Many homes have lots of halogen down lights and flood lights.  These are notorious power guzzlers, not to mention potential fire hazards!  There is a wide variety of long-lasting energy efficient Light Emitting Diodes (LED) light fittings now entering the market at prices that are a fraction of what they were, even a couple of years ago.

Main reasons to make the switch to LED lighting

• Much longer life span – Typical incandescent bulbs last 1,000 to 2,000 hours; Halogen bulbs last between 1,000 to 4,000 hours; Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) last approximately 6,000 hours, while LED bulbs last between 15,000 and 100,000 hours.
• Much greater efficiency – LEDs are 4 to 7 times more efficient than the typical incandescent or halogen equivalent.
• Safer – LEDs emit very little infrared heat. In comparison, incandescent bulbs release 90% of their energy as heat and CFLs release about 80% of their energy as heat.  This makes them a much safer alternative to traditional incandescent lamps.

Things to consider when choosing LEDs

1. What type of light fitting  you need.  E.g:  downlight, tube style globe, flood type.
2. With downlights, you need to consider the beam angle – some shine straight down in a narrow concentrated beam, while some provide a ‘spread’ of light.
3. Decide on how much  light you want.  The purpose of the room e.g: dining, bedroom, study, will often determine the appropriate lumen intensity.
4. Decide what colour  light you want.  Again, the purpose of the room will usually be a good starting point.  Living areas such as lounge rooms and bedrooms are typically suited to ‘warm white’ lamps.  Work areas such as kitchens and bathrooms are usually more suited to ‘cool white’ or ‘daylight’ colours.
5. Compare wattages  of the lamps.  A good way to compare is lumens per watt.
6. Warranty, brand and quality.  Voltex is always one of our first choice in LED lights.  Boasting an impressive 7-year manufacturer’s warranty at a competitive price point, they are hard to beat.

Light Globe Comparison Table

Source: Build

Some of the most notable reasons to change are:

1. Long-life – LEDs, in particular, have an outstanding operational life expectancy. Up to 100 000 hours for some fittings.
2. Greatly reduced operating costs – LEDs and other energy-efficient lighting can yield savings of up to 82% depending upon the application.
3. Durable quality for tough environments.
4. Greatly reduced maintenance costs, which is particularly important where the fittings are mounted at heights that require scissor lifts or cherry pickers to reach.
5. Ability to operate in extremely hot or cold environments, such as cold rooms.
6. Instant lighting (no ‘strike’ time). No waiting for lights to warm up, as with traditional mercury vapour, sodium vapour and metal halide fittings.

Download our information sheet about LED lighting for your home or talk to one of our team now to discuss further how we can improve your home with energy-efficient lighting