An LED Lightbulb Guide

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An LED Lightbulb Guide

By: admin

There are three things to know about LED bulbs. (They're on the box they come in.)

First is lumen output, which is how much light is coming out of the bulb. It's the brightness equivalent of what we think of as an incandescent bulb's wattage: 800 lumens is essentially a 60-watt incandescent, which what you should use a lot around your house. So remember 800 lumens.

Next is color temperature -- very important. All light colors are measured in degrees Kelvin. Daylight is 5,000 degrees -- cool, white, crisp. (You can use bulbs in this color in your closet, actually, to know what your clothes will look like outside.) A normal incandescent bulb, though, has a color temperature of 2,700 degrees Kelvin. That is, it does at first. But incandescent bulbs also get warmer in color as they dim. LEDs don't do that. So go with a 2,700 LED on a dimmer or a 2,400 LED, which should give you the warm glow you get from a dimmed incandescent. You look good under that light. It's like the glow of a roaring fire. Love that color.

Third is CRI: color rendering index. This is a somewhat newer determinant (so it might not be on every box). But an incandescent bulb has a CRI of 100. That's the very best. And while a lot of LEDs on the market have a CRI of 80 or 85, you don't want that. You want 90 or higher, which is the closest to the rich tonality of incandescent light.

Looking for a lightbulb that hits all three marks? Go with a bulb like Green Creative's A19 9W High CRI Dimmable. It costs as much to run as a nine-watt incandescent but at 800 lumens is equal to a 60-watt bulb, remember. It's a warm, dimmable 2,700 K. And at 92 CRI, it will feel like the type of light you've enjoyed all your life.

FURTHER USEFUL LIGHTING TIPS

For the day: The more natural light, the better you'll feel. So every couch, chair, table -- anything, really -- should be moved out of the way of all your windows. If you have only one, place a large mirror opposite it. This will also make the room look far bigger.

For the night: There are three types of artificial lighting: Ambient is the overall glow (the sun replacement), accent highlights a specific focal point, and task helps with a task. Layer them between overhead, recessed, and lamp lighting with different degrees of brightness. Better yet, use those dimmers -- they're pretty cheap and very easy to install, and they give you control.

KNOW YOUR INCANDESCENT WATTAGE

100 - 75: Bathroom-mirror lights (both sides)

76 - 60: Overall room lighting

60: Bedside lamps

40: Mood

Under 40: Darkness

- Randall Whitehead

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