Conservatory Lighting
Toby Frost asked:
Conservatory lighting.
While every room in your house can be described as having a colour, what colour is your conservatory? You may answer that it is white, or a stain colour but really, for most people the colour of your conservatory is green or, the colour of your garden because that is what you can see through all of the glass. This relationship with the garden is clear and the main reason that people love being in their conservatories during the day.
Inside lighting;
Inside your conservatory during the day natural light will be coming in from outside creating a wonderful view of your garden and giving a light and airy room. At night the situation reverses, with any inside light being reflected back into the structure if it is dark outside. You will also notice that if you have double glazing then you will actually have two reflections of the light (with triple glazing you will have three) This can be a feature that you can take as an advantage; during the festive season a string of lights hung in the rafters will cast double or even triple reflections back into the room looking like a fabulous starry scene. Unfortunately most of the time these reflections are not as dramatic. One way past this problem is to properly light your garden as I will discuss later, sensible lighting within the conservatory will also minimise this light pollution. When lit as other rooms in the house, with a hung light at a high level you will be lighting everything in the room maximising the amount of reflections. What is needed is low level lighting, illuminating what is needed, minimising reflections. A lighting ring can easily be used for lamps, with a number of points at a low level switched as normal by the entrance. This gives all the advantages of low level lighting with the convenience of switched lights.
Outside lighting;
One problem that does have to be remedied is that once it becomes lighter inside the conservatory (at night) the ‘colour’ of the conservatory changes as you will be looking at a reflection of yourself in the glass. The conservatory has become introverted where it was extrovert during the day.
The answer is to light your garden at night so that it is once again lighter and becomes the view from the conservatory again. Having the switch for the outside lights in the conservatory is an ideal place as you have control in the place where you want it. Also, look at the colour of outside lighting, you are best to think of what to light in January as in July you can cast a light on anything and it will look nice as everything is in full bloom and growth. January is the time when most plants are dormant but you will still need to light it to get maximum use out of your glasshouse. In general this means architectural features that stay year-round such as tree trunks, walls, fountains, ponds and hedges. It is common sense to light using similar a colour so that they look natural at night so green light for plants and blue lights for water features. A red light on a green bush at night will reflect little light and produce a dark red bush that will look unlike the naturally lit form.
When the lighting is thought about, a conservatory can be an equally stunning place to be at night as during the day and a place that you will spend more and more quality time as the seasons pass.
Conservatory lighting.
While every room in your house can be described as having a colour, what colour is your conservatory? You may answer that it is white, or a stain colour but really, for most people the colour of your conservatory is green or, the colour of your garden because that is what you can see through all of the glass. This relationship with the garden is clear and the main reason that people love being in their conservatories during the day.
Inside lighting;
Inside your conservatory during the day natural light will be coming in from outside creating a wonderful view of your garden and giving a light and airy room. At night the situation reverses, with any inside light being reflected back into the structure if it is dark outside. You will also notice that if you have double glazing then you will actually have two reflections of the light (with triple glazing you will have three) This can be a feature that you can take as an advantage; during the festive season a string of lights hung in the rafters will cast double or even triple reflections back into the room looking like a fabulous starry scene. Unfortunately most of the time these reflections are not as dramatic. One way past this problem is to properly light your garden as I will discuss later, sensible lighting within the conservatory will also minimise this light pollution. When lit as other rooms in the house, with a hung light at a high level you will be lighting everything in the room maximising the amount of reflections. What is needed is low level lighting, illuminating what is needed, minimising reflections. A lighting ring can easily be used for lamps, with a number of points at a low level switched as normal by the entrance. This gives all the advantages of low level lighting with the convenience of switched lights.
Outside lighting;
One problem that does have to be remedied is that once it becomes lighter inside the conservatory (at night) the ‘colour’ of the conservatory changes as you will be looking at a reflection of yourself in the glass. The conservatory has become introverted where it was extrovert during the day.
The answer is to light your garden at night so that it is once again lighter and becomes the view from the conservatory again. Having the switch for the outside lights in the conservatory is an ideal place as you have control in the place where you want it. Also, look at the colour of outside lighting, you are best to think of what to light in January as in July you can cast a light on anything and it will look nice as everything is in full bloom and growth. January is the time when most plants are dormant but you will still need to light it to get maximum use out of your glasshouse. In general this means architectural features that stay year-round such as tree trunks, walls, fountains, ponds and hedges. It is common sense to light using similar a colour so that they look natural at night so green light for plants and blue lights for water features. A red light on a green bush at night will reflect little light and produce a dark red bush that will look unlike the naturally lit form.
When the lighting is thought about, a conservatory can be an equally stunning place to be at night as during the day and a place that you will spend more and more quality time as the seasons pass.
LED Lighting
Robert Andstrom asked:
LED lighting is fast becoming standard in homes and business everywhere. LED lighting and light emitting diodes, are a smarter, more efficient way to light a room. Rather than using fragile filament power that burns out easily, LED lighting utilizes the movement of electrons for power and light. Built so that a great number of photons are released outward, the light from a diode is focused through the end of a plastic bulb which produces a bright light.
Because the power source or diodes are housed in plastic bulbs, LED lighting tends to be more easily protected than the older standard of fragile bulbs. LED lighting uses only about a third of the electricity needed to supply energy to traditional bulbs giving it longer life and providing almost 60,000 hours of light. Compared with only about 1,000 hours of light in incandescent lighting, this makes for a huge advantage.
LED lighting tends to mimic natural, outdoor light. This proves invaluable for the consumer and in case studies has been related to more alertness. LED lighting is also a mainstay for those suffering from SAD, a depression caused by lack of natural light in the winter months.
