The Electrical Trade Counter That Comes To You.

Inc. VAT Exc. VAT
My Basket £0.00

Information

LED Lighting: Benefits And Best Practices

LED Lighting: Benefits And Best Practices

LED Lighting: Benefits And Best Practices

Inefficient lighting can significantly drive up your energy costs. To avoid this issue, many consumers are opting for energy-efficient LED lighting. LED lights provide excellent illumination without consuming too much energy. 

Due to their long lifespan and durability, LED lights are quickly becoming the preferred lighting solution for many consumers. 

If you are interested in switching to these efficient luminaries or want to learn more about your existing LED bulbs, here are some important benefits of LED lighting and the best practices for using them.

 

Why Are LED Lights Becoming So Popular?

Before looking at their benefits, it is important to understand what LED lighting is and why it is so energy efficient. The lighting industry is constantly evolving and LED luminaries are the latest invention that uses a modern approach to lighting. 

These light bulbs are one of the most innovative luminaries available as they use energy far more efficiently than previous light bulbs.

 LED stands for light emitting diode, and these modern luminaries have largely replaced all other forms of lighting as the ideal choice for consumers. LED lights are incredibly versatile as they work well in domestic, commercial, and industrial properties. 

You can use various LED lighting fixtures to create your ideal lighting design. Due to this quality, you can find LED lights in various configurations to fit your lighting needs. For domestic and household purposes, LED lights to come with a standard base fixture similar to other bulbs 

These bulbs also come in a linear fluorescent lamp or strip light format, which is commonly used in the workplace and industrial settings. The structural component plays a key role in a light’s efficiency, and an LED bulb is no different. 

Due to their physical makeup, LED lights are far more efficient than other light bulbs, especially incandescent ones. 

LED light has a robust light bulb structure that is highly energy-efficient. When these LED bulbs were first created, they were produced with a single-bulb structure. Since these bulbs had a small size they were used in electronics, instrument panels, pen lights, and more. 

To expand its usage, manufacturers started designing LEDs in small grouped clusters. This increased the LED’s illumination capacity and also opened the technology up to a wide variety of usage. 

Current LED lights are available in multiple fixtures, so you can easily replace your traditional luminaries with innovative LEDs. Another feature of earlier LED lighting was their directional illumination. 

This makes LEDs different from incandescent light bulbs as they spread light in a spherical direction. This type of lighting direction works well with recessed lighting or under cabinet lighting fixtures; however, directional lighting may not be suitable for table lamps. 

Modern LED light bulbs are created to address directional light limitations. These newer LED lights use a diffuser lens and a reflector to distribute illumination in multiple directions, similar to an incandescent light bulb. 

Despite the high energy savings of LED light bulbs, some of these bulbs have a high upfront cost for many consumers. However, in recent years, there have been several LED luminaries that are economical and still energy efficient.

Nowadays, consumers can find various economical LED light manufacturers. One such option is the Kosnic LED lights available at Meteor Electrical. These LED luminaries are a great option for any consumer as they provide excellent illumination while helping you save on energy costs. Visit Meteor to get your hands on some of the best LED lights.  

 

What Makes LED Lights So Efficient?

To understand why LED lights perform so much better than other luminaries, it is important to take a closer look at their design and technology. At the core of LED lights is their ability to convert almost all electricity into light energy. 

Most traditional lights often lose a lot of electric energy during the conversion process through heat emissions. The incandescent light bulb is one of the most inefficient luminaries available as it only converts a fraction of consumed energy into light energy. 

Even updated light bulb iterations such as halogen lamps and compact fluorescent bulbs do not perform as well as LED lights. The semiconductor is LED lights converts all the electricity into light energy. This process is carried out safely to avoid harming any of the electrical components and decreasing the lifespan of your bulb. 

The heat sink component effectively breaks down any emissions from the LED chip to maintain the bulb’s long lifespan. Due to this modern process, LED lights do not consume a lot of electricity. 

Since LED lights are considered energy efficient, the wattage is not an accurate representation of the bulb’s performance. Instead, it is important to look at the lumen output. 

The lumen output refers to the level of illumination produced by the light bulb. With this measurement in mind, consumers should compare and contrast the lumen output to select the best LED light. 

 

Why Are LED Lights Important?

If you are more familiar with traditional lighting, you might not want to switch to LED luminaries. However, these lights are a great investment as they last long without raising energy bills. Lighting is a basic requirement of any building, whether it's residential or commercial. 

Lighting is a major part of our daily life and impacts our day-to-day activities. Since lighting is so important, it also consumes a significant portion of energy. Such high levels of energy consumption are not sustainable, and you will experience higher energy costs in the future. 

