Dayton Idea Book February 2023

WHAT TYPE OF BULB SHOULD I GET?
Picture a basic lightbulb. You know, the small one with the wires you
can see that you’re used to sticking in your table lamps. That’s an incandescent
lightbulb. Tried and true, it’s the base model of lightbulbs and
provides the gold standard of light.
The American Lighting Association (ALA) names three additional types of
lightbulbs to choose from:
Halogen incandescent
CFL (Compact fluorescent)
• Halogen incandescent – This bulb is very similar to the traditional
incandescent bulb, as it’s part of the same incandescent family, but is
more efficient than its traditional counterpart, using up to 30 percent
less energy.
• CFL (Compact Fluorescent) - The CFL bulb is more efficient still than
the halogen incandescent, using up to 75 percent less energy than the
traditional incandescent lightbulb, but its use is expected to decline due
to the growing popularity of LEDs.
• LED - Today, the LED bulb is the most efficient, longest lasting, and
often the most suitable type of bulb for home lighting. The new models
look very similar to traditional bulbs. These bulbs tend to have a slightly
higher upfront cost, given their energy efficiency, but that cost is mitigated
by their very long life.
Now that we can identify the different bulbs, we can continue with
other criteria to use in selecting the right bulb for you.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A LIGHTBULB?
When you look at a box of lightbulbs, you will see a series of numbers
along the bottom. Believe it or not, all these numbers actually mean
something, and understanding them will greatly help you choose the right
bulb!
The next time you pick up a pack of lightbulbs, check the box for the
following:
• Lumens: How bright is the bulb?
• Color: Is the light from the bulb a warm 2700K or a cool 4000K?
• CRI: Does the bulb render colors beautifully? 80+ is good, 90+ is great!
• Dimmable: Can I use the bulb with a dimmer switch?
LED
WHAT’S A LUMEN?
Traditionally, lightbulbs were measured using wattage, which measures
the amount of energy a lightbulb uses. But this is not an entirely accurate
unit of measurement now, especially since bulbs take up less energy than
ever before. For example, an 80W lightbulb does not inherently mean
double the amount of light as a 40W lightbulb.
Instead, we should use lumen, which measures a bulb’s brightness. For
space lighting, anywhere from 450 to 1,600 lumens could do the trick, but
for cozy, reading lighting, you would probably look for less brightness, and
therefore, less lumens. It all depends on your space. ➻
54 housetrends.com