The greener way to go, LED lighting is not only cost effective, it uses less energy. LED bulbs stay relatively cool since they only utilize the diodes for light rather than relying on electricity that heats incandescent bulbs, as the filament must be warmed to produce light. Because the electricity used in LED lighting is being directly used for light this cuts down on energy demands considerably.
To learn more about LED lighting check out www.designledlighting.com where you will find this and alot more on led light bulbs and the use of led´s.
LED lighting is fast becoming standard in homes and business everywhere. LED lighting and light emitting diodes, are a smarter, more efficient way to light a room. Rather than using fragile filament power that burns out easily, LED lighting utilizes the movement of electrons for power and light. Built so that a great number of photons are released outward, the light from a diode is focused through the end of a plastic bulb which produces a bright light.
Because the power source or diodes are housed in plastic bulbs, LED lighting tends to be more easily protected than the older standard of fragile bulbs. LED lighting uses only about a third of the electricity needed to supply energy to traditional bulbs giving it longer life and providing almost 60,000 hours of light. Compared with only about 1,000 hours of light in incandescent lighting, this makes for a huge advantage.
LED lighting tends to mimic natural, outdoor light. This proves invaluable for the consumer and in case studies has been related to more alertness. LED lighting is also a mainstay for those suffering from SAD, a depression caused by lack of natural light in the winter months.
The greener way to go, LED lighting is not only cost effective, it uses less energy. LED bulbs stay relatively cool since they only utilize the diodes for light rather than relying on electricity that heats incandescent bulbs, as the filament must be warmed to produce light. Because the electricity used in LED lighting is being directly used for light this cuts down on energy demands considerably.
To learn more about LED lighting check out www.designledlighting.com where you will find this and alot more on led light bulbs and the use of led´s.
What Exactly Is Led Lighting?
Jonathan Gal asked:
It is difficult to provide a quick and simple answer about LED lighting. Basically their name comes from the fact that they are actually Light Emitting Diodes that are just small electronic fixtures that illuminate as electrical currents pass through them. Yes, this sound quite similar to traditional light bulbs, but in fact they are remarkably different. LED’s are closer to the old transistor radio technologies than they are to light bulbs.
Traditional or old-fashioned light bulbs work with a small and easily broken filament that casts a brilliant glow whenever the electrical current within their structures are completed. This means they tend to burn out quickly, make a lot of heat and consume significantly more electricity than LED bulbs.
Where do you find LED light bulbs? For the most part they are found as indicator lights in computer and electronic equipment; they frequently appear in modern flashlights and remote controls, exterior lighting fixtures, solar lighting and even holiday light strands. They are also the bulb of choice for the bulk of solar lighting fixtures available today. They appear in the items listed because of their durability, reliability and tremendously long life spans.
There are some common misperceptions about LED lights that lead people to avoid them, and these include:
They cast a feeble light They cost a great deal more than standard bulbs They are only available in a blue/white color They are small and limited in application
All of these statements are terribly inaccurate, and over the coming decades consumers are going to see the LED technology appearing in more and more applications. This is due to many reasons including their ability to cast strong lights, such as spot and flood lighting applications, their ever shrinking costs, their wide range of colors and their ability to withstand shocks, weather and heavy usage which is making them more desirable in a wider range of uses. Additionally, they do not contain the same wide range of toxic elements and materials as other lighting options, including such heavy metals as mercury which frequently appears in fluorescent lights. This is of great interest to those in the “green” movements and those looking for lower priced items.
Many consumers remain convinced that LED lights are more costly, and the facts need to be addressed once and for all. First, LED bulbs tend to last a tremendously longer time span than traditional bulbs which all ready makes them well worth any difference in cost. Secondly, they do not use expensive materials in their manufacture, and finally they are far more efficient when applied in fixtures such as solar garden lights. What this all means is that an LED fixture will pay for itself in savings much faster than an investment in traditional, filament bulbs.
It is difficult to provide a quick and simple answer about LED lighting. Basically their name comes from the fact that they are actually Light Emitting Diodes that are just small electronic fixtures that illuminate as electrical currents pass through them. Yes, this sound quite similar to traditional light bulbs, but in fact they are remarkably different. LED’s are closer to the old transistor radio technologies than they are to light bulbs.
Traditional or old-fashioned light bulbs work with a small and easily broken filament that casts a brilliant glow whenever the electrical current within their structures are completed. This means they tend to burn out quickly, make a lot of heat and consume significantly more electricity than LED bulbs.
Where do you find LED light bulbs? For the most part they are found as indicator lights in computer and electronic equipment; they frequently appear in modern flashlights and remote controls, exterior lighting fixtures, solar lighting and even holiday light strands. They are also the bulb of choice for the bulk of solar lighting fixtures available today. They appear in the items listed because of their durability, reliability and tremendously long life spans.
There are some common misperceptions about LED lights that lead people to avoid them, and these include:
They cast a feeble light They cost a great deal more than standard bulbs They are only available in a blue/white color They are small and limited in application
All of these statements are terribly inaccurate, and over the coming decades consumers are going to see the LED technology appearing in more and more applications. This is due to many reasons including their ability to cast strong lights, such as spot and flood lighting applications, their ever shrinking costs, their wide range of colors and their ability to withstand shocks, weather and heavy usage which is making them more desirable in a wider range of uses. Additionally, they do not contain the same wide range of toxic elements and materials as other lighting options, including such heavy metals as mercury which frequently appears in fluorescent lights. This is of great interest to those in the “green” movements and those looking for lower priced items.
Many consumers remain convinced that LED lights are more costly, and the facts need to be addressed once and for all. First, LED bulbs tend to last a tremendously longer time span than traditional bulbs which all ready makes them well worth any difference in cost. Secondly, they do not use expensive materials in their manufacture, and finally they are far more efficient when applied in fixtures such as solar garden lights. What this all means is that an LED fixture will pay for itself in savings much faster than an investment in traditional, filament bulbs.
