Just a few years ago, using energy efficient light bulbs meant, quite literally, going green—thanks to the ghoulish tint those spiral-shaped compact fluorescent bulbs cast. But with high tech LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs now selling at fairly affordable prices (about $6 to $10 per 75-watt equivalent bulb), you can easily lower your energy costs, help the environment, and illuminate your house with bright, white light. Still, buying the bulbs isn’t as simple as just shopping for the “watt equivalency” of the standard bulbs you’re replacing. Here are four things to think about before you invest in LEDs.
LEDs can brighten a dimly lit house.
If
your living space is short on light fixtures and lamps, you can use
LEDs to brighten interiors by selecting a watt equivalency that’s higher
than that of the old bulbs, says New Haven lighting designer Mark
Loeffler. Many fixtures contain a warning not to use anything higher
than a 60-watt bulb because the fixture can’t take the heat higher
wattage bulbs generate, and it would therefore be a safety hazard. But
there’s no problem using a 100-watt equivalent LED bulb, which is only
about 17 watts and therefore well under the safety limit of a 60-watt
maximum fixture. You get lower energy bills and also two times more
light output (measured in lumens, also labeled on product packaging),
possibly saving you from buying expensive new floor lamps or installing
additional hard-wired fixtures (at $300 to $800 each).
You'll need new dimmers.
If
you’re adding LED bulbs to fixtures on dimmers, make sure to select
dimmable LEDs—and plan to replace your dimmer switches too. Using
dimmable LEDs is not as simple as just screwing them into your existing
fixtures. Dimmers designed for standard incandescent bulbs will often
cause LEDs to buzz or hum annoyingly. You need to swap in an
LED-friendly dimmer—better yet, one that’s specifically listed on the
bulb packaging as being compatible with the bulb. You’ll pay about $25
for the switch and perhaps another $25 to have it professionally
installed (with a $100 to $200 minimum labor charge).
LED bulbs may have a shorter lifespan than you'd expect.
Screw-in
LEDs require no retrofitting into existing sockets because they contain
not just the light-emitting diode but also the electronic driver that
makes it work. (In a special LED fixture, by contrast, the driver is in
the light fixture and the bulb contains only the diode.) “The ads say
LED bulbs will last for 40 years, but it’s the driver that determines
the life of the bulb,” says Chesapeake, Va., kitchen designer Dave
Alderman. “You’re lucky to get a five-year warranty on bulbs with
built-in drivers.” Swapping in LED trim kits with higher quality drivers
would cost about $50 to $85 each, and that’s when you can expect super
long bulb life.
LED bulbs come in a wide range of colors.
Take
a look at the LED packaging to see the product's K ratings. K stands
for Kelvin, a measure of “color temperature” (the color of light), and
you can find bulbs anywhere from 2,700 to 6,500 Kelvin. In general,
bulbs up to 3,000k produce warm (slightly yellow) light that’s relaxing
and therefore ideal for general living spaces; bulbs from 3,200k to
4,500k are cool (white) light that’s perfect for workspaces such as
kitchens, bathrooms, and garages; anything over 4,600k is considered
daylight and is best used for outdoor and security lighting. Another
measure of color quality is CRI—color rendering index—which indicates
how accurate colors look in the light from the bulb. Make sure LEDs you
buy have a CRI of 80 or higher.
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