To combat such issues, energy-efficient lighting is crucial. In a household, lighting accounts for 15% of the total electricity consumption. Due to these factors, lighting is an important area where energy must be conserved. 

Furthermore, rising energy prices have also led to many consumers forgoing their energy intensive lamps. Energy efficient lights play a key role in energy saving areas. Traditional incandescent lightbulbs are responsible for high energy consumption due to lighting. 

These traditional light bulbs not only waste energy but also produce a lot of heat which damages the light bulb and requires frequent replacements. 

Once you install LED lighting, you might not see a lot of savings immediately; however, you will experience a major reduction in your energy bills in the long run.

 

Rising Awareness About Climate Change

When it comes to choosing the best light bulb, many consumers have started opting for luminaries that are environmentally friendly. 

With rising energy prices and an increase in environmental concerns, many consumers are bypassing traditional light bulbs in favour of more energy saving models. 

Several government legislatures are implementing the use of energy efficient lighting on a larger scale to cut back on energy consumption and reduce environmental harm. These legislatures are urging manufacturers to scale back on the production of inefficient lighting. This change is happening worldwide, and even the UK plans to phase out all inefficient lighting by 2023

While many consumers are shifting towards energy efficient light sources, manufacturers are also ramping up the production of energy efficient lighting. Lighting manufacturers are receiving support and incentives from government legislation to produce more energy efficient lighting solutions. 

Since there is an increase in production, many people are becoming more aware of such products and are moving towards implementing these luminaries in their homes. With the rise of climate change awareness, consumers are also seeking our environmentally friendly and sustainable light fixtures. 

Energy efficient lighting such as LEDs is highly efficient and very sustainable in the long run. These luminaires do not contain any harmful chemicals that would make it difficult to dispose of them. 

Traditional light fixtures contain trace amounts of mercury which is highly toxic when released into the open air. Even broken pieces of incandescent light bulbs can lead to mercury build-up in groundwater. However, LEDs can be disposed of easily, and these bulbs can also be recycled. 

Additionally, these lights do not produce blue waves, which can be harmful to human health. In short, energy efficient lighting is much better for the environment and for human beings. Due to an increase in demand, market experts forecast that the energy efficient light industry is set to reach a value of £324 billion by 2027

With high demand, consumers can expect more economical options when it comes to energy efficient lighting. Earlier iterations of energy efficient light bulbs were costly, and this became a barrier for many people trying to implement energy efficient lighting. 

However, with government support and increasing demand, consumers can expect to see more and more cost-effective energy efficient lights on the market. 

 

What Are The Benefits Of LED Lighting?

LED lighting is a great investment for any consumer. These luminaries have numerous benefits that make them one of the best light bulbs available right now. 

If you are still not sure about switching to LEDs, here are some great benefits of these luminaries.

 

More Energy Efficient Than Any Other Bulb

If you are looking for one of the best lighting solutions, LED is your option. When it comes it comes to LED lighting, there is no bigger benefit than its energy efficiency. 

One of the biggest benefits of LED lights is their high energy efficiency. These lights perform far better than traditional light sources, making them an ideal choice for any kind of installation. 

Every unit of energy consumed by an LED goes towards producing illumination. Therefore you don’t have to worry about your energy costs going to waste. In comparison, most traditional luminaries waste power through heat energy. 

This process is not only wasteful, but it also decreases the lifespan of your light bulb. Due to this reason, LED light bulbs are a great choice for energy saving purposes.  

 

No Heat Emissions

As mentioned before, heat energy from unused power can significantly damage your light bulb. The heat emissions deteriorate the mechanical components in the bulb, leading to frequent replacements. 

Standard incandescent light bulbs get hot and allow heat to build up in a room. However, you don’t have to worry about this problem with LEDs. LED light bulbs do not cause any heat to build up, so you can keep enjoying your luminaries for a long time. 

LEDs produce 3.4 BTU per hour. In comparison, incandescent light bulbs produce 85 BTU per hour. LEDs keep your room cool even after staying on for a long time. This lack of heat will enable you to save money on air conditioning in a home. 

 

Longer Lifespan

Having to replace your light bulbs frequently is a major hassle. Additionally, lights with a shorter lifespan also lead to more maintenance and replacement costs. To avoid this issue, you must opt for energy saving LED lights. 

An LED’s long lifespan makes it a great investment for any consumer. LED lights have a longer lifespan compared to any other bulb on the market. These luminaries often last up to 10 times longer than a fluorescent light bulb and 40 times longer than an incandescent light bulb. 

