3 Factors Of LED Lighting
- Brightness
When it comes to LED lighting, brightness and wattage are not synonymous. Traditionally, incandescent bulbs with high wattage produced more light, leaving the general public with a correlation between these two factors. This correlation is specific to incandescent lighting only. LED lighting uses far fewer watts to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb. For an accurate measure of the brightness of an LED light, use lumens instead of watts. Whereas watts are a measure of the energy consumed, lumens are a measure of the light produced. Comparing your incandescent bulb's lumens to your LED bulb's lumens will create an even measurement to help you determine which is brighter.
- Light Appearance
White lighting ranges from warm-toned to cool-toned. Warm tones have a yellowish light that imitates candlelight, while cool tones have a blue-hued light that mimics daylight. The appearance of the light is measured using the Kelvin scale. To know if a light produces warm or cool light (called its correlated colour temperature or CCT), look for its kelvin (K) number. A lower number such as 2,700K indicates a warm, yellow-toned light, while a higher number such as 5500K indicates a bright, cool-toned light. LED lighting is often thought of as bright or harsh, but LED lighting actually comes in a variety of CCTs. Unlike incandescent bulbs, LED lighting can vary on the kelvin scale, allowing you to choose if you want a room bright and cool or golden and warm.
- Colour Rendering
The lighting in a given room can change our interpretation of colours. This is why a shirt that looks one colour in the store may look like a different colour when you wear it outside. As mentioned earlier, light can vary in tone, and warm-toned light versus cool-toned light can change the colour rendering in a space. Colour rendering can be measured by the Colour Rendering Index (CRI), which is a scale that goes from 0 to 100. In theory, if colours are being shown correctly they should look as though they are being seen in natural daylight. Lighting that imitates natural daylight is considered a 100 on the CRI. This is where LED lighting can be particularly advantageous, as LED lighting can imitate daylight and is easy to find with a CRI rating of 80 or over. This is considered very similar to daylight and highly accurate in the presentation of colours. Since incandescent lighting is always warmer and yellow-toned, it cannot reach this high on the CRI.
LED Lighting Solutions In Calgary
When switching to LED lighting, consider these 3 important factors to integrate the optimal brightness and colour of lighting into the design of your home or business. If you’re considering switching to LED lighting, you may need an LED retrofit. An LED lighting retrofit will make your home or business compatible with LED bulbs by renovating your lighting fixtures. To upgrade to LED lighting and all of the benefits this type of lighting has to offer, contact Fluorescent Man Lighting and Electrical. Our experienced lighting technicians will quickly renovate your current lighting fixtures so that you can make the switch to LED lighting. To get LED retrofitting in Calgary, contact Fluorescent Man Lighting and Electrical at 1-403-863-8529 or fill out the online contact form.
FAQ
Q: Is an LED retrofit more affordable than just buying a new light fixture?
A: Yes, it is a significantly cheaper option. LED retrofits exist for those who do not want to purchase a whole new lighting system for their home. Instead, an LED retrofit will upgrade your current fixtures and will save you money in the long term. Schedule a free consultation with a lighting contractor to get an estimate for an LED retrofit. Read 3 Main Benefits of LED Retrofits to learn more about the retrofitting process.
Q: Can LED bulbs be installed indoors and outdoors?
A: Yes! The Fluorescent Man Lighting and Electrical residential lighting consultants can quickly and efficiently retrofit both your interior lighting fixtures and exterior lighting fixtures to be compatible with LED technology. LED lighting also operates better in cold conditions than traditional lighting.
Q: What kinds of LED retrofits are there?
A: There are several different types of LED retrofits that you can choose from:
- LED troffer light
- LED strip light
- LED vapour tight fixture|
- LED tubes
- A Fluorescent Man lighting specialist can help you decide which LED lighting is best for your needs.
