Switching out your fluorescent or incandescent bulbs for LEDs will save you energy and money, but do you know which bulbs are right for your space? Don’t spend the time and money completing this update without first assessing your facility’s lighting needs. For larger entities, it is pertinent that you use commercial grade LEDs. Commercial grade lighting is not only specifically designed for the long usage it will endure in your facility, but these bulbs are generally more durable and equipped with longer lasting warranties.
One of the most important measurements to think of when starting a lighting project is how bright you want the bulbs to be. With older incandescent bulbs, wattage was a good indicator of a bulb’s brightness. That is no longer the case. Instead of looking at the number of watts a bulb has, make sure you’re looking for the number of lumens. While a watt measures how much energy a bulb uses, a lumen measures the amount of light visible to the human eye. For example, if you previously bought 75-watt incandescent bulbs, its LED equivalent today would use anywhere from 6-11 watts while emitting around 1100 lumens. This means your LEDs will use less energy to produce more light. In order to determine how many lumens you need, take a look at what you currently have. Replace a 40W bulb with 450 lumens, a 60W bulb with 800 lumens, a 75W bulb with 1100 lumens and a 100W bulb with 1600 lumens.
Another measurement you should be familiar with when picking out your bulbs is the Kelvin rating. The Kelvin rating will give you an idea of what color temperature your bulb will emit ranging from yellow to white to blue. For a warmer light appearance that’s similar to an incandescent bulb, you’ll want to look for a Kelvin rating between 2700K – 3000K. For white light that’s proven to promote focus, you’ll need to find a Kelvin rating between 3500K – 4100K. For a blue light that mimics natural daylight, you’ll want to look for a Kelvin rating between 5000K – 6500K. For most office buildings and municipalities, you will most likely be looking for something in between that white and blue range.
Not sure how to get started on your LED upgrade? Contact 360 Energy Group at 312-265-3971 or info@360eg.com to get started today.