Bulbs: Replacing the 100-watt

As of January 1, 2012, traditional 100-watt incadedescent lightbulbs have been phased out- but don't panic. There are comparable replacements already on the market. Here's how to make a choice that's best for your home, your budget, and your spaces:

Want to get a jump on extending the life of your lightbulbs and saving energy? Look for these lumens on your lightbulb label:

So.. Are you ready to switch your light bulbs? ... Yes, No, Maybe?  Do you still have questions?...Then feel free to ask your question in the comments section below; we would love to answer it!

 

Learning LED Language: The New ABC of Lighting

Technology is evolving more and more every day. Emails, text messages, mobile applications, and tablets have become part of our lives and new way of living. Checking emails from our cell phone, text messaging our friends, and searching for our favorite restaurants around the area using a mobile application has become a daily routine. The reality is that we are living in a global world lead by technology and is moving forward every day more and more.

This new evolving technology has caused many industries to begin creating products and services that can be adapted to this new life trend; being able to satisfy a very demanding consumer generation.

The lighting industry is one of the industries that have evolved enormously in the last few years, developing a new technology that has changed completely the concept of illumination.

Boring lighting fixtures and regular light bulbs have already become part of the past, and LEDs have become the new language of light.

Lumens, watts, correlated color temperature, and color rendering index are some of the terms we constantly hear when we visit a lighting showroom or when we read a light bulb label; but do we really understand what these terms mean? Are we really familiar with the new lighting language?

Today, let’s learn about the new language of light.

What are Lumens?

LUMENS = THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT PRODUCED. IT MEASURES BRIGHTNESS.

Lumens measure brightness. The higher the number, the more light is emitted.

For years, we have bought light bulbs based on watts, believing that more watts is more light. The truth is that wattage only tells us how much energy a bulb uses; so it’s no longer a reliable source to determine a light bulb’s glow.

What about Watts then...

WATTS = AMOUNT OF ENERGY USED.

The lower the wattage, the less energy used.

Lumens = brightness
Watts = energy


CORRELATED COLOR TEMPERATURE (CCT) = MEASURES LIGHT COLOR. The warmer or yellow the light is, the lower the color temperature, and the more bluish the light, the higher the temperature. Color temperature is measured in kelvins.

“Cool” colors have higher Kelvin temperatures (3600-5500 K)


“Warm” colors have lower color temperatures (2700-3500 K)

COLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI) = MEASURES COLOR ACCURACY. Any number higher than 80 is considered acceptable, so make sure to check this number when reading a light bulb label.

Ok... Now we have reviewed all these different terms, and there is no excuses for not getting an LED light bulb. We are absolutely sure that these terms won’t look awkward to you anymore...But if you still have questions and need a detailed answer, come in to our showrooms, Farrey’s experts are here to help you to choose your right LED light!

Difference between incandescent, CFL, and LED lights

Let’s hear Farrey’s Lighting & Bath experts!

Incandescent
This is the traditional lighting that most people are used to. However, it is inefficient and more costly to use than other types of light. It is made up of thin filaments that are heated as an electric current passes through them. The filaments are inside a glass bulb that is filled with inert gas. As they heat, they produce a glow that creates the light. The lifespan is usually only 1,500 hours.

CFL
CFL stands for compact fluorescent light or lamp. This is really a modified form of the fluorescent lamp. It is made up of a glass-filled tube, sometimes referred to as a bulb, and magnetic or electronic ballast. The CFL uses a very small amount of mercury, which can be very hazardous and present disposal problems. They also tend to be more sensitive to extreme temperatures and humidity. The lifespan is 10,000 hours.

LED
LED stands for light emitting diodes. These lights started out as indicator lights for electronic devices. They are actually quite small. It takes a grouping of them to create a bulb. Because they are so energy efficient, they are becoming more popular. The lights tend to be slightly less bright than other types of lights. However, the efficiency and durability is the trade-off.

Costs & Energy
On the surface, the incandescent light bulb wins the competition with the CFL and the LED. The incandescent costs a lot less that a CFL or a LED. However, an electrician will point out that there is more to this than the cost of the bulb. Energy consumption and the life of the bulb must be considered.
The incandescent uses more energy than either the CFL or LED. Also, keep in mind the lifespan. You would be buying incandescent light bulbs more frequently than with CFLs or LEDs.

As a result, CFLs and LEDs are popular recommendations for electricians. Though they have a greater upfront cost, the energy efficiency and lifespan make them more economical.

Visit Farrey's Lighting & Bath for more information. www.farreys.com

Calling All Old Fluorescent Bulbs....

The light bulb counter at Farrey's is now offering a recycling program for your old CFL's. It is completely free, all you have to do is come by with your old CFL's and Farrey's will take care of the rest.

Why? Because if your going to go green.. you got to do it right.

You should not throw old CFL's in the garbage. This can release mercury into the environment. The amount of mercury in a CFL is low, however it is important to properly recycle old bulbs so that the mercury can be recovered rather than let out in the atmosphere.

Why use CFL's?

Compact Fluorescent Lamps effectively reduce energy consumption and prevent greenhouse gas emissions. They help to reduce our global footprint, and help to curb global climate change.

CFL's use about 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and the light quality has significantly improved since the CFL's were introduced. CFL's also emit significantly less amounts of heat than traditional bulbs.

If every home in the U.S. replaced just one traditional light bulb with a CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, save over 600 million in energy costs, and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions to the amount equivalent to more than 700,000 cars.