illuminated WRITTEN BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC
Since the beginning of 2012, the light bulb has never been the same. With the phase out of 100-watt incandescent bulbs followed by the 75, 60 and 40 watts up to 2013, homeowners have been trying to figure out how to manage a new way of illuminating their homes. Well, let’s stop head scratching and start learning a little more about what brightens our world and how best to choose the right bulb for your home. To start, let’s clarify that the days of quickly grabbing a 60-watt bulb and checking out are gone. LEDs are a bit more complex with several elements to consider…Let me explain…When LEDs were being phased into our everyday living, we began to see “lumens” as the indication of which bulb to choose. However, it isn’t all that simple. Since 2011, the Federal Trade Commission announced new labels on packaging with “Lighting Facts,” usually found on the back of the box just like “Nutritional Facts” for food packaging. Go ahead, grab your bulb package, I’ll wait… Just in case you were a good recycler and already put that box out…I’ll share mine! Now let’s work our way down that label together!
LED Conversion Chart Incandescent Watts
Lumens LED
Watts
100 W 1600 14 -18.5 W 75 W 1100 10-15 W 60 W 800 6.5-11 W 40 W 450 Up to 9 W
Brightness, noted in lumens, is simply just that, how bright the light emitted from the light source will be. It is not the same as watts. Don’t worry, you’re not alone in that. Think of it this way, lumens are the same measure of brightness for LEDs and incandescent bulbs alike. Watts, which I will discuss shortly, is a measure of energy. If you know the brightness, or lumens, of the incandescent bulb you used to have, find the same measure in a new LED option. To help you with this mental mind twister, try using this simple conversion chart. One caveat, these measurements are based on average bulbs available on the market today. Actual light output may vary by product. The next line is Estimated Yearly Energy Cost. I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. It’s a good unit of measure when comparing like bulbs for how far your dollar will go. Depending on your energy supplier, this estimated cost may vary. A measure of life follows and specifies the longevity of the bulb you are sourcing. Both of these are based on a use of 3 hours per day. Again, this is a great resource for comparing cost and value when sourcing LED bulbs for purchase. Light Appearance is a big factor and needs to be considered as strongly as lumens. Measured in kelvin (K), this number reflects the color of the light ranging from warm to cool.
Image Source: www.energystar.gov
80 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022
Typically, we are most used to 2700K from an incandescent bulb. It has always had a warm glow and made our home feel cozy. I remember when the LEDs were first introduced for everyday use, many of my clients complained that they disliked them. They said that everything in their house looked cold. I would explain that they probably purchased a 5000K bulb, with a high lumens rating on the box, to get that same brightness they were used to. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
