How To Easily Convert To LED Lighting
Most people are by now aware that traditional incandescent light bulbs are fast becoming a thing of the past and that LED (rather than CFL) alternatives represent the future of low-energy, low-cost, low-environmental impact lighting. But where to begin?
Now you might think that it would just be a matter of swapping every existing incandescent light bulb for an LED equivalent, however I really would suggest that you don't go down that route. For a start the up-front cost would be quite steep, but perhaps more importantly it would jeopardize the likelihood of a successful outcome.
LED lights are quite different to what you are accustomed to with incandescent technology and a period of experimentation is really needed to get to grips with how to make it work most effectively in your personal situation. That said though, when you do get it figured out you can look forward to huge electricity savings and a fabulous modern look into the bargain.
Accordingly, you ought to pick a location that you planned on refurbishing anyway or that otherwise uses a great deal of lighting (either lots of lights, or lights left on a lot). The likelihood that you will quickly notice a difference in operating costs (and also light quality of course) will be thus enhanced.
It's important to get off to a good start in this way as it will encourage you to then take another step further towards the final goal of switching totally from incandescent to LED. For many, if not most, people then it is the kitchen that invariably matches these criteria - it typically has a lot of lights that get used a lot and refurbishing the lighting provides a relatively cheap makeover.
The typical modern kitchen often uses quite a number of halogen lamps, either mounted on tracks or recessed into the ceiling. These waste a phenomenal amount of electricity as heat and are simplicity itself to replace with retrofit LED equivalents. Just pull the halogen lamp out and push in an LED rated to produce the same level of light. For GU10 LED bulbs that's it, but for MR16 low-voltage lamps you should also purchase an LED driver to replace the 12v transformers previously used.
The same idea (straightforward replacement) also applies to lights installed atop, underneath and inside wall cabinets. Alternatively, add some lighting to these areas if none already exists since LED strip and miniature spot lights are simple to fit, being both light in weight and flexible with respect to being cut or connected to suit any configuration. A common technique is to accent plinths and covings, or if fitted to a kick board to pick out the floor.
There are three basic aspects to consider when installing LED lights.
1. Quality. There is no point whatever in buying low quality LED lights - they won't produce the light levels you need, won't last and won't really save you much. Expect to pay a relatively high price (10-20 that of a regular bulb) for an LED that will do the job properly and bring in very significant savings over time. Branded products like Cree or Zenigata for example. Don't forget, if you want a cheap purchase price you can always stick with incandescent bulbs - just don't moan about the exorbitant electricity bill.
2. Cost of ownership. There is way more to the cost of lighting than the price of the light bulbs. A typical 50w halogen lamp can cost upwards of 1,000 times the purchase price in terms of electricity usage and replacement costs over a period of 50,000 hours. By comparison an LED of equivalent brightness can be 10 to 20 times as much to purchase but will cost about the same to run over 50,000 hours as it cost to buy the bulb in the first place. The true cost of ownership for LED is thus easily 50 times less - and that's an awful lot of money.
3. Use. The best way to use LED lights is plenty of them with a mix of brightness and colour temperature and position them to reflect off objects and surfaces. LED lights are high intensity and can be quite harsh if you look at them directly, however they don't yet "carry" as well as incandescent bulbs. Reflected light however does easily fill a space well with warmer, more diffuse tones and at the same time you get sharp accent lighting on the original feature or surface.
Now you might think that it would just be a matter of swapping every existing incandescent light bulb for an LED equivalent, however I really would suggest that you don't go down that route. For a start the up-front cost would be quite steep, but perhaps more importantly it would jeopardize the likelihood of a successful outcome.
LED lights are quite different to what you are accustomed to with incandescent technology and a period of experimentation is really needed to get to grips with how to make it work most effectively in your personal situation. That said though, when you do get it figured out you can look forward to huge electricity savings and a fabulous modern look into the bargain.
Accordingly, you ought to pick a location that you planned on refurbishing anyway or that otherwise uses a great deal of lighting (either lots of lights, or lights left on a lot). The likelihood that you will quickly notice a difference in operating costs (and also light quality of course) will be thus enhanced.
It's important to get off to a good start in this way as it will encourage you to then take another step further towards the final goal of switching totally from incandescent to LED. For many, if not most, people then it is the kitchen that invariably matches these criteria - it typically has a lot of lights that get used a lot and refurbishing the lighting provides a relatively cheap makeover.
The typical modern kitchen often uses quite a number of halogen lamps, either mounted on tracks or recessed into the ceiling. These waste a phenomenal amount of electricity as heat and are simplicity itself to replace with retrofit LED equivalents. Just pull the halogen lamp out and push in an LED rated to produce the same level of light. For GU10 LED bulbs that's it, but for MR16 low-voltage lamps you should also purchase an LED driver to replace the 12v transformers previously used.
The same idea (straightforward replacement) also applies to lights installed atop, underneath and inside wall cabinets. Alternatively, add some lighting to these areas if none already exists since LED strip and miniature spot lights are simple to fit, being both light in weight and flexible with respect to being cut or connected to suit any configuration. A common technique is to accent plinths and covings, or if fitted to a kick board to pick out the floor.
There are three basic aspects to consider when installing LED lights.
1. Quality. There is no point whatever in buying low quality LED lights - they won't produce the light levels you need, won't last and won't really save you much. Expect to pay a relatively high price (10-20 that of a regular bulb) for an LED that will do the job properly and bring in very significant savings over time. Branded products like Cree or Zenigata for example. Don't forget, if you want a cheap purchase price you can always stick with incandescent bulbs - just don't moan about the exorbitant electricity bill.
2. Cost of ownership. There is way more to the cost of lighting than the price of the light bulbs. A typical 50w halogen lamp can cost upwards of 1,000 times the purchase price in terms of electricity usage and replacement costs over a period of 50,000 hours. By comparison an LED of equivalent brightness can be 10 to 20 times as much to purchase but will cost about the same to run over 50,000 hours as it cost to buy the bulb in the first place. The true cost of ownership for LED is thus easily 50 times less - and that's an awful lot of money.
3. Use. The best way to use LED lights is plenty of them with a mix of brightness and colour temperature and position them to reflect off objects and surfaces. LED lights are high intensity and can be quite harsh if you look at them directly, however they don't yet "carry" as well as incandescent bulbs. Reflected light however does easily fill a space well with warmer, more diffuse tones and at the same time you get sharp accent lighting on the original feature or surface.
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To find out more check out these articles that look at the subjects of GU10 LED bulbs and replacing halogen with LED in greater detail.
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