Decoration and LED Home Lighting
(Forwarded from www.kutop.com)
LEDs have been hailed as the “next big thing” in lighting by designers, and now they’re finally beginning to catch on with homeowners, thanks to their very impressive energy efficiency stats. Yes, they do hold a lot of promise, but this is not another article aiming to convince you to trade your existing incandescent bulbs for LED replacements, which are prohibitively expensive—for the time being, anyway. Instead, I’ll highlight some ways you can incorporate LED fixtures into your green home renovation project without having to wait years to recoup your investment.
LED Lighting Basics
Light Emitting Diodes offer several benefits: they burn cool and emit a clean, colorless light that is similar to natural daylight. Not to mention the energy savings: they are rated to last anywhere from 35,000 to 200,000 hours (or more like, years), compared to the measly 1,000 hours that incandescents burn or 8,000 for compact fluorescents. LEDs also use between 80-90% less energy than an incandescent fixture.
That said, they definitely have their cons, too. They are expensive, and they tend to be directional and therefore too dim to light large spaces. These qualities alone are enough to deter many homeowners; however, by carefully choosing your LED lighting applications, you’ll never be left in the dark…or at least a dimly lit space.
Practical LED Applications at Home
Rather than trying to light your entire living room with LEDs, consider starting small with one of these lighting applications:
- Task and reading lights
- Stairway lighting
- Closet lighting
- Recessed lighting
- Linear strips
- Accent lighting
- Outdoor lighting
- Holiday lights
Although some people like the clean, white light that LEDs emit, others prefer the familiar yellow tinge of incandescents. However, with a little design manipulation, LEDs can provide a similar, home-y effect. For example, if you install LED cove lighting, paint your ceiling a warm shade. The cool white of the LEDs will reflect and diffuse, resulting in a warmer light. LEDs are actually available in a range of colors, such as red, blue, green and amber, so consider incorporating one of these shades into your accent lighting scheme.
Since they are so ‘directional,’ LEDs really shine when it comes to task lighting. Use an LED lamp or two to illuminate your work surface and reduce your reliance on overhead lighting. Another great application for LEDs is stair lighting. Install an inexpensive LED stair lighting kit (they are available with motion sensors for around $50) to guide you down safely in the middle of the night, and also because it makes your stairwell look really cool. LEDs work well in hallways or other spaces in which directional light is adequate.
Inexpensive LED rope lights are extremely versatile. Not only do they make great holiday decorations, but you can use them year-round above your kitchen cabinets or bookcases to cast a soft glow on the wall and ceiling. Recessed LED lights are another good kitchen lighting option, such as Cree Lighting’s LED downlights.
So, the bottom line is that LEDs have a long way to go before you can change all of your fixtures. For most of us, it just doesn’t make sense to purchase a $40+ bulb that might not even burn bright enough. For now, think small and experiment with these LED lighting applications. You’ll still save money, and once LED technology improves—or the next big thing in lighting comes along—you won’t hesitate to make the switch.
Buy LED lamp from Factory Direct Store http://www.led-online.cn