The Benefits Of Led Lighting
Dominik Hussl asked:
LED Lighting has been around for a long time now, however until recently it was not considered to be a good source of light for white light. Recent developments in technology has made it possible for an LED light to give as much white light as a conventional light bulb therefore making it a viable source of lighting for many different types of applications. Light Emitting Diodes are currently seeing heavy use in automotive lights.
LED is short for Light Emitting Diode. This type of lighting is semiconductor powered and with recent developments in technology is capable of emitting as much light as a regular light bulb without the energy loss in the form of heat. This type of lighting is more energy efficient and will outlast any regular light bulb available in the market place today. California which is always the countries front runner on energy saving and environmental protection laws is in the process of passing and impending ban on all incandescent light bulbs by 2010, this alone stands as a testament that LED lighting can be used in all aspects of daily life as a viable alternative to the incandescent light bulb.
Lets Look at the differences between Light Emitting Diodes and other conventional lighting available today:
First we have old faithful Incandescent lights which create light by running a current through a thin filament which heats it to a high enough temperature therefore producing visible light. This process is highly inefficient because 98 percent of the energy used to create light using this process is lost in the form of heat. The typical life span of an Incandescent light is about 1000 hours.
Fluorescent lamps work by passing a current thru a mercury vapor, which in turn produces ultra violet light, which is then absorbed inside the light by a phosphorous coating which will begin to glow. This process is more efficient then the incandescent light, however energy is lost by creating the ultra violet light which is then absorbed by the coating to give off the light. In addition the mercury vapor can be dangerous to your health if the lamp breaks. Fluorescent lamps have a much longer lifespan then the incandescent’s do. The lifespan of a fluorescent light is about 10,000 hours.
Now lets get to the LED Light. This lighting achieves its illumination by clustering Light Emitting Diodes in an orderly fashion, thereby creating a unified beam. This cluster can consist of many white LED’s or a mixed group of colored LED’s which when grouped together give off white light. The advantages of Light Emitting Diodes are:
No Tube or filament to break
Light Emitting Diodes have a longer lifespan than incandescent and fluorescent lights
Power consumption is lower then any of the others
Due to their small size they can be sued in many different types of lighting applications.
Very little energy is lost to heat.
LED lighting emits more light per unit of current then most of today’s conventional lighting therefore making it the number one choice for energy saving light available. Energy bills can be reduced by up to 30 percent by switching over to this light source. Due to their construction Light Emitting Diodes are very durable they generally last 100 times longer then conventional lighting products. Since this type of lighting does not emit heat it poses little to no danger in the form of contributing to causing a fire. The longevity of this type of lighting is hard to surpass. Generally LED lights will last up to 50 thousand hours, which gives them a life expecting of around 10 years before they need to be replaced.
Many forms of LED lighting are now available for every aspect of daily life. LED light bulbs are being used in flashlights, residential lighting, automotive as well as landscape lighting. More and more signs are also utilizing this light source. If you have looked at a stoplight really closely you will have seen a led light in action. Light Emitting Diodes are also breaking in to the arena of rope lighting, boat lights, and floodlights. Christmas tree lights are now also going to LED’s because of its many benefits not to mention that due to the fact that these lights do not give off large amounts of heat they are much safer to use on a Christmas tree then conventional Christmas tree lights
LED Lighting has been around for a long time now, however until recently it was not considered to be a good source of light for white light. Recent developments in technology has made it possible for an LED light to give as much white light as a conventional light bulb therefore making it a viable source of lighting for many different types of applications. Light Emitting Diodes are currently seeing heavy use in automotive lights.
LED is short for Light Emitting Diode. This type of lighting is semiconductor powered and with recent developments in technology is capable of emitting as much light as a regular light bulb without the energy loss in the form of heat. This type of lighting is more energy efficient and will outlast any regular light bulb available in the market place today. California which is always the countries front runner on energy saving and environmental protection laws is in the process of passing and impending ban on all incandescent light bulbs by 2010, this alone stands as a testament that LED lighting can be used in all aspects of daily life as a viable alternative to the incandescent light bulb.
Lets Look at the differences between Light Emitting Diodes and other conventional lighting available today:
First we have old faithful Incandescent lights which create light by running a current through a thin filament which heats it to a high enough temperature therefore producing visible light. This process is highly inefficient because 98 percent of the energy used to create light using this process is lost in the form of heat. The typical life span of an Incandescent light is about 1000 hours.
Fluorescent lamps work by passing a current thru a mercury vapor, which in turn produces ultra violet light, which is then absorbed inside the light by a phosphorous coating which will begin to glow. This process is more efficient then the incandescent light, however energy is lost by creating the ultra violet light which is then absorbed by the coating to give off the light. In addition the mercury vapor can be dangerous to your health if the lamp breaks. Fluorescent lamps have a much longer lifespan then the incandescent’s do. The lifespan of a fluorescent light is about 10,000 hours.
Now lets get to the LED Light. This lighting achieves its illumination by clustering Light Emitting Diodes in an orderly fashion, thereby creating a unified beam. This cluster can consist of many white LED’s or a mixed group of colored LED’s which when grouped together give off white light. The advantages of Light Emitting Diodes are:
No Tube or filament to break
Light Emitting Diodes have a longer lifespan than incandescent and fluorescent lights
Power consumption is lower then any of the others
Due to their small size they can be sued in many different types of lighting applications.
Very little energy is lost to heat.
