groar's lighting thread

[groar]

Since years, we are replacing bulbs by CFL. A few months ago we tried a few LED. I was then curious to know how much we were saving by year.

I developed a little spread sheet, accessible here :
http://www.groar.org/EcoRenovator/lighting/

Warning, I developed it under OpenOffice and the xls format is from an export, so I don't know if it works.

To use it :

• In F1 enter cost of 1 kWh
• For each location (row from 5 to 19), enter :
  • number of bulbs (column B)
  • number of Watts of each bulb (column C)
  • number of Watt of equivalent standard bulb (column D)
  • number of Watt of previous bulb if any (column E - optional)
  • number of hours the bulb is light on by day (column F)

Results :

• For each location :
  • Total cost by year (column G)
  • Total saving by year (column H)
• Total cost by year (G21)
• Total saving by year (H21)
• Percentage of saving (H22)

Sorry, as I don't have cost of CFL of LED, I can't calculate time of return on investment and didn't developed this feature.

You may conclude that lighting saving isn't worth the investment, but remember that if everybody implement that then this is a lot of saving and delayed new power plant constructions, giving more chance to renewable plants.

In a few days I should add some pictures in this thread.

Have fun,

Denis.

[groar]

We have a few LED in the house. They are 1.4w each. The facts are they don't light a lot (may be corresponding to a 6w bulb each) and they have a directional lightning, but they are interesting when you need few light.

We can imagine using LED over a desk per example. Today I don't think it's possible to use LED where 60w equiv. lightning is needed.

As said in another thread, we are using LED in two places : bathroom and baby's room.

1. The bathroom
   We replaced 2x40w + 1x30w (=110w) of classic bulbs by 3x1.4w (=4.2w) LED, ie a 96% saving If more light is needed the ceiling has a 12w CFL (60w equiv.).
   
   
2. The baby's room
   The blue LED permits a very calm ambient, avoiding people to be awakened by the light when the baby is going to sleep or when he must be changed or fed during the night. It replaces a 35w classic bulb, ie also a 96% saving If more light is needed the ceiling has a 8w CFL (35w equiv.), which is a bit too weak from time to time.
   

Denis.

[SVOboy]

Looks pretty good in the bathroom. What kind of lights did you replace?

[groar]

We are using CFL nearly everywhere. Several kind of CFL exist :

• The classic CFL emit a "standard" artificial light. May be noted 2700°K on package.
• The "daylight" CFL emit a light closer to natural light. Usually noted 6500°K on package.
• The spot CFL emit a narrow light, as classic spots.

Here are several examples :

1. The classic CFL (2700°K)
   This one is a classic CFL consuming 21w (100w equiv.) and is replacing a classic 100w bulb, ie 79% saving.
   
2. The "daylight" CFL (6500°K)
   This one is a "daylight" CFL consuming 20w (100w equiv.) and is replacing a classic 100w bulb, ie 80% saving.
   We are thinking about changing a few classic CFL with "daylight" CFL.
   
   
3. The "daylight" spot CFL (6500°)
   The spots CFL are 9w (39w equiv.) and replacing 50w spots, ie 82% saving even if these are less efficient than other CFL. These spots CFL are "daylight" so even if the light is a little bit weaker (136w equiv. instead of 200w), the light quality is better.
   
   

Denis.

[groar]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Looks pretty good in the bathroom. What kind of lights did you replace?

Some classic spots, let by previous owners.

We never used them as 110w directly into the eyes are too much at any time.

Denis.

[Daox]

Where did you get your LED spotlights in the bath? How many lumens are they rated for?

I have about seven par20 lights (currently 50w halogen) in my Kitchen and would love to replace them with something efficient. However, they are on a dimmer, and I can't find any CFLs in par20 that are dimmable. Are most LEDs dimmable? I'm thinking they probably aren't.

[groar]

Originally Posted by Daox

Where did you get your LED spotlights in the bath? How many lumens are they rated for?

Bought in local store. The LED are xanlite. See ref. ALE21 in this French PDF.

About lumens, there was no more data on the package than in this PDF. My eyes say these LED are equivalent to a classic 6w bulb, but the light is directional so it's more intense in the pencil of rays.

I have about seven par20 lights (currently 50w halogen) in my Kitchen and would love to replace them with something efficient. However, they are on a dimmer, and I can't find any CFLs in par20 that are dimmable. Are most LEDs dimmable? I'm thinking they probably aren't.

In France if the bulb, CFL, LED... isn't dimmable then a symbol must be present on the package. I don't remember having seen this symbol on the LED's package, but I may be wrong... I don't have any dim to test a LED.

After a quick search on Internet, and if I understand correctly, LED are dimmable but doesn't reply linearly to the dimmer.

Denis.

[toyobug]

noticable difference between the natural and classic CFL's.
Not sure which one I'd prefer. suggestions anyone?

[Daox]

It all depends on the color of the rooms IMO. If you want a room to appear warmer you go with the normal light. If you want a room to appear cooler go with the sunlight kind. Also, the sunlight kind are supposed to reduce the effects of seasonal depression. However, they usually cost more too.

[toyobug]

good insight..thanks Daox.
What kind of $$ difference are you talkin?