Many people assume that energy saving light bulbs mean low
lighting, so dim in fact, that it’s difficult to see. Some say energy efficient
lighting produces a different color in the room, such as orange or yellow,
instead of white light. Does it?
Traditional light bulbs, also known as incandescent bulbs, do produce a glow that’s different from energy-saving LED lighting. However, LED light bulbs come in white hues including warm white or soft white, which will emit a light that’s very close to that of an incandescent bulb.
There are also energy saving light bulbs in colors such as cool white or pure white, which are a brighter white and less ambient. These are better for workplaces. An LED bulb called “daylight” is a bulb that’s good for artists, or workers who need to match colors, as it shows a color in its truest form.
When it comes to the amount of light produced, take a look at the packaging. Sometimes, the box for an energy-efficient bulb will say “80-watt equivalent” but when you take it home, it’s not bright enough. The fact is watts, measures the electricity used from a traditional bulb, and LED bulbs are measured in Lumens. In both cases, it’s easy for companies to make large claims about their products.
The number in lumens is much higher than in watts, for example a 25 watt bulb is equal to 200-225 lumens (40 watts equals 350-400, 60 watts equals 650-700, 100 watts equals 1,200-1,300 lumens).
When energy efficient bulbs first hit the market, many users complained that it took too long for the bulbs to reach their full brightness, or that they flickered often. Fluorescent bulbs might take a little bit of time to reach their full lighting potential however, LED light bulbs reach their full brightness just as fast as traditional light bulbs.
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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.
(Photo via Flickr)
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