Even after an LED reaches the end of its lifespan, the bulb does not burn out immediately; instead, it keeps operating at a lower illumination level. This allows you enough room to purchase a new replacement without any urgency. 

Lights with a longer lifespan do not need to be replaced often, which means you save more money on light expenditures in the long run.    

 

Free From Harmful Chemicals

With rising awareness about climate change, many consumers are seeking out environmentally-friendly appliances. 

LED lights are a great option for this purpose as they do not contain any harmful chemicals. There is no mercury used in the production of energy saving LED light bulbs. Even though CFL bulbs are efficient, they use mercury. 

When a bulb with mercury breaks, it can escape as a vapour. This mercury vapour can be inhaled, which proves hazardous to human health. Mercury can also settle as a fine powder into carpets and other textiles. For even more eco-friendliness, some LED lights can be recycled at the end of their lifespan. 

 

Better Durability

One reason why LED light bulbs maintain a longer lifespan is their durability. LED light bulbs are highly durable compared to other traditional light bulbs. 

Since LED bulbs do not have a filament, they do not suffer damage under circumstances where a traditional incandescent bulb will break. LED bulbs have a solid structure that protects the light fixture from most hazards. 

 

More Versatility And Variety

If you want customisable lighting, choose LED light bulbs. The LED component itself is very small, which means you have better design versatility with these lights. The small size makes LED luminaries extremely adaptive to several lighting applications. 

You can use them in wider applications or smaller areas. You can also find these luminaries in multiple bulb configurations, such as strip lighting, recessed lighting, etc., to fit your lighting needs. 

 

Better Performance In Colder Areas

As mentioned before, LED lights are extremely versatile, so you can use them in various locations. 

Many traditional light sources do not perform well in colder regions. This happens because the temperature drop affects the voltage level of the light bulbs requires more energy to be consumed. 

However, LED lights are designed to work much better in colder temperatures compared to traditional lighting. You can use these luminaires in cold storage spaces, freezers, or refrigerated display cases. You can also use LED lights in parking areas or other outdoor fixtures during cold weather. 

 

Better Colour Rendering Index

The colour rendering index measures a light’s ability to reveal the actual colours of objects. This index measures the colour difference between the light fixture and an ideal light source such as natural lighting. 

In most cases, it is important to go with luminaries with a high CRI. Generally, energy saving LEDs perform far better than traditional light sources when it comes to CRI. 

 

Cost-effective

When light bulbs use energy efficiently, you save money. Even though LED light bulbs had high upfront costs in the past, modern innovations have considerably reduced the cost of energy saving LED light bulbs. 

Due to technological advancements, consumers can anticipate even more reasonably priced LED light bulbs in the future. 

 

Improved Safety 

Safety is often overlooked when it comes to choosing a light bulb; however, LEDs perform very well in this category. The biggest hazard when it comes to lighting is the emissions. As mentioned before, heat emissions damage your light bulb and increase the danger for people. 

Extremely high heat energy can cause the bulb to explode and increase the hazards of injury. Additionally, since LED lights consume less energy, they can operate efficiently on low-voltage power systems. This increases the safety of your bulb in case of any hazardous event. 

 

How To Choose The Right LED Light Bulb For Different Rooms And Spaces?

As mentioned before, LED lights are incredibly versatile which means you find find a specific light fixture for every room of your home. Some building areas require a lot of strong lighting while others work well will accent fixtures. 

Depending on each area, you can create a specific lighting design to have better control over your lighting. Here are some important tips for choosing the right LED light bulb for different rooms and spaces. 

 

Residential Lighting

One of the most common areas for LED application is residential properties. Many homeowners use LED lighting beyond its functionality, making it a major component of their design elements. 

With various LED luminaries available, homeowners now have more versatility when it comes to their lighting. Here are some important ways you can use LED lighting in a residential property. 

 

The Living Room

One of the busiest areas in any household is the living room therefore, it is important to create an efficient lighting design that elevates the room’s environment and provides good functionality. 

Uneven and mismatched lighting can do more harm than good to your living room lighting design. This type of illumination ruins visibility and turns one of the cosiest parts of your home into an eyesore. If you want to opt for a traditional and cosy look in your living room, consider a subtle light fixture in a warm white shade. 

If you have multiple light fixtures in your living room, make sure that all of these have a complimentary colour temperature. Having a bright white desk lamp will create a clash with other warm lighting in the area. 

Avoid adding a glaring or harsh spotlight in this area, instead, look for LED light fixtures that give off a softer diffused illumination. Apart from functional lighting, the living room is also a great place to add accent lighting especially if you have any decorative features throughout the room. 

