HOW TO SELECT LEDs

Selecting lighting for my space should take into account the following:

The quality of lighting

The quality of lighting can be measured by using the CRI (Color Rendering Index). This index can take values ​​from 0 to 100, with natural outdoor light having a CRI index of 100.
Substantially the natural light output in colors is the benchmark for all other light sources. In the case of fluorescent lamps, the CRI indicator is around 50-60 while in the case of LED lamps the CRI, depending on the brand of the lamp, is greater than 80.
Specialty LED lights can achieve values ​​up to 98CRI.

Kinds of lighting

One of the most important parameters to consider when purchasing a light bulb is the type of lighting they offer. The color of the light required by a room (also called light color temperature measured in degrees Kelvin-K) depends on its use and can vary from hot to cold.
Depending on the temperature of the light, the lamps can be divided into 3 categories, warm white, warm daylight and cool white.
In the case of hot white, the lighting temperature ranges from 2700-3100K. It is basically gentle illumination, which alters the colors. It is ideal for relaxation and tranquility, such as living rooms.
Neutral white lighting is more intense than warm, but it remains soft. Binds the objects together, illuminating them at the same time. Colors in this case are subject to lesser alteration.
And in this case the lighting gives a sense of serenity, while keeping the inhabitants of the place alert.
Finally, white or cold lighting has a 5500-6000K intensity. It is the most intense lighting, which minimizes the colors.
It keeps people in the room alert and helps to get as much stimulus from the environment as possible, while helping to gather. Ideal lighting for offices or other workplaces.

Brightness and power of lamps

Depending on the type of lamp, the cost of the purchase is increased, with the cheapest being the halogen / halogen lamps, followed by the fluorescent lamps, while the most expensive are the LED lamps.
So then the question of cost - energy savings that they entail.
In order to be compared on equal terms, we must take into account the brightness they produce with their respective consumption.
The lumen measurement unit of a lamp is Lumen. A correlation between Lumen and the consumption of a classical incandescent lamp is shown in the table.
Depending on the type of lamp, its light output is shown in the table below
The above data may vary slightly depending on the brand and quality of the lamps placed on the market, so the importance of the information on the brightness and power of each lamp given on its packaging should be taken into account. For a good lighting of a room a light of 1500 lumen is required.
Thus, the same lighting can be achieved in a room either by using a 100watt incandescent lamp, either with a halogen halogen bulb 37w, or with a 28watt saving lamp or finally with an LED lamp 16w.
All of the above features contribute to the final price of the lamp, with the LED lamps being the most varied, as there is a wide variety and quality in power, brightness, kind of illumination and lighting quality.

Which bulbs do I choose for economy

Suppose we want to illuminate a space for 50,000 hours, and taking into account the average lifetime for each type of lamp, but also the kWh value of 0.11 euro.
A. A 25W incandescent lamp, with a service life of 1000 hours and a purchase cost of 0.6 €, will cost a total of 1250 KWh (137.5 €) in energy consumption and will need 50 light bulbs for a total cost of 30 €. Thus the total cost will be € 167.5.
B. In the case of use of a halogen lamp, the lifetime is equal to 2000 hours and the purchase cost is about 1.5 € per lamp. The power required in this case is equal to 9W. For use in 50000 hours, 25 lamps are required for a total cost of € 37.5. The expected energy consumption is 450 KWh (€ 49.5). Thus the total cost will be € 87.
C. For the production of the same lamp with a saving lamp, a 7W lamp should be used, with a service life of 8000 hours each and a unit price of 4.5 €. Approximately 6 lamps are required for use for 50,000 hours, while the expected energy consumption is 350kWh (38,5 €). Thus, the total cost will be 66,62 €
D. Finally, for the use of LED lamps, the nominal power required should be 4,5W. The lifetime of these lamps is over 50,000 hours, whenever a single lamp is needed, with a purchase cost of around 20 €. The expected energy consumption is 90kWh (9.9 €), where the total cost, in this case, is less than 30 €.
From the above analysis, we conclude that choosing an LED lamp may initially be more costly than the cheaper options but in the long run, this option is the most economical.