LED lighting emits more light per unit of current then most of today’s conventional lighting therefore making it the number one choice for energy saving light available. Energy bills can be reduced by up to 30 percent by switching over to this light source. Due to their construction Light Emitting Diodes are very durable they generally last 100 times longer then conventional lighting products. Since this type of lighting does not emit heat it poses little to no danger in the form of contributing to causing a fire. The longevity of this type of lighting is hard to surpass. Generally LED lights will last up to 50 thousand hours, which gives them a life expecting of around 10 years before they need to be replaced.
Many forms of LED lighting are now available for every aspect of daily life. LED light bulbs are being used in flashlights, residential lighting, automotive as well as landscape lighting. More and more signs are also utilizing this light source. If you have looked at a stoplight really closely you will have seen a led light in action. Light Emitting Diodes are also breaking in to the arena of rope lighting, boat lights, and floodlights. Christmas tree lights are now also going to LED’s because of its many benefits not to mention that due to the fact that these lights do not give off large amounts of heat they are much safer to use on a Christmas tree then conventional Christmas tree lights
7 Reasons to Buy Solar Lighting
Paul Yates asked:
I don’t think that a day goes by now without someone mentioning the phrase “carbon footprint” and we all know that this is not a fad, it is here to stay. It is a continuous source of concern to me that even in this consumer society that we live in that we all do our bit to be environmentally friendly and contribute to creating a low carbon footprint.
I wrote some articles a while ago that looked at the environmentally friendliness of the barbecue and if one argues that the energy consumed by a barbecue compared with any other form of cooking then certainly the charcoal barbecue can be considered environmentally friendly provided the wood source for the charcoal is harvested by coppicing.
As the nights draw in this fall and the patio lights come out there is an ever improving technology that we should be considering and that is solar lighting. This environmentally friendly lighting is basically is a photo voltaic cell that captures the sunrays, converts the light energy into electricity that is in turn used to charge a battery. Now we all know that battery technology has improved considerably with the advent of laptop computers and video cameras but the other area that has improved rapidly to bring solar lighting right up there is the LED or light emitting diode.
The LED is basically exactly what you get in many head torches these days and as we know these torches offer great light with little power consumption and bulb longevity and it’s this same technology that is being applied to solar lighting.
So let us get down to the nitty gritty, why should you buy solar lighting?
1. LED bulbs will never burn out during the lifetime of the product. How many times do you have to change normal bulbs and at what cost?
2. Your electricity bill will be reduced and it is environmentally friendly lighting. Your neighbors can gossip all they like but you can rest safe in the knowledge that your carbon footprint is under control.
3. Battery technology means that solar lighting can work without interruption for 10 – 12 hours which should be more than enough for anyone. Recharge time of course is dependent on the amount of sunlight available.
4. Solar panels are weatherproof so there’s no maintenance, in fact you can even use one panel to charge a multitude of lights.
5. Solar lighting is self sufficient so there’s no need for an outdoor power source. Really handy for an idiot like me that can fix a wall light but doesn’t like to mess with high voltage electricity.
6. Again the point about no high voltage electricity – it’s safe.
7. The more LEDs (or fewer) there are in the light the brighter (or more subtle) the lighting will be. This means that you can light pathways with low intensity lighting and with a few more LEDs you can creat a wall mounted spotlight.
I know I am going to have some fun this summer creating my own night time garden and preparing my patio area for some great late summer barbecues. If only someone could invent an environmentally friendly patio heater then I’d be over the moon.
I don’t think that a day goes by now without someone mentioning the phrase “carbon footprint” and we all know that this is not a fad, it is here to stay. It is a continuous source of concern to me that even in this consumer society that we live in that we all do our bit to be environmentally friendly and contribute to creating a low carbon footprint.
I wrote some articles a while ago that looked at the environmentally friendliness of the barbecue and if one argues that the energy consumed by a barbecue compared with any other form of cooking then certainly the charcoal barbecue can be considered environmentally friendly provided the wood source for the charcoal is harvested by coppicing.
As the nights draw in this fall and the patio lights come out there is an ever improving technology that we should be considering and that is solar lighting. This environmentally friendly lighting is basically is a photo voltaic cell that captures the sunrays, converts the light energy into electricity that is in turn used to charge a battery. Now we all know that battery technology has improved considerably with the advent of laptop computers and video cameras but the other area that has improved rapidly to bring solar lighting right up there is the LED or light emitting diode.
The LED is basically exactly what you get in many head torches these days and as we know these torches offer great light with little power consumption and bulb longevity and it’s this same technology that is being applied to solar lighting.
So let us get down to the nitty gritty, why should you buy solar lighting?
1. LED bulbs will never burn out during the lifetime of the product. How many times do you have to change normal bulbs and at what cost?
2. Your electricity bill will be reduced and it is environmentally friendly lighting. Your neighbors can gossip all they like but you can rest safe in the knowledge that your carbon footprint is under control.
3. Battery technology means that solar lighting can work without interruption for 10 – 12 hours which should be more than enough for anyone. Recharge time of course is dependent on the amount of sunlight available.
4. Solar panels are weatherproof so there’s no maintenance, in fact you can even use one panel to charge a multitude of lights.
5. Solar lighting is self sufficient so there’s no need for an outdoor power source. Really handy for an idiot like me that can fix a wall light but doesn’t like to mess with high voltage electricity.
6. Again the point about no high voltage electricity – it’s safe.
7. The more LEDs (or fewer) there are in the light the brighter (or more subtle) the lighting will be. This means that you can light pathways with low intensity lighting and with a few more LEDs you can creat a wall mounted spotlight.
I know I am going to have some fun this summer creating my own night time garden and preparing my patio area for some great late summer barbecues. If only someone could invent an environmentally friendly patio heater then I’d be over the moon.
