By Nick Frisella, Metro Lighting
According to ENERGY STAR the average U.S. household has more than 40 sockets for light bulbs. LED bulbs use 70-90% less energy than incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs also create 70-90% less heat than incandescent which means they are safer to operate and can lower your cooling bill in the summer months. Purchasing energy efficient bulbs may seem scary to some but here are a few things to look for to make your purchase easier.
Color temperature is a characteristic of visible light and is very important when selecting LED. Color temperature is measured using the Kelvin (K) scale. Incandescent lighting has a color temperature of 2700K. It is important to take into account the color temperature of the light source.
Lumens are a stable measurement of light output that will not vary as LED light bulbs continue to get brighter and more energy efficient. LEDs are designed to use less energy. This makes wattage an unreliable way to gauge a light source’s brightness. That takes lumens! An LED’s efficacy is measured by lumens per watt (lm/W).
Remember: Lumens = Brightness whereas Watts = Energy.
ENERGY STAR certification means the product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Look for LED bulbs that have earned the ENERGY STAR label! That means they deliver exceptional features, while using less energy and have been third party tested. Saving energy helps you save money on utility bills and protects the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Metro Lighting is a locally owned and family run business operating since 1967. Metro is active in the community and works with other St. Louis organizations to make St. Louis a better place to live. We have won seven awards from the EPA and DOE for educating and encouraging the sales of ENERGY STAR products. We are experts in our industry!
Metro Lighting is currently offering a two pack of Philips 9.5 watt LED bulbs. The bulbs are dimmable and offer a five-year warranty! According to Philips these bulbs last about 22 times longer than an incandescent and will save you approximately $138 in energy costs over the course of each bulb’s lifetime. The average U.S. household has more than 40 sockets for light bulbs. At $7.95 a two pack you are doing yourself a disservice by not changing to LED. Stop in to any of our six area locations and start saving TODAY!
Learn more online at www.energystar.gov and www.metrolightingcenters.com.