LED lighting
Here at Joe Compare, we are strongly in favour of LED lighting because it has many advantages. Firstly, there is the efficiency… LED lights use around six times less electricity for the same amount of light than incandescent lighting. Secondly, they last a very long time. One LED bulb can last for up to 50,000 hours, or over 5.5 years of continuous usage.
They are safer than CFL bulbs (the traditional energy efficient bulbs) because they don’t contain mercury. They also light up instantly, unlike CFL bulbs because they don’t require a warm up time.
There are lots of different styles of light fitting that can use LED lights and, as LED has become the norm, most modern lightfittings are designed with LED in mind.
Different colours are available with LED bulbs, so you can use them for mood lighting and you could opt for “natural light” options.
There are just a few downsides to LED bulbs. Firstly, they are expensive to buy and secondly, there is a huge difference in quality between manufacturers.
Bulbs from various manufacturers may appear noticeably different in terms of their white light hues, so choose a well-known brand. Most white LED bulbs emit a cooler, blue-tinted light — rather than the “warmer” glow that is associated with incandescent bulbs. Some people prefer “daylight” or “natural light” LED options. Some LED fixtures may create sharp shadows that may not be desirable in certain places in the home. Other disadvantages of LEDs are that not all LED bulbs are dimmable; those that are may require special dimmer switches. If dimmable LED fixtures are important to you, it’s wise to check the bulb’s packaging carefully if you want adjustable lighting. Finally, some standard LED bulbs may not be compatible with your existing enclosed fixtures, such as flushmount lighting. However, some manufacturers offer specialized bulbs for enclosures
D stands for Light Emitting Diode. When voltage is applied to the two leads, electrons move around and create light (electro-luminescence). There are lots of LED lighting fixtures and you can find plenty of styles for every room in your home. LED lights are also very energy efficient and use around six times less electricity than incandescent lights.
Are LED Fixtures Right for Your Home?
Certain areas of your home may benefit more from LED lighting than others, depending on their use and their convenience. Areas where changing bulbs is often difficult, such as high ceiling lights, are good candidates for LED lights. Areas where the quality of the light (tint) isn’t as important, such as outdoor areas, may also benefit from LED fixtures. When you are looking into LEDs, you should consider certain performance aspects, including lumens and color rendering index (CRI). The number of lumens refers to the amount of light output (brightness); CRI describes the quality of light compared to a familiar reference (such as daylight). The best LED light bulbs have a high lumen count and CRI of at least 90. Once you’ve installed your new LED fixtures, you can enjoy energy-efficient lighting with almost no required maintenance.
By comparison, an incandescent bulb lights up when the internal filament is heated; a CFL bulb glows when an electrical current runs through the gases in the tube.