Lumens and LEDs That Use Them Explained
Ben Anton asked:
All right, I lied. I really can’t give you a simple answer to the meaning of life, but if you’re looking for a simple explanation of how a lumen is used to measure lights, and why LED lamps are the most efficient way of producing high light output, you’ve come to the right place. Describing the measurement of light is, by nature, a complex thing. In order to understand what a lumen actually measures, you need to understand a little about how light has been measured historically.
Lumens
The technical definition of lumen is this: A lumen is the standard measurement for a unit of luminous flux, a measure of the perceived power of light. Unlike radiant flux, which measures the total amount of light energy put out by a light source, luminous flux measures the amount of light that can be perceived by the human eye. Let’s look at a concrete example to help make that clearer.
Imagine that you are standing in the center of a sphere with a radius of 1 meter. You are holding a birthday candle. Take a square of cardboard that measures 1 meter on all sides and put it against the wall of the sphere so that the edges rest against the wall. One lumen is the amount of light that falls on that square of cardboard. The more candles you light at the center of the sphere, the more lumens you are shining on the cardboard, and the brighter the light is.
But how does that translate to the lighting measurements that we’re used to? Most people are familiar with incandescent light bulbs that are measured in watts. While it seems to make sense that the higher wattage you use, the brighter the light you get, it’s not really the way that it works. That’s because watts and lumens measure two very different things. A watt is a unit of electrical energy – in other words, input. A lumen is a measure of light intensity – output. More simply – a light bulb uses watts to make lumens.
A standard 100 watt incandescent light bulb uses 100 watts of power to put out about 1500-1700 lumens, or about 17 lumens per watt (17 lm/w). We’ve known for quite a long time that it’s not a very efficient way to make light. By contrast, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which are the most common replacement for incandescent bulbs, put out 35 to 60 lumens per watt. That means that you can get the same amount of light for one half to one quarter of the power spent. LED (light-emitting diode) lamps offer even more lighting efficiency. There are already manufacturer making LED lamps that put out 100 lumens per watt, and the U.S. Department of Energy is on track with an energy plan that calls for LEDs that put out 160 lumens per watt by 2025.
Currently, LED lamps and lighting are still considered too expensive for typical home lighting – but that’s not the case in flashlights and portable lights. In fact, LED lamps really shine when it comes to flashlights.
– LED lamps are brighter than incandescent bulbs. LED lamps have been measured at up to 60 times brighter than filament bulbs that draw the same amount of power.
– LED lamps last longer than filament bulbs. And we’re talking exponentially longer. An LED lamp for your flashlight could conceivably last up to 10,000 hours.
– LED lamps use less power, so batteries last 2 to 10 times longer.
Your flashlight is the one piece of emergency equipment on which you should be able to depend – it only makes sense to choose a flashlight with an LED lamp that’s brighter, more dependable and longer lasting.
~ Ben Anton, 2008
All right, I lied. I really can’t give you a simple answer to the meaning of life, but if you’re looking for a simple explanation of how a lumen is used to measure lights, and why LED lamps are the most efficient way of producing high light output, you’ve come to the right place. Describing the measurement of light is, by nature, a complex thing. In order to understand what a lumen actually measures, you need to understand a little about how light has been measured historically.
Lumens
The technical definition of lumen is this: A lumen is the standard measurement for a unit of luminous flux, a measure of the perceived power of light. Unlike radiant flux, which measures the total amount of light energy put out by a light source, luminous flux measures the amount of light that can be perceived by the human eye. Let’s look at a concrete example to help make that clearer.
Imagine that you are standing in the center of a sphere with a radius of 1 meter. You are holding a birthday candle. Take a square of cardboard that measures 1 meter on all sides and put it against the wall of the sphere so that the edges rest against the wall. One lumen is the amount of light that falls on that square of cardboard. The more candles you light at the center of the sphere, the more lumens you are shining on the cardboard, and the brighter the light is.
But how does that translate to the lighting measurements that we’re used to? Most people are familiar with incandescent light bulbs that are measured in watts. While it seems to make sense that the higher wattage you use, the brighter the light you get, it’s not really the way that it works. That’s because watts and lumens measure two very different things. A watt is a unit of electrical energy – in other words, input. A lumen is a measure of light intensity – output. More simply – a light bulb uses watts to make lumens.
A standard 100 watt incandescent light bulb uses 100 watts of power to put out about 1500-1700 lumens, or about 17 lumens per watt (17 lm/w). We’ve known for quite a long time that it’s not a very efficient way to make light. By contrast, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which are the most common replacement for incandescent bulbs, put out 35 to 60 lumens per watt. That means that you can get the same amount of light for one half to one quarter of the power spent. LED (light-emitting diode) lamps offer even more lighting efficiency. There are already manufacturer making LED lamps that put out 100 lumens per watt, and the U.S. Department of Energy is on track with an energy plan that calls for LEDs that put out 160 lumens per watt by 2025.
Currently, LED lamps and lighting are still considered too expensive for typical home lighting – but that’s not the case in flashlights and portable lights. In fact, LED lamps really shine when it comes to flashlights.
– LED lamps are brighter than incandescent bulbs. LED lamps have been measured at up to 60 times brighter than filament bulbs that draw the same amount of power.
– LED lamps last longer than filament bulbs. And we’re talking exponentially longer. An LED lamp for your flashlight could conceivably last up to 10,000 hours.
– LED lamps use less power, so batteries last 2 to 10 times longer.
Your flashlight is the one piece of emergency equipment on which you should be able to depend – it only makes sense to choose a flashlight with an LED lamp that’s brighter, more dependable and longer lasting.
