Living.ca has the best selection of LED bulbs for your next lighting project. In this guide, we intend to lay out what you need to know about lighting to choose the right bulb for the job.
Wattage is important for picking the right bulb. Watts is the measurement of power required to light the bulb, traditionally ranging from 40-120W. Fixtures also have a maximum wattage, the most amount of energy it can draw before being considered a fire hazard. Luckily, this is of little concern when shopping for LED bulbs, since LEDs function at a fraction of the wattage of incandescent lights.
Lumens is the measurement of brightness of any given light. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light. Typically, low level lumens are appropriate for lighting living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways, while high level lumens are best for kitchens, bathrooms, larger spaces and reading. The more lumens a bulb has, the closer it is to natural sunlight.
Shape is an important indicator of the type of lightbulb you’re working with. Different fixtures require different shapes, and sometimes will not function with an incorrectly shaped bulb. Common shapes are round and spiral, but there are also drop shaped, globe shaped, and tubes, to name a few.
The life expectancy of the lightbulb must be considered as well. Living.ca sells only the best lightbulbs with the greatest lifespans. Traditional incandescent bulbs usually last only a year or so, whereas LED lights can last anywhere between two-and-a-half to twenty years, with about 15000 hours of lighting per bulb, lasting through around 50000 switch cycles.
Colour temperature, measured in Kelvins (K), indicates the overall colour emitted from the bulb. Warm white, which appears yellowish in tone, is considered 2700-3000K; neutral, or bright white, considered cooler in colour, measures in at around 3500-4500K; and 5000K, which is bluer or whiter than any other temperature, is considered daylight or cool light.
There are other factors to consider as well, such as the energy cost of the bulb, usually printed on the outside of the package, indicating what you can expect to pay for the annual operation or total lifespan of the light. LED lights are the most cost efficient, because they are the most energy efficient lightbulbs.
Lastly, you must consider the mercury content of the bulb. LED lightbulbs contain no mercury, making them easy to throw away. But most Compact Fluorescents (CFLs) contain mercury, making them challenging to recycle or dispose of.
After matching the bulb to your fixture, you’re ready to place an order. Save time, live better, with Living.ca.