Use energy more efficiently
LED bulbs are very efficient compared to incandescent bulbs. An incandescent bulb emits almost as much heat as it gives light. 95% of the energy supplied to an incandescent bulb is turned into heat, while only 5% is turned into visible light.
In comparison, an LED bulb can convert around 80% of its energy into light. The result is a light source that can use 10 to 15 times less electricity to produce the same amount of light. A typical LED bulb of 7W can therefore be equivalent to a traditional incandescent bulb of 60W in brightness.
How long an LED lasts depends on the quality and type, but the typical lifespan is about 15,000 to 30,000 hours.
Choose the right socket and tension
If you are going to replace traditional light bulbs with LEDs, it is important that you choose an LED bulb with a corresponding base. Also, make sure that the new bulb has the same voltage as the old one.
If you are going to replace halogen with LED in downlights, please note that downlights with LED bulbs will normally need a special LED dimmer. To install this or replace an old dimmer, you need to contact an electrician.
Be aware of downlights
Because LED bulbs are so efficient, they also emit very little heat, making them less flammable. If you have downlights with LED bulbs and replace these with traditional light bulbs (halogen), you may risk that the heat protection in the installation does not take into account the heat that is generated when using a regular bulb. Therefore, never replace LEDs with traditional bulbs in installations that are designed for LEDs. If necessary, contact an electrician if you want to replace such light sources.
Avoid cold light
At home, we have been used to incandescent bulbs that glow warm and yellowish. Typical for LEDs is that they shine brighter white. This is suitable for lighting up shops and other places where there is a need to light up well, but is not as pleasant at home. As LED technology has improved, you can choose between different color temperatures, so that for home use, you can choose LEDs that provide a more pleasant light.
To get a warm light, you should choose LEDs with a color temperature in the range of 2700 to 3000 degrees Kelvin. Another parameter is the color rendering – the Ra index. This is a measure of how well the light source can reproduce natural colours.
The light from the sun and from halogen bulbs has a Ra index of 100. The best white LED lights have a Ra index of over 90. This means that the ability to reproduce visible light is good.
Watch your eyes
The light from an LED light source can be harmful to the eye in some very special cases. This bright light is normally filtered out during production, but in the event of product or manufacturing defects, it can happen that the LED light becomes too bright. Therefore, it is a good precaution to never look directly into an LED light source.
Be aware of electromagnetic noise
It is good to be aware that LED light sources can emit electromagnetic noise that can affect DAB radio, electronic door opener, AMS meter and other electrical products. If you experience such noise, you can try to replace the LED bulb, or have a greater distance between the light source and the electrical appliance where possible.