About LED Lighting - How to plan your LED retrofits to achieve maximum energy savings.

The big question is, where to start? With so many LED lighting choices now, let's narrow it down to the most important.

July 18, 2015

A customer posed an interesting question last week. She wanted to know if a particular LED light bulb we stock would function in her refrigerator. The simple answer is yes, as long as it fits dimensionally. I've personally had a LED light bulb in a refrigerator in my home for about 10 years and it's still going strong. The humidity and temperature inside a refrigerator is well within the operating tolerances of a good LED light bulb, and it will likely last longer than the refrigerator. This customer was giving serious thought to her purchase and she wondered, given the fact that the refrigerator in her home is only opened a few times a day, just how much electricity she would save by converting to LED. Everyone's energy usage is particular to the occupants, and I had to agree with her that she would be better served to invest in LED light bulbs in other areas of the home first.

This conversation led me to write this article. Where should you start when converting traditional light sources in your home or business to LED light sources? There simply isn't a rote answer to that. Take the time to seriously survey where in your home the most energy is used and what, if any conditions are undesirable now.

One of the things to consider is heat generation. If you have incandescent or halogen bulbs in a space where you need good task lighting, this is a prime area for LED retrofits. What kind of bulbs are in your vanity lighting and just how hot do they get? If your makeup is melting before you're finished, you'll find LED light bulbs a cool, refreshing change. If you have task lights with high wattage bulbs over a work bench, particularly in a garage or workshop that isn't climate controlled, LED light bulbs will make a very cool difference.

And next is usage. I have ten recessed cans in my kitchen, another four in the adjacent dining area plus a six light chandelier. Bingo! That's a 'hot spot'. There is a floor lamp and lighting in a curio cabinet in the living room I leave on 24/7, and it seems that someone is always in the family room for one purpose or another, where there are even more recessed cans.

Let's take a walk outside. Do you need security lighting perhaps in a dark area at the rear of the property? Would you like path lighting to guide yourselves and your visitors safely to the door at night? Do you have landscape features that you would like to accent without worries about power consumption? These are perfect areas for LED retrofits. And with pricing continually on the decrease, initial cost today is very, very reasonable.

And last but not least, just how easy or difficult is it for you to re-lamp when bulbs go out? If you have a home with high ceilings and have to drag out a big, scary ladder or perhaps even hire someone, look to these areas as well. OK, so maybe ladders don't scare you, but I'm not a big fan :-) Either way, you'll spend a lot less time changing light bulbs when you retrofit with LED lights.

When it's time for you to retrofit, think smart and buy smart. We're always here to help should you have questions or particular lighting needs. There are many options today from LED light bulbs to complete LED lighting fixtures.

By: Mary Wecker

Tags: about led lighting, energy savings with LEDs, led retrofits

[ Blog Index ]