What are the Benefits of LED Downlights?

This week, Plateau’s electricians in the Northern Beaches share some of the fantastic benefits of LED downlights in your home.

The type of lighting you have plays a key role in determining the atmosphere in a certain room in your home.

Good lighting also supports the specific tasks that take place in that room.

As part of your lighting design and installation projects, you’ll need to consider the specific types of globes as well as their position throughout your home, in order to achieve a lighting system that meets you and your family’s needs.

One lighting solution we’re particularly fond of here at Plateau Electrical is LED downlights.

LED downlights are the latest, most modern type of lighting fixtures that can bring great comfort to your home. They also have a ton of benefits – they’re cost-effective, energy- efficient, and versatile.

So as you might be able to tell, we love LED lights.

We’re passionate about introducing this modern solution to all types of homes, particularly older ones with outdated lighting systems.

So, let’s get into it: these are some of the best benefits of LED lighting.

To learn more about LED lighting in the Northern Beaches, contact Plateau Electrical today. Our skilled electricians can visit you on-site in your home, assessing your current lighting system and helping you understand how you can make the switch to LED!

First thing’s first, though: what are LED downlights?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. These globes are a semiconductor light source, meaning they emit light when a current flows through them which releases photon energy.

Think of a downlight as a spotlight – and depending on the beam angle, you can typically achieve a light spread between 30º and 90º.

As such, most rooms will require more than one downlight – and by understanding the beam angle and taking room size into account, you can start to see how important the design phase is!

LED downlights can sit fully flushed with the ceiling (this is called recessed) or semi-flushed, which means there is a gap between the ceiling and the light (though these lights do not sit as low as decorative or pendant lighting.)

Are LED downlights worth it?

In a word: yes!

But let’s break it down.

Lighting accounts for 12% of Australia’s energy output (and 25% in commercial settings!)

That’s why it’s worth being particular about the lights you choose for your home. You’re paying for the power, after all!

There are many advantages to LED downlights. Our expert LED downlight specialists in Sydney go into detail about the major advantages so that you can understand why LED lighting might be the perfect solution in your home.

What are the biggest advantages of LED lights?

1) LEDs are energy-efficient – they last longer AND are cheaper to run

It’s simple: LED lights are more energy efficient compared to their older counterparts, such as halogen lights, fluorescent lights, and incandescent lights.

LED downlights use around 85% less energy than halogen or incandescent bulbs, and 30% less than compact fluorescent lights.

That in itself is a massive sell!

But there’s more: in 2009, the Federal Government introduced a phasing out scheme for any old, inefficient, light bulbs in homes and commercial buildings, in replacement of energy saving LED light globes.

2) LEDs reduce energy consumption which translates to saving money!

Speaking of the phase out scheme, it is estimated to save the average household $70 a year, with a national savings estimate of a staggering $5.5 billion!

The maths is simple: using less energy means you save more money by having a lower utility bill each month. And that’s something we can all get excited about.

Cheap light bulbs are cheap for a reason – they don’t last long. And the word cheap seems to lose some of its appeal when you’re replacing these globes way too often.

LED downlight installation saves you money in the long-term by using less energy and thus helping you enjoy lower power bills and a lighting solution designed to last 50 times longer than a standard incandescent globe.

How long should a LED downlight last?

The figures are pretty astounding: incandescent globes have an average lifespan of 1000 hours, while LED light bulbs can last between 25,000 to 50,000 hours.

That means if you used an LED light for 8 hours a day in your home, it could last up to 17 years!

3) How does LED lighting help the environment?

Being kinder to our planet is a growing conscious choice for the average Aussie. Using LED downlights can significantly reduce your carbon footprint as they use less energy than traditional globes. This means less coal is burned to generate electricity, resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Additionally, LED light bulbs have a longer lifespan, which reduces the frequency of replacements and ultimately, the amount of waste that is generated.

With LED, you can minimise your impact on the environment while enjoying the benefits of energy-efficient and long-lasting lighting.

4) LEDs are safer than older globes

LED downlights are safer than other types of globes.

One reason is because since they use less energy, LED lights produce much less heat. This means LED lights are less likely to start fires when they come into contact with other objects.

Unlike other light bulbs such as CFLs, LED downlights also do not contain mercury which can create health risks, especially if they burst.

5) LED lighting systems are customisable

LED downlights come in a variety of styles that you can choose according to which room they’ll be in and what you do in the room.

As we touched on above, the beam angle describes the angle at which light will be dispersed from a single LED globe.

Most LED downlights have a beam angle of 45°, but there are options for beams as small as 30º through to wider beams up to 90º.

Compare this to a regular bulb hanging from your ceiling that would have a 360° beam angle. Light will be dispersed throughout the whole room, however it will not be consistent, as spaces further away from the light source will be less clear.

The smaller the beam angle, the more concentrated the light. So if we consider the activity under the space, it can be more desirable to have a smaller beam angle for tasks in the kitchen, such as preparing food.

The amount of LED downlights you have in each room can change the look and feel of the room.

Bedrooms, on the other hand, do not typically require concentrated task lighting; a larger beam angle can create a more comfortable and relaxed atmosphere here.

Having multiple downlights gives a warm ambience, which you can’t get from having one globe in a room that disperse light throughout it from a single source.

Plateau Electrical in the Northern Beaches can help you discover the power of LED

Choose a professional, experienced electrician like Plateau Electrical to help you select the ideal LED downlights for your home, ensuring a warm, bright space perfect for your family!

Plateau’s qualified team of professionals offers an extensive range of domestic services, from electrical fault finding through to smoke alarm installation and replacement.

Searching for a local electrician near you? Discover the Plateau difference: Call us on (02) 9982 8668 or fill out this form and we’ll get back to you soon!

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