How to get the most out of your LED lighting systems?

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are a boon to the modern society, where people are on a constant lookout to save money on their energy bills. LED lighting systems provide a cost-efficient alternative to the age-old incandescent light bulbs. Many LEDs last up to 50,000 hours. But just like everything else in this world, these systems also require maintenance in order to work efficiently. By performing a few simple tasks on a regular basis, you can ensure that your LEDs last for a long time to come.

Here’s how you can get the most out of your LED lighting systems:

Choose wisely
When investing in LED lighting systems, keep a check on the Lumens, not just the Watts. Watts indicate the amount of energy required to light a bulb. Lumens, however, are a measure of the amount of visible light produced by a bulb. In simple terms, lumens specify the light output. The higher the lumen rating of a bulb, the brighter it will be. Thus, when choosing LED lights, don’t consider ‘Watts’ as the only determining factor, but also look at the lumens. Aim to include such lighting systems at your place which give more lumens per watt.

Cleaning LEDs should be a routine
There is no denying that your home needs a thorough cleanup from time to time. But, we often miss the lights during our cleaning rituals. Thus, to keep your LEDs in a good working condition, clean them regularly. Contact a professional for complete cleaning of lighting units. Cleaning them not just from the outside, but also from the inside will prevent dust and debris from building up. Besides getting brighter, longer-lasting lights, you will also prevent the chances of shortages with regular cleaning of your LED lighting systems.

Bring more natural light into your space
There’s no better experience than living in a home that has adequate access to natural light and fresh air. Bright does become beautiful when it comes to spending your time indoors. When you make way for more natural light to come into your home, you give your LED lights the much-needed rest during the daylight hours. In fact, utilizing the natural light at daytime will help you cut that energy usage significantly. So, every now and then clean your windows and glass doors properly, and allow more light to enter your space.

Don’t forget to inspect the lights regularly
Just like your health needs inspection, your lighting system also needs a proper inspection to ensure its wellbeing. So, make it a habit to conduct regular inspections on your LED systems. You can take a professional’s help to determine any weak points that may be stopping your lighting systems from delivering peak efficiency. Experts will help you know about the components that need immediate fixing or replacement for optimum light emission. LED inspection, thus, should become a part of your monthly home inspection list.

Ensuring the proper maintenance of LEDs isn’t a rocket science. Just a few steps can help you keep your lighting systems in a good working condition. So, follow these quick and easy tips and make your space much brighter and energy-efficient than before.

SMART WAYS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME WITHOUT BURNING MORE ELECTRICITY

Consuming too much of electricity is not only harmful to the earth; but the huge energy bills that it brings along often burn a big hole in our pockets. Switching to some easy changes can help you counter both these issues at once. A house with a lot of natural light flowing inside consumes less power and creates a much more spacious look and feel. And you can easily live in such a house.
So, let’s take a look at some smart ways through which you can achieve a brighter home without burning more electricity:

Don’t neglect the windows

Having large windows at your home will allow a lot of natural light to seep in, keeping the electricity consumption to the minimum. But, what to do in case you have small windows at your place? Well, even then you can get sufficient light from the outside. All that’s required is a few changes. Just avoid placing big or dark colored décor items or furniture near the windows. They may block the light’s path and also give a smaller appearance to the windows. In addition, you can switch those heavy curtains with translucent or thin fabric curtains to make the space a little more brighter. Cleaning the windows regularly helps as well. Plus, it keeps the view great!

Use mirrors smartly

By reflecting light, mirrors increase the brightness in any place. When you place mirrors, you allow light to reach the corners and to other distant areas in a room, making it look brighter and bigger. You can have mirrors on the walls or near the entertainment unit in the living room. A mirror on the wall opposite to the window in the bedroom also makes it appear brighter.

You can even opt for various other glass or reflecting surfaces like mirror embedded wall décor items. Putting up photo frames, clocks and mirror artifacts can also provide you a livelier room with more light. A mirror surfaced coffee table can easily illuminate your seating area with even minimal lighting available.

Stick to neutrals

If you have small rooms, you need more natural light to make it look bigger. Walls with neutral tones of paint reflect light and help you save electricity. Also, avoid adorning the walls with large paintings and hangings that come in dark shades as they absorb the light. Instead, opt for wide frames and light colored décor to give your walls a subtle appeal which complements and accentuates light.