Add a spotlights lamp with an adjustable bulb for any wall art or pictures to elevate your design elements. You can also install flexible LED strip lights to create more accent lighting in your living room. You can add these to cabinets, shelving or behind your television unit as a form of backlighting. 

 

The Hallways

Hallway lighting is often an overlooked area when it comes to creating a lighting design. Many homeowners often choose generic lighting in this area to fit their illumination needs. However, there are several ways you can use LED hallway lighting to create a stunning lighting design. 

In most homes, the hallway is usually the first room you step into so it's important to implement excellent lighting here. The type of LED light you use here largely depends on how busy the hallway gets. 

If there’s a lot of activity happening in this area, it is best to go for LED with a cool bright white light to improve visibility. For this reason, you should avoid low-hanging or pendant LED fixtures. The best light fixture for hallways is LED downlights which can be easily recessed into the ceiling for a clean and modern appearance. 

In smaller hallways, downlights will open up the space while providing excellent illumination. If you have larger hallways, you have slightly more choices. Here you can use a modern drop pendant fixture or chandelier-style luminaries to add a design feature to any plain hallway. 

If you want to create a cosy environment, consider warm white LED lighting to make your house look more comforting. For homeowners who preferred exposed lighting, consider a candle LED bulb

 

The Kitchen

The kitchen is another busy area of the house where it is important to implement functional lighting. In this area, you need bright and clear LED lighting to improve visibility and avoid any potential hazards. 

In many kitchens, homeowners prefer installing spotlights or downlights to project focused beams of light onto countertops and other work spaces. If you use your kitchen frequently, consider opting for LED light in a cool white shade. 

One of the most common light fixtures used here is the LED GU10 lamp as they fit easily into spotlight fixtures. GU10 bulbs have a narrow light beam or beam angle which helps you adjust the direction of the illumination. 

Most kitchens also come with integrated lighting in your kitchen cabinets and stove hoods. Traditionally, these fixtures used a halogen light bulb however, you can also find energy efficient LED alternatives. 

If you are not sure how to switch the light bulbs in the integrated fixtures, make sure to consult a qualified electrician. While this might seem like a time-consuming process, you will enjoy many benefits of LED lighting. 

 

The Bedrooms And Guestrooms

While functionality is an important aspect in many other parts of the home, comfort takes more important in this area. For bedroom and guestroom lighting, you need luminaries that will help you create a comfortable environment. 

Avoid adding any harsh and cold light fixtures in this area as these light bulbs not only ruin the atmosphere of your bedroom but also disrupt your sleep. Any light bulb that emits blue light should be removed from your bedroom lighting design. 

Instead, you should choose warm white LED lighting for your bedroom. Since most bedrooms have various light sources, you can be more flexible in your lighting design. For table or desk lamps, choose light bulbs that emit soft lighting or have a low-lumen output. 

Also, consider adding dimmable light bulbs in this area to enjoy better control over the illumination. 

Night lights are also a great addition to the bedroom as they are bright enough for visibility but do not disrupt sleep. You can also invest in motion sensor luminaries as they will only switch on when needed. 

 

Bathroom Lighting

For bathroom lighting, it is essential that you opt for IP-rated LED lights. Wet and humid areas such as bathrooms need luminaries with added protection so you can keep using your lights for a long time. 

Light fixtures without an IP rating do not function correctly and can cause dangerous hazards when exposed to water elements in the bathroom. 

In terms of colour temperature, many homeowners prefer cool white lighting as it suits the area however, you can also add slightly warmer lighting in some bathrooms. The ideal light fixture for a bathroom is a recessed downlight with an IP rating as it is unobtrusive and works well in wet rooms. 

For the sink/mirror section of the bathroom, consider LED capsule lighting to create even illumination around this unit. You can also install standard LED light fittings to create visibility and bright illumination. 

 

Home Office And Study Areas

Whether you work from home or want a quiet corner to study, you must make sure the lights in your home office/study area help you use the space efficiently. Cool while LED lighting works well in this area as it helps visibility and produces serotonin to keep you motivated. 

Consider adding LED lights that mimic natural sunlight for an even more efficient lighting design. You can also implement dimmable LED lighting to adjust the brightness according to your lighting needs. 

If you want a mix of warm white lighting and cool white lighting, you can create specific zones in this room. Use desk lamps with a cool white bulb for functional lighting and warm lighting in any sitting area. 

 

Staircase Lighting

As with hallway lighting, it is important to avoid adding any low-hanging light fittings here. Low-hanging fittings can create potential injuries for you or anyone else in your home, therefore, you must look for recessed luminaries. 