~ Ben Anton, 2008
Go Green With LED Lights in your Homes and Gardens
Foryourhome asked:
History and introduction of LED lightings
LED’s have been around since the 60s, but have mostly been relegated to showing the time in an alarm clock or the battery level of a video camera. Its use as a source of illumination was a challenging one for scientists. Light Emitting Diodes or LED Lightings- differ from traditional light sources in the way they produce light. In incandescent bulbs, a tungsten filament is heated by electric current until it glows or emits light. In a fluorescent lamp, an electric arc excites mercury atoms, which emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation. After striking the phosphor coating on the inside of glass tubes, the UV radiation is converted and emitted as visible light. On other hand LED’s are diodes made from semi-conductor materials. This is why they are referred to as “solid state” devices and relies on indium gallium nitride to convert electricity into photons with help of direct current (DC) instead of alternating current (AC) There are other types of Lights which on the principle of solid state objects like semi conductor but LED’s are the most relevant for general illumination. It consists of a chip of semi-conducting material treated to create an electric circuit. An LED is usually a small area source, often with extra optics added to the chip that shapes its radiation pattern. The specific wavelength or color emitted by the LED depends on the materials used to make the diode. It depends on the composition and condition of the semi conducting material used, and can be infrared, visible, or near-ultraviolet. Red LED’s are based on aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs). Blue LED’s are made from indium gallium nitride (InGaN) and green from aluminum gallium phosphide (AlGaP). “White” light is created by combining the light from red, green, and blue (RGB) LED’s or by coating a blue LED with yellow phosphor. LED based lights are still under development but it is predicted it will radically change the energy consumption patterns of the world over the next few years. As such there’s a phenomenal amount of resources being devoted to improving LED technology worldwide. The U.S. has committed an uncharacteristically large amount of industrial policy support for LED research and development. Asia is a hotbed of cutting-edge manufacturing technology and Europe and Canada have led the way in energy efficient initiatives accompanied by some of some of the most innovative design styles you can find anywhere.
Advantages and disadvantages of LED lightings
They have extremely low power consumption. LED lights use up to 90% less power than normal lights, which has many more advantages than you would ever assume. Firstly electrical running costs are reduced, not only reducing the demand placed on your household energy consumption but feel good knowing you are saving energy and becoming green, the global warming factor. Along the same line, the other major advantage of LED lights is that you can connect multiple sets of LED lights together from only one plug or socket, more sets than non LED lights due to the lower power consumption. This is not only practical resulting in the requirement for less power sockets, but you can lit larger multiple area with little drilling of your walls. Just imagine powering a string of lights ½ mile long from a single electrical socket. With LED’s you can use more light than ever before and still save money. While the small energy draw of LED’s would indicate many more could be strung together, until the UL listing is changed for the standard plug connected light sets, it is prudent to adhere to the current regulations for risk management. Since LED lights don’t contain any energy hungry materials, they are very efficacious-convert energy to light, not heat as non LED’s lights do. These make them intrinsically safe and are generally cool to the touch. LED’s lights can provide with 50,000 hours or more of life, which can tremendously reduce maintenance costs and time. This means, assuming an average twelve hour night, you will not need to change your LED lights after a good eleven year. In comparison, an incandescent light bulb lasts approximately 1,000 hours. Fluorescents are rated for 10,000 hours under ideal conditions. Along with this LED lights are incredibly bright, 3 times brighter than traditional lights, this makes them ideal for a wide range of situations, offering much greater impact and appeal than subdued traditional bulbs. The known problem of replacing blown and the inconvenience and undesired appearance of multiple failed bulbs isn’t an issue with LED’s. With such a long bulb life you can be sure of a fully functioning set of lights, which can be happily left outside requiring no maintenance and minimal routine care. Further mentioning the longevity of LED lights, LED’s are manufactured as one solid piece, with no glass or filaments to break. As such these lights are resistant to shock and vibration, which makes them more durable than non LED lights. Plus they have better quality light output since they have minimum ultraviolet and infrared radiation. LED lights have much greater design freedom in terms of color flexibility including many “whites” – without the use of filters, fully dimmable, new form factors for fixture designs which give us innumerable options to look for. Lastly the most important benefits if you are environment conscious is LED’s unlike Fluorescent and mercury vapor lighting which contains mercury, a hazardous waste to the environment and must be disposed of properly, LED’s don’t contain mercury and are not considered hazardous waste designating them environmental friendly.
Shopping guide for LED lightings
LED lights have started flooding the market but before purchase see to it what are you looking for. LED lights were initially started to be used in commercial environments like entertainment shows, theaters etc. Also, LED lights are already the best light source for traffic signals, vehicular tail lights, emergency lighting and flashlights. Increasingly nowadays, Home LED lightings such as accent wall LED lights, task, landscape and even outdoor LED lighting such as garden Pole LED lightings have arrived in the market. After deciding upon the type of LED lighting, check the prices around various online shop. Price is a hard thing to remain constant since most companies post retail type prices online and are willing to accept your bargain call for bulk purchases. Your best bet is to have a specific LED lighting type in mind and browse through several LED light shop. Check the kind of warranties the selected shop is giving you in terms of lamp life span and durability of LED lights. The light output declines over time so at some point, though the lamp is technically lit, it is not providing the same effect as intended in the beginning. Market pitching shop owner will seem to claim very high lamp life, while more honest LED shop will opt for the lower numbers. A reasonable lamp life for most LED’s seen in the market is around 50,000 hours but if it is more see what kind of warranties and return policy is in place if the claim is not fulfilled by the seller.
As we can see LED lightings have so many benefits compared to other form of lightings that sooner or later its usage will be common. More widespread use could lead to big energy savings and a revolution in the way we think about lighting. And We at For your Home would be part of these revolution, would you like to join?
