Posts Tagged ‘Energy Efficient Lighting’

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What you need to know before you switch to LED lighting

We all know that LEDs are one of the best ways to start going green.

But if that doesn’t matter to you then why should you switch over? If you’re all aboard the helping the environment train, there are a few things you should know before making the switch. One of the biggest reasons to switch over is that the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) passed in 2007. It requires traditional incandescent lights to be 25% more efficient which is hard to achieve unless than brightness is lowered. Instead, manufacturers have elected to focus their efforts on more energy efficient lighting technologies.

LED lights Save you Money because they last a long time

LED lights didn’t start cheap and they aren’t as cheap as incandescent lights but they pay off over time. Think of them as a long term investment instead of an up front discount. LED lights started as high as $30-$40, which is a hard to justify paying for. They are now mostly in the $10-$15 range for a 60-Watt equivalent LED bulb. While incandescent bulbs suddenly burn out, LED lights slowly dim and burn out over time. In some cases, LED lights can last you two decades. Swapping 1 standard light bulb to LED can save you anywhere from $40-$80 over its lifetime.

LED lights use less energy

While Incandescent lights convert 10% of energy into light, LED converts 95% of energy consumed into light. They can last up to 25 times longer than a standard light bulb and use at least 75% less energy. They also emit very little heat in comparison to an incandescent light which releases about 80% of their energy from heat. This makes them much safer because they are much cooler to the touch. During the holiday season, if you use LED Christmas lights, you can expect less of a fire hazard. Believe it or not, you could use the same LED Christmas lights for up to 40 holiday seasons.

LED light bulbs come in different colors

LED bulbs produce a wide range of colors such as white, yellow, purple, and red. Depending on where you want your LED light to be will determine what color light you’ll need. The most popular LED lights are “bright white”, “soft white”, and “warm white.” If you want the nice, warm, yellow glow of an incandescent light bulb you’ll want to go with warm white and soft white. Bright white will produce light closer to daylight and what you’ll see in retail stores. The light color is measured in kelvins and the lower the Kelvin, the warmer the light.

Energy Tips that Will Save you Money

Lighting can cost you as much as 50% of your energy bill. It’s important to be mindful of turning the lights off when you leave a room or leave the home. There are quite a few other things you can do to lower your energy costs. Below, we have outlined some of the top money saving tips for lighting you can start implementing right away.

Daylighting your way to money saving

What is daylighting? It’s a way of using natural light to illuminate your home such as installing skylights. Installing skylights can add natural lighting to your home.It’s important to buy double-pane or you won’t save as much money. Light shelves are horizontal surfaces above eye-level that have high-reflectance surfaces that reflect sun onto the ceiling. A clerestory window is a higher section of the wall above eye-level that illuminates a room and also allows fresh air.

More efficient lighting

Incandescent lights are less efficient and cost more money to light your home. What are Incandescent lights? They are old-school, cheap light bulbs that emit yellowish light and can burn out suddenly. While they are cheap up front, they actually use more energy and end up costing more in the long run.

Today, more and more people are using LED or compact fluorescent lamps to save energy and light their homes.  Both can reduce energy by 50% to 75% with new advances in lighting control also helping you control your energy costs from the palm of your hand. They can also last 10 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs.

If you need help with installation or have any questions, feel free to give us a call.  970-457-4099

 

 

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