You can add LED downlights on each step to create directional lighting or you can add a recessed wall light for better illumination. If you want to create a decorative feature with these luminaries, consider adding LED strip lights along the stairs. 

For this area, you must consider the illumination level to ensure proper visibility as this will prevent any potential accidents. 

 

Garage Lighting

Many garages have inefficient lighting that consumes too much electricity or does not properly light up the space. Apart from parking vehicles, many homeowners also use their garages as a storage areas, therefore it is important to add lighting that will make it easier to sort through your items. 

Many homeowners also have small workshops in their garages, which means you must look for utility lighting as well. For this space, opt for bright LED lighting in either a standard bulb form or a batten shape. 

When searching for LED garage lighting focus on the lumen count as the highest-lumen light bulbs work best in this space. If you have light switches in hard-to-reach places, you can install motion sensor LED lights that automatically switch on. 

If your garage lighting is not connected to the main power supply, you can also install battery-powered LED lighting. These luminaries are bright and often come with an IP rating for added protection. 

 

Outdoor And Garden Lighting

There are several great options when it comes to garden and outdoor LED lighting. The first step to finding your ideal garden light fixture is determining its use. 

If you need LED lighting for decorative purposes, there are several solar powered LEDs that are energy efficient and come in various styles to add to your landscaping. These lights come with a spike configuration which can be installed into soft ground to create a welcoming lighting design. 

You can also add IP-rated LED string lighting along fences, hedges and around trees to create a high-quality lighting design. If you want lighting for security purposes, consider installing an LED floodlight. These luminaries have motion sensors and dusk till dawn sensors which provide advanced ways to use lighting for security reasons. 

 

Lighting For Offices And Commercial Spaces

Apart from residential properties, you also need to consider office and commercial lighting. There are several great LED light bulbs available that work well in this setting. In these spaces, you should consider large light fixtures for large lighting beams. 

You must also consider an emergency and fire-rated lighting for any potentially hazardous situations. Regardless of the size of your office or the type of commercial property, you can easily find any LED lighting to fit your illumination needs. 

 

What Are The Best LED Lights?

Now that you know about the benefits and best practices of using LED luminaries, here are some of the best LEDs you can find. As mentioned before, there are a wide variety of LEDs available in various styles however, it can be hard to know which light bulb works best for you. 

If you are looking for high-quality LED lighting that is versatile and efficient visit Meteor Electrical.  At Meteor, you can browse through the Kosnic LED light line which uses state-of-the-art LED technology. 

Kosnic manufactures a wide variety of luminaries to fit every consumer’s needs. Here are some of the best LED lights you can find on Meteor. 

 

  1. Kosnic 9W LED Light Bulb

This is Kosnic’s most popular energy saving LED light bulb. The 9W light bulb comes in a warm white shade which makes it ideal for domestic applications. These 9W lamps reduce your energy consumption by 85% compared to traditional light bulbs. 

Since this bulb uses an LED, you get brightness instantly. Despite the high energy savings, this light fixture only costs £2.87, making it one of the most economical energy saving light bulbs on the market. 

 

  1. Kosnic 4.5W GU10 LED Lamp

If you want to create a recessed lighting design with LEDs, this GU10 lamp is a great option. GU10 lamps are designed to fit seamlessly into recessed fitting to create an aesthetically pleasing lighting feature. 

This Kosnic lamp uses LED technology to create soft ambient lighting that is efficient and long-lasting. Even though this lamp provides a warm white shade, you can also find the option in a cool white colour. 

The Kosnic GU10 lamp is a great replacement for a halogen GU10 lamp as it helps you drastically save on your energy bills. 

 

  1. Kosnic 4.5W LED Light Bulb

The Kosnic  4.5W LED lamp has high-intensity brightness of 340 lumens. This excellent energy saving light bulb works best for both household use and hospitality applications. 

The Kosnic 4.5W lamp has a lifespan of over 30,000 hours which means you will save money on bulb replacement costs. 

 

  1. Kosnic 60W LED Light Panel

For larger applications, consider the 60 Watt LED light panels. These panels are a great fit for large office spaces and commercial properties. Despite the high lumen output, these luminaries are highly energy efficient. 

The slim profile is easily recessed into the ceiling for a modern and clean look. With a long lifespan of 40,000 hours, you can keep enjoying these luminaries for a long time. 

 

Final Takeaway

LED lighting is quickly becoming one of the most popular light bulbs today. Many consumers are opting for these luminaries due to their energy efficient qualities and long lifespan. 

With traditional lighting quickly being phased out, it is important to switch to these light bulbs. For your next lighting design, choose LED lighting.