ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING

The Department of Energy has raised the minimum efficiency requirements for many category’s of lighting. In January of 2012 , the incandescent lighting phase out began with 100-watt lamps. After July 14, 2012, new energy-efficiency lighting legislation will restrict the manufacture of:

The Department of Energy now mandates that new lamps consume at least 25% less energy than their phased out counterparts. This means that you can save on utility costs over the life of the lamp. Let’s see how replacing the average 60-watt incandescent lamp will save us money over the life of the lamp.

Halogen incandescent: The Halogen incandescent lamp will last on average 1 to 3 years around 3 times the life of an incandescent lamp. The cost is about 7 dollars per bulb and the average savings is around 2 dollars per year. Halogens meet new standards, using 28% less energy, but you won’t see a dramatic savings here. They should however last longer.

CFL (compact fluorescent): The CFL lamp will last on average 7 to 10 years around 10 times the life of an incandescent lamp. The cost is about 8 dollars per lamp and the average savings is around 53 dollars per year. CFL’s take a little while to warm up to full brightness. Frequent on, and off switching can shorten the life the life of the bulb, also be careful if this lamp breaks; it contains mercury and should be handled with extreme care.

LED (light emitting diode): The LED lamp will last on average 23 years or more about 25 times the life of an incandescent lamp. The cost is about 29 to 40 dollars per bulb and the average savings is around 137 dollars per year. LED bulbs cost more up front and should not be used in enclosed fixtures.

So how do I choose?

keep in mind that watts refer to how much energy is used, lumens measure light output or brightness. Lumens are the key to finding the equivalent replacement lamp using the new standards. Always remember the lower the wattage, the greater the savings opportunity.

incandescent cfl, led ,or halogen replacement

100 watt 1600 lumens

75 watt 1100 lumens

60 watt 800 lumens

40 watt 450 lumens

Color Temperature

You need to understand color temperature to help choose the right light for the task and overall work environment. Color temperature impacts more than just the ambiance of a space, it can affect the quality of the light. So what defines the color temperature of light? Light color is measured on a temperature scale refered to as Kelvin. Lower Kelvin numbers appear more yellow (warmer), while higher Kelvin numbers appear more blue (cooler). Kelvin is denoted with a “K” on new lighting packages.

Soft/warm white: Similar to incandescent bulbs. best for areas that need low light intensity like restaurants, lounges, office lobbies and reception areas. Look for about 2700K
Bright/ cool white: Similar to early morning sunset. Less yellow than warm white. Best for areas that need high intensity lighting like in office work, medical and surgical applications. Look for about 4100K
Natural/ daylight: provides high intensity and good color rendering. best for applications like high bay areas that need to cover large areas or stadium lighting or parking lots. Look for 5000K or above