You can also read this article in our news and article section at;
http://www.foryourhome.co.uk/led-lightings-lighting-revolution-on-the-way/articles/36.html
History and introduction of LED lightings
LED’s have been around since the 60s, but have mostly been relegated to showing the time in an alarm clock or the battery level of a video camera. Its use as a source of illumination was a challenging one for scientists. Light Emitting Diodes or LED Lightings- differ from traditional light sources in the way they produce light. In incandescent bulbs, a tungsten filament is heated by electric current until it glows or emits light. In a fluorescent lamp, an electric arc excites mercury atoms, which emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation. After striking the phosphor coating on the inside of glass tubes, the UV radiation is converted and emitted as visible light. On other hand LED’s are diodes made from semi-conductor materials. This is why they are referred to as “solid state” devices and relies on indium gallium nitride to convert electricity into photons with help of direct current (DC) instead of alternating current (AC) There are other types of Lights which on the principle of solid state objects like semi conductor but LED’s are the most relevant for general illumination. It consists of a chip of semi-conducting material treated to create an electric circuit. An LED is usually a small area source, often with extra optics added to the chip that shapes its radiation pattern. The specific wavelength or color emitted by the LED depends on the materials used to make the diode. It depends on the composition and condition of the semi conducting material used, and can be infrared, visible, or near-ultraviolet. Red LED’s are based on aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs). Blue LED’s are made from indium gallium nitride (InGaN) and green from aluminum gallium phosphide (AlGaP). “White” light is created by combining the light from red, green, and blue (RGB) LED’s or by coating a blue LED with yellow phosphor. LED based lights are still under development but it is predicted it will radically change the energy consumption patterns of the world over the next few years. As such there’s a phenomenal amount of resources being devoted to improving LED technology worldwide. The U.S. has committed an uncharacteristically large amount of industrial policy support for LED research and development. Asia is a hotbed of cutting-edge manufacturing technology and Europe and Canada have led the way in energy efficient initiatives accompanied by some of some of the most innovative design styles you can find anywhere.
Advantages and disadvantages of LED lightings
They have extremely low power consumption. LED lights use up to 90% less power than normal lights, which has many more advantages than you would ever assume. Firstly electrical running costs are reduced, not only reducing the demand placed on your household energy consumption but feel good knowing you are saving energy and becoming green, the global warming factor. Along the same line, the other major advantage of LED lights is that you can connect multiple sets of LED lights together from only one plug or socket, more sets than non LED lights due to the lower power consumption. This is not only practical resulting in the requirement for less power sockets, but you can lit larger multiple area with little drilling of your walls. Just imagine powering a string of lights ½ mile long from a single electrical socket. With LED’s you can use more light than ever before and still save money. While the small energy draw of LED’s would indicate many more could be strung together, until the UL listing is changed for the standard plug connected light sets, it is prudent to adhere to the current regulations for risk management. Since LED lights don’t contain any energy hungry materials, they are very efficacious-convert energy to light, not heat as non LED’s lights do. These make them intrinsically safe and are generally cool to the touch. LED’s lights can provide with 50,000 hours or more of life, which can tremendously reduce maintenance costs and time. This means, assuming an average twelve hour night, you will not need to change your LED lights after a good eleven year. In comparison, an incandescent light bulb lasts approximately 1,000 hours. Fluorescents are rated for 10,000 hours under ideal conditions. Along with this LED lights are incredibly bright, 3 times brighter than traditional lights, this makes them ideal for a wide range of situations, offering much greater impact and appeal than subdued traditional bulbs. The known problem of replacing blown and the inconvenience and undesired appearance of multiple failed bulbs isn’t an issue with LED’s. With such a long bulb life you can be sure of a fully functioning set of lights, which can be happily left outside requiring no maintenance and minimal routine care. Further mentioning the longevity of LED lights, LED’s are manufactured as one solid piece, with no glass or filaments to break. As such these lights are resistant to shock and vibration, which makes them more durable than non LED lights. Plus they have better quality light output since they have minimum ultraviolet and infrared radiation. LED lights have much greater design freedom in terms of color flexibility including many “whites” – without the use of filters, fully dimmable, new form factors for fixture designs which give us innumerable options to look for. Lastly the most important benefits if you are environment conscious is LED’s unlike Fluorescent and mercury vapor lighting which contains mercury, a hazardous waste to the environment and must be disposed of properly, LED’s don’t contain mercury and are not considered hazardous waste designating them environmental friendly.
Shopping guide for LED lightings
LED lights have started flooding the market but before purchase see to it what are you looking for. LED lights were initially started to be used in commercial environments like entertainment shows, theaters etc. Also, LED lights are already the best light source for traffic signals, vehicular tail lights, emergency lighting and flashlights. Increasingly nowadays, Home LED lightings such as accent wall LED lights, task, landscape and even outdoor LED lighting such as garden Pole LED lightings have arrived in the market. After deciding upon the type of LED lighting, check the prices around various online shop. Price is a hard thing to remain constant since most companies post retail type prices online and are willing to accept your bargain call for bulk purchases. Your best bet is to have a specific LED lighting type in mind and browse through several LED light shop. Check the kind of warranties the selected shop is giving you in terms of lamp life span and durability of LED lights. The light output declines over time so at some point, though the lamp is technically lit, it is not providing the same effect as intended in the beginning. Market pitching shop owner will seem to claim very high lamp life, while more honest LED shop will opt for the lower numbers. A reasonable lamp life for most LED’s seen in the market is around 50,000 hours but if it is more see what kind of warranties and return policy is in place if the claim is not fulfilled by the seller.
As we can see LED lightings have so many benefits compared to other form of lightings that sooner or later its usage will be common. More widespread use could lead to big energy savings and a revolution in the way we think about lighting. And We at For your Home would be part of these revolution, would you like to join?
