Greetings to all who share the wisdom of feng shui!
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
With your new vocabulary from our previous discussions, you are now ready to embrace the new generation of light bulbs. If you browse through the LED section at Home Depot, you will find yourself at the leading edge of the future of lighting. You will be gazing at light bulbs that look like projectiles from science fiction. We project that the science of lighting will make incandescents and CFLs obsolete as we move steadily into the future of LEDs.
Since LEDs are designed to last 10 years or more and give you 25,000 to 50,000 hours of light, it is imperative that we get it right to begin with by choosing a bulb that has the proper lumens for our purpose with the most desirable color temperature (K) and the correct color rendering (CRI). Trying them out is not an option since LEDs are still very expensive although prices have come down from the initial $35 – $50 for one light bulb. With increased usage and improved manufacturing, LEDs will become less expensive, and CFLs will have been just an interim phase in the evolution of light bulbs.
The good news is that LEDs use significantly less electricity than other bulbs – 85% less than incandescents and 35% less than CFLs. The savings can be substantial as is the case for a Chicago art gallery that used to spend $7000 annually illuminating their art work.
I am now looking at the packaging and label of a new LED light bulb which gives me the following information:
- Symbols and icons indicate that this bulb can be used for desk lamps, wall sconces, fan lights and ceiling fixtures.
- The shape is similar to traditional bulbs and conforms to the standard size of A19
- With 429 lumens it is a bright white light that uses 9 watts of energy
- This bulb will give you 50,000 hours and last for 46 years based on 3 hours of usage per day.
- This light is an 85 on the Color Rendering Index (CRI) with a Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of 3000K.
- The package clearly indicates that the light bulb is dimmable and for indoor use only.
We feel that it is crucial to read all the information and compare various products since misuse can result in dangerous consequences. We will discuss warning labels and other hazards in our next newsletter, therefore, please stay tuned to Pyramid Feng Shui in June.
An interesting example of the future of lighting will be the transformation of the plaza in front of the Metropolitan Museum in New York as reported in the New York Times:
”New LED lighting will make a striking difference in the plaza at night. The museum’s façade is currently illuminated by floodlights across the street, an approach that uses a great deal of power and makes for lighting that the architects describe as overly harsh. They will be replaced with energy-efficient lights mounted on the museum’s façade, as well as angled up-lights on the sidewalk. They will have dimmers and be programmed to enhance the architectural ornaments of the building … nothing gaudy … just majestic.”
Visit Home Depot’s LED Display
With Info from Pyramid Feng Shui!