No matter what lighting technology you have in your office, parking lot, warehouse, or retail space, upgrading to LEDs will likely get you close to 50% in energy, if not more. It’s why Have Lights Will Travel here in Reno and Las Vegas is working with many customers on LED retrofits. After all, the option to save on both money and energy has its appeal, and there are other benefits that only LEDs can offer. While we know the ins and outs of LEDs and while make appropriate recommendations to our customers, we’re in the industry. It’s our job to understand all things electrical. If you’re considering a DIY approach to LEDs, particularly at home, we’re sharing three pitfalls of upgrading to LED and how to avoid them.
Brightness
Choosing comparable bulbs for a given fixture often boils down to brightness. If you pick up an LED package, you’ll find a mix of information. Look for the light output numbers, but brush up on lumen conversions first.
The brightness of traditional lighting is measured in wattage — the higher the wattage, the brighter the bulb. LEDs are brighter options that lighting technology like fluorescent, halogen, or incandescent, but they use fewer watts to produce the same light. With LEDs, light output is measured in lumens. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light. When you check the label for an LED bulb, look for wattage equivalency. You’ll likely be surprised that a low-wattage LED bulb is equivalent in power and brightness to a much higher-wattage incandescent.
Color
To ensure you’re getting the right lighting color for your needs, you’ll have to understand LED light temperatures. Different combinations of lights inside a bulb create warmer or cooler colors, and these colors are measured on the Kelvin temperature scale. The color of light emitted from a candle measures 1,500K. The color of light on a clear day is measured as 8,000K. That scale can help you zero in on the right color temperature, with 2,700K offering a warm white. For retail environments or office spaces, cooler lights, around 4,100K replicates natural light around midday.
Dimming
Don’t assume that any LED is dimmable, or that dimmable LEDs will work with traditional dimmers. If dimmable LED lamps are what you need, be specific so you don’t waste your time with bulbs or fixtures that won’t work.
Leave it to the Pros
Swapping out a few lights at home is one thing. But if you’re considering the wisdom of retrofitting your lighting in a bigger way, it’s worth speaking to an expert. In Nevada, Have Lights Will Travel is the premier mobile electrical contractor, and we’re here to answer your questions. Contact us today about the benefits of LED upgrades.