00 p.m., focus not only on how you do things, but when. Check with your local power company to determine if it offers an off-peak discount and when off-peak hours begin and end. Then, whenever possible, schedule your laundry and dishwashing tasks to fit within that period.

It’s easy to think of electricity as a mysterious force coursing through power lines that magically illuminates all we do. But in reality, it’s a concrete resource that we have direct control over. Luckily, we don’t need to understand electricity to conserve it. So the next time you plug in, charge up, turn on, or warm up, think of ways to do each smarter.

Source: https://www.wisebread.com/8-ways-youre-wasting-electricity-without-realizing-it

ELECTRICAL SAFETY TIPS

FOR HOME RENOVATION

2019… A FRESH START!

Do you have some big plans for your home this year? Perhaps you’re ready for a full home makeover? Or maybe you just want to replace a few old appliances here and there. Either way, it can be quite a stressful task to undertake. From sorting out new wiring to locating building plans, home renovation isn’t for the faint-hearted, regardless of whether you decide to go down the DIY route, or choose to bring in a registered electrician.

HERE ARE A FEW OF OUR TOP ELECTRICAL SAFETY TIPS WHEN GIVING YOUR HOME A MAKEOVER:

It can be easy to forget to factor in rewiring plans while renovating as most of the system is concealed behind walls. We advise you to work with a competent, experienced registered electrician to update any home wiring, and to avoid going down the DIY route for this task.

If your home is notably dated, you may come across the issue of there being too few outlets around the house. If you plan on adding new rooms to your house or adding more appliances to existing rooms, make sure to get your electrician to install additional outlets to ensure that you won’t end up relying on using multiple extension cords for all your electrical needs. If you have bought new appliances or electrical goods for your home makeover, make sure you register them so that you will be the first to know of any product recalls or safety updates. Carefully plan out the layout of your appliances with the aim in mind to not overload any sockets. Make sure you are aware of the limits of your power outlets are, and stay within them.
Ensure your home is fitted with an RCD before undertaking any renovation work.

Don’t undertake any DIY electrical work without researching thoroughly if it’s an installation that is permitted for homeowners to undertake. Certain complex electrical work has to be done by or signed off by a certified electrician – failure to do so could invalidate insurance or leave you unable to sell your property. If you are doing some DIY work within your home, make sure you follow the electrical DIY tips.

Source: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/blog/new-year-new-home-electrical-safety-tips-for-home-renovation/