It is a smart idea to have shelves aligned perpendicular to the windows in your home. This makes the windows look bigger, creating an illusion of more light in the room. You can also switch to sleek floating cupboards with a reflective or matte surface to get more shelf area and a brighter ambiance.

Complement the natural lighting with LEDs

It is not always possible to have the ideal brightness from the natural light. This is why you need to complement it with some eco-friendly lighting options which provide more illumination with less energy consumption. You can buy some designer lamps in subtle shades and use LED light bulbs to have adequate lighting with minimal electricity usage. These LED lights are available in different specifications and you can choose the ones that suit your needs the best.
These simple tips help to reduce the consumption of energy and will result in lower energy bills for sure. So, do your bit in saving the environment and go for these smart ways to brighten your home without burning more electricity.

ECO-FRIENDLY WAYS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME

The 21st century has definitely seen a rise in the level of awareness regarding environmental conservation and sustainability. From efficient waste disposal to water conservation, everybody is looking for ways to make sure that the earth stays green.

But, if you are still wondering if switching off the lights when not in use is enough on your part, then think again. There are more things that you can do to not only reduce your electricity bills, but also save energy. 
Here are some eco-friendly ways to brighten your home. With these tips, you can give your house a completely fresh and vibrant appeal, while at the same time reduce energy consumption significantly.

First of all, ditch those old tungsten coil bulbs. The rusty 70s look is not what you want to welcome your guests to. Prefer lighting up your living room with calm lights using LED bulbs. These are not just energy efficient, but also last reasonably longer than the traditional bulbs or CFLs. And the best part is, these go with everything! You can install them on the walls or ceiling, or give a creative touch to your living room with chandeliers.

Eco-friendly Ways to Brighten Your Living Room
These days, LED lamps have also become quite popular as living room accessories. These lamps provide great lighting and perfectly complement the furniture and décor of your living room. Lamps with bright shades go well for an elegant seating area, whereas bright colors blend seamlessly in more upbeat and colorful settings.

Another smart idea to save electricity in your living room is to install glass and mirror items. Such artifacts and accessories refract or reflect light, making the room look brighter and even more spacious than before. Having small lights at separate spots will help you reduce the consumption and get the perfect ambiance for all occasions.

Eco-friendly Ways to Brighten Your Bedroom
The lighting in the bedroom needs to be moderate, to give a cozy and relaxing environment. If you have a large window in your bedroom, consider only 2 or 3 LED bulbs so that you can regulate the brightness during night time. If you want more light during the daytime, then ceiling mount LED would be a great choice.

If you like to read at night, you can have a bedside tabletop or wall mount LED lamp. The table or lamp serves as extra shelf space to keep your books and other small items. Again, these serve as excellent décor accessories as well. If you think that LED lights could be too bright for your bedroom, then you can always choose dimmable LEDs that can create a much more subtle and relaxing ambiance.

Eco-friendly Ways to Brighten Your Study Room

Lighting is a crucial element of a study room or home office. If you spend considerable hours every day in your study or home office, then prefer wall or ceiling mount LEDs instead of the CFLs or tungsten bulbs. If you need lighting only on the desk area, install the bulb right above it or on the wall to the left or right.

The benefits of installing LEDs are many. Choose them to reduce the electricity consumption at your home and to create a bright space. Be smart and help in saving the planet.

DOS & DON’TS OF LED LIGHTING

Changing the wallpaper, bringing new plush carpets, and introducing colorful accents to your home aren’t the only ways to make it look great. When it comes to giving your place a makeover, you can switch to trendy and cost-effective LED lights as well.

Apart from adding a sophisticated look to your home, LED lights are designed to deliver a long term use. Being low on energy consumption, LED lights are the finest energy saving lighting option available at present. But, how can you take good care of these lights to make them last longer? Let’s take a look at some important dos and don’ts of LED lighting.

Here are some Dos and Don’ts of LED Lighting Purchase and Maintenance

Read the label before buying
Different LED lights have different functions. You may make a mistake by opting for a light fixture which doesn’t serve the purpose you choose it for. Thus, make sure you read the labels thoroughly before making an investment. With newer technologies coming every day, you will be glad to find the perfect LED lights for your entire place.

Clean the lights regularly 
Make it a habit to regularly clean your lighting fixtures. Dusting is one of the most common ways to clean LED lights. With a feather duster or a soft dry cloth, gently clean the light fixture without applying too much pressure on the bulb. You can also use essential oils depending on the type of light you wish to clean. If it can be cleaned with an essential oil, then just take 2-3 drops of your preferred oil on a soft, dry cloth and clean the bulb with it. You will get a brighter, scented environment, for sure.