You can also read this article in our news and article section at;
http://www.foryourhome.co.uk/led-lightings-lighting-revolution-on-the-way/articles/36.html
Contemporary Lighting
Kimberly Quang asked:
Contemporary lighting is growing in popularity. The sophisticated lines and clean designs found in contemporary lighting are becoming more prevalent in today’s homes, as individuals embrace modern styles. This look is especially popular in urban areas, where dwellings are typically smaller. Contemporary lighting is the perfect solution for homes with a limited amount of space. However, contemporary lighting works well within large areas, as well.
Because of the recent surge in popularity, contemporary lighting has moved far beyond the recessed lights of the 1980′s. Although recessed fixtures are still available, there size is considerably smaller than the original bulky devices, which left large holes in the ceiling. More importantly, a vast array of contemporary lighting is now offered with styles ranging from table lamps to pendants. New technologies have emerged that give a whole new meaning to modern design.
Even chandeliers have been given a modern twist. This allows homeowners to create an extremely formal look without sacrificing urban sophistication. Unlike their highly adorned cousins, contemporary chandeliers are simple lighting fixtures that accentuate clean metal lines rather than mountains of dangling baubles. These devices use striking metal frames with geometric angles and incorporate simple clear or frosted shades for a dramatic touch. Other examples have long flowing arms with halogen lights dangling from the tips.
With the addition of light emitting diodes (LED) to the industry, a whole new world of possibilities has evolved. These low voltage lights can be used in areas that would be hazardous with traditional fixtures. LED lights come in a multitude of sizes and shapes. These versatile devices are available in ropes, shaped lamps, and even tiles. From faux candles to glowing eggs, LED lights will pack tons of fun into a contemporary lighting scheme.
Sconces are a rather new item to join contemporary lighting. These fixtures are typically scene in very traditional styles. However, sconces have received a modern look by taking the best of Art Deco styles and giving them a twist. Cylinder and teardrop shaped globes with metal bases containing simple accents are a prime example of combining these two genres for a great modern look. Homeowner’s can now have the convenience of a swing-armed sconce without sacrificing style in the process.
Pendants are an excellent way to add contemporary lighting into a home. There are a variety of colors, shapes and styles offered. Sizes can range from extremely large devices, which are perfect for a grand entryway or dining room to very small options that work well over kitchen bars and bathrooms. Some pendants use halogen lamps, while others take traditional bulbs. The fixtures are extremely versatile. Homeowners can hang them from tracks or individually depending on the desired appearance.
Contemporary fixtures are offered in more styles, shapes, sizes, and materials than ever before. Individuals have the opportunity to find the right look and incorporate it within their home without sacrificing proper illumination. This style provides a clean look that can help make a space appear larger. In addition, many of the fixtures on the market require very little room. In fact, contemporary items, such as LED rope lights can illuminate a home without crowding out the occupants.
The lighting professionals are available to assist homeowners with their questions concerning design and installation. They offer a large selection of products from only quality manufacturers. The forum allows consumers to ask questions regarding their specific needs. An expert in that field will provide a practical solution and direct the individual to appropriate products to achieve the desired result.
Contemporary lighting is growing in popularity. The sophisticated lines and clean designs found in contemporary lighting are becoming more prevalent in today’s homes, as individuals embrace modern styles. This look is especially popular in urban areas, where dwellings are typically smaller. Contemporary lighting is the perfect solution for homes with a limited amount of space. However, contemporary lighting works well within large areas, as well.
Because of the recent surge in popularity, contemporary lighting has moved far beyond the recessed lights of the 1980′s. Although recessed fixtures are still available, there size is considerably smaller than the original bulky devices, which left large holes in the ceiling. More importantly, a vast array of contemporary lighting is now offered with styles ranging from table lamps to pendants. New technologies have emerged that give a whole new meaning to modern design.
Even chandeliers have been given a modern twist. This allows homeowners to create an extremely formal look without sacrificing urban sophistication. Unlike their highly adorned cousins, contemporary chandeliers are simple lighting fixtures that accentuate clean metal lines rather than mountains of dangling baubles. These devices use striking metal frames with geometric angles and incorporate simple clear or frosted shades for a dramatic touch. Other examples have long flowing arms with halogen lights dangling from the tips.
With the addition of light emitting diodes (LED) to the industry, a whole new world of possibilities has evolved. These low voltage lights can be used in areas that would be hazardous with traditional fixtures. LED lights come in a multitude of sizes and shapes. These versatile devices are available in ropes, shaped lamps, and even tiles. From faux candles to glowing eggs, LED lights will pack tons of fun into a contemporary lighting scheme.
Sconces are a rather new item to join contemporary lighting. These fixtures are typically scene in very traditional styles. However, sconces have received a modern look by taking the best of Art Deco styles and giving them a twist. Cylinder and teardrop shaped globes with metal bases containing simple accents are a prime example of combining these two genres for a great modern look. Homeowner’s can now have the convenience of a swing-armed sconce without sacrificing style in the process.
Pendants are an excellent way to add contemporary lighting into a home. There are a variety of colors, shapes and styles offered. Sizes can range from extremely large devices, which are perfect for a grand entryway or dining room to very small options that work well over kitchen bars and bathrooms. Some pendants use halogen lamps, while others take traditional bulbs. The fixtures are extremely versatile. Homeowners can hang them from tracks or individually depending on the desired appearance.
Contemporary fixtures are offered in more styles, shapes, sizes, and materials than ever before. Individuals have the opportunity to find the right look and incorporate it within their home without sacrificing proper illumination. This style provides a clean look that can help make a space appear larger. In addition, many of the fixtures on the market require very little room. In fact, contemporary items, such as LED rope lights can illuminate a home without crowding out the occupants.
The lighting professionals are available to assist homeowners with their questions concerning design and installation. They offer a large selection of products from only quality manufacturers. The forum allows consumers to ask questions regarding their specific needs. An expert in that field will provide a practical solution and direct the individual to appropriate products to achieve the desired result.