The criterion for choosing lighting is
not just how bright the light seems to be. A good quality light has to provide
proper lighting as well as be energy efficient. If the light has a long
lifespan its rating increases even further.
LED fixtures have so far met the highest
criteria for good quality energy-efficient lighting. There has been a lot of
talk about LED
lighting not being bright enough due to the
low wattage luminaires used but this is not true.
The low wattage accounts for the
efficiency of the bulb being able to use a minimum amount of energy to produce
better quality light compared to other equivalent traditional bulbs. They end
up saving a lot of money in terms of energy costs and maintenance since LEDs
last anywhere between 10,000 and 50,000 hours. Some even last longer.
Calculating
efficiency
Efficiency, otherwise known as efficacy,
is calculated as a ratio that measures the amount of lumens output per every
watt of energy that is used up. Currently you will find LED lamps with an
efficiency of about 83 lumens per watt and higher.
Efficacy is not just about the amount of
light that is emitted from the fixture but on the amount of light that covers
the intended area. This is affected by many other factors including protective
covers, amount of trapped light and temperature.
There is a minimal amount of light
trapped inside LED
lights since the output is always focused
in a specific direction. No amount of light is wasted due to spreading in the
wrong direction. Protective covers are necessary to shield these lights from
environmental damage. Covers are usually made from toughened glass which would
of course interfere with the output of light but it may take away only about 25
percent of the light or even less. LED fixtures produce a minimal amount of
heat compared to other types of fixtures. This allows for a minimum reduction
in efficiency. With all these factors combined, the lowest efficiency you may
find in LED fixtures is about 50.
Improving
efficiency
New technologies are however being used
in the production of LEDs and this has seen an increase in the efficiency of
these bulbs. Further projections have even been made and by 2020 the efficiency
of LEDs will be above 150 lumens per watt.
Calculating light efficacy is not a
straightforward process but the measure of efficiency obtained is a reliable
figure to use when choosing lighting. Government policies on better efficiency
from subsequent batches of lights being produced is an assurance that standards
and efficiency are increasing as time goes by thus improving the consumers’
experience.
Choosing LED lights is a worthwhile
investment since they last very long and give value for money. They may seem
costly when initially bought but if you calculate the costs over time you will
realize that they will have paid for themselves within three years or so. If
you are using them in solar lighting
it becomes even better because you get to use good quality fixtures with no
energy bills at all.
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