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How Do I... Choose Light Bulbs?
An expert sheds light on the often confusing business of shopping for light bulbs
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning home and garden questions. Here, Rachel Holmes, outdoor lighting buyer at Bunnings, talks us through the different light globes on offer and what works best where.
What are the main types of light bulbs?
- LEDs (light-emitting diodes)
- Halogens
- Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)
- New internet-enabled light bulbs, which you control via an app on your smartphone or tablet.
What’s so special about LED globes?
LEDs are far more energy efficient than CFLs and halogens, which are the other efficient globes on the market.
While LEDs generally cost more than CFLs and halogens, they can last up to 50,000 hours, or 13 years, before you need to change them.
LEDs can also be decorative, with ornate filaments such as zigzag or butterfly shapes, allowing you to make a feature of your bulbs.
LEDs are far more energy efficient than CFLs and halogens, which are the other efficient globes on the market.
While LEDs generally cost more than CFLs and halogens, they can last up to 50,000 hours, or 13 years, before you need to change them.
LEDs can also be decorative, with ornate filaments such as zigzag or butterfly shapes, allowing you to make a feature of your bulbs.
And compact fluorescents?
CFLs are fluorescent tubes bent into a shape that fits a standard light fitting.
CFLs are fluorescent tubes bent into a shape that fits a standard light fitting.
What are the new internet-enabled light bulbs?
Internet-enabled light bulbs, such as Philips Hue, allow you to choose from 16 million colour hues via an app on your smartphone or tablet, meaning you can create infinite moods in a room.
Internet-enabled light bulbs, such as Philips Hue, allow you to choose from 16 million colour hues via an app on your smartphone or tablet, meaning you can create infinite moods in a room.
What are lumens?
Lumens tells you how bright a light bulb will be, information that is marked on the packaging. Lumens range from about 450 to 1600. An 800-lumen LED globe is roughly the equivalent of a traditional 60-watt incandescent globe.
When assessing the number of lumens you require, consider how you’ll be using the space the bulb is going into. A relaxed living room, for example, won’t require the brightness of a work zone such as the prep area of the kitchen.
Lumens tells you how bright a light bulb will be, information that is marked on the packaging. Lumens range from about 450 to 1600. An 800-lumen LED globe is roughly the equivalent of a traditional 60-watt incandescent globe.
When assessing the number of lumens you require, consider how you’ll be using the space the bulb is going into. A relaxed living room, for example, won’t require the brightness of a work zone such as the prep area of the kitchen.
What is colour temperature?
Colour temperature refers to how warm a colour appears to the human eye. It is measured in degrees of Kelvin (K), which describes the light appearance produced by a globe.
There are three main colour temperatures you will find on light-bulb packaging:
Colour temperature refers to how warm a colour appears to the human eye. It is measured in degrees of Kelvin (K), which describes the light appearance produced by a globe.
There are three main colour temperatures you will find on light-bulb packaging:
- Warm white – a soft white light (2700K-3000K)
- Cool white – a bright white light (3500K-4100K)
- Daylight (5000K-6500K)
Which colour temperature works best where?
As a guide, soft white is ideal for relaxed spots such as living rooms and bedrooms, bright white is suitable for prep zones in the kitchen, and daylight works well in bathrooms.
As a guide, soft white is ideal for relaxed spots such as living rooms and bedrooms, bright white is suitable for prep zones in the kitchen, and daylight works well in bathrooms.
What is CRI?
CRI stands for ‘colour rendering index’. It is measured from 1-100, and this indicates how accurately the colours are illuminated and appear to the human eye. The higher the number, the better the colour. For tasks that need accurate colour differentiation, such as food prep or study, choose a globe with a CRI of 90 or higher.
CRI stands for ‘colour rendering index’. It is measured from 1-100, and this indicates how accurately the colours are illuminated and appear to the human eye. The higher the number, the better the colour. For tasks that need accurate colour differentiation, such as food prep or study, choose a globe with a CRI of 90 or higher.
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