Replace them carefully
Replacing LEDs isn’t a difficult task. However, you still need to be extremely careful while doing so. Begin by switching off the light first. Then remove the old LED light by turning it in an anti-clockwise manner. Clean the holder with a dry cloth to remove any dirt. Take the new LED and place it into the holder. Then, turn it clockwise to lock it in. Always ensure to read the instructions given on the label or manual to know how to replace them correctly.

Don’t use the same type of light for every room
While choosing LED lights for your place, don’t pick the same type of bulb for all the rooms. This is because some rooms require more lighting than the rest of the rooms. There are lights that give more illumination than regular LEDs. And, then there are lights that can be dimmed to give you a relaxed and cozy ambiance. So, pick the right LED lights depending upon the type of illumination you require for different spaces in your home.

Don’t store LED lights recklessly
When the holiday season gets over, you will probably be left with an important task – to store the lights. Do not store your LED lights recklessly. You can use plastic bags to store different lights separately. Or, take cardboard boxes to organize your LED Christmas lights. Cut a rectangular piece of cardboard and wind the light cables around it. You can then store them in a plastic container to keep them safe and secure until next use.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LED FILAMENTS

There is no denying that light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs have changed the world by taking energy-efficient light to every nook and corner. But what are LED filaments? You might have heard of them a number of times before. So, here’s some quick information about these wonder lights.

What are LED filament bulbs?
By slowly phasing out the traditional incandescent bulbs, LEDs have gained a lot of popularity in the past few decades. However, like any technology LED also needed further development, and so came in LED filament bulbs. LED filaments are bulbs that use LEDs to emit light, but are designed in such a way that they resemble an incandescent light bulb. Such bulbs have four LED filaments, one in each direction. So, unlike a normal LED light bulb that provides light in a specific area, an LED filament bulb spreads light evenly in all directions.

What are the benefits of using LED Filaments?
With an amazing lifespan and a promise to cut energy costs all over the world, LEDs have become all the rage in the present time. But, what are some key benefits that the users can experience by switching to LED filaments?

Let’s take a look at few of the benefits that LED filament bulbs have to offer.

• First things first, these bulbs give that classic incandescent lamp appearance – a great choice for places that demand retro style lighting for one of its kind magnificence.
• They need smaller heat sinks, which means more light exposure with light being emitted at full 360º.
• Those who like a more natural looking appearance from their lighting fittings, these are the bulbs to go for LED filament bulbs are much more energy efficient than even the traditional LED bulbs.
• These emit warm white color temperatures to 2200K, which makes them a sought-after lighting option in this day and age.
• Many LED filament bulbs come with the dimmable feature which is generally preferred by modern-day homeowners.
• These are available in a variety of shapes like candle bulb, squirrel cage, mini-globe, globe, and so on, giving the users a great option to pick the lighting fixtures that suit their home décor the best.

With so much to offer, LED filament bulbs have become a great choice for lighting in the hospitality industry. So, apart from homes that wish to create a warm, cozy space, there are many types of commercial establishments as well that are switching to LED filament bulbs gradually.

Places that require a warm, comfortable lighting environment can be illuminated with these bulbs for natural looking radiance while saving a significant amount of money spent on those huge energy bills, as these bulbs have brilliant energy efficiency. In point of fact, these provide up to 90 percent energy savings if compared to the age-old, regular incandescent light bulbs.

From hotels to restaurants, bars, shops, cafes, and supermarkets, there are many places where LED filaments would work great. No matter what, the applications for LED lighting technology have been increasing with every passing day, thanks to the inventions like LED filaments. And, with so many benefits to deliver, LED filament bulbs are here to stay for a long time to come.

5 SMART TRENDS TO WATCH IN COMMERCIAL LIGHTING

Do you want to improve the lighting at your commercial establishment, while controlling the operational costs? If so, then the world of commercial lighting has some great innovations for you to explore.
No matter whether you own a big or small facility, chances are high that you are looking for some smart ways that can help you save more on your electricity costs. By switching to cost-effective and energy-efficient Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs, you take the smartest step towards optimizing the lighting system at your commercial establishment.

Over the past few years, LED lighting has introduced some incredible trends in commercial lighting that are quickly becoming a rage across the globe. Let’s take a look at some of these trends:

• Connected Lighting Systems (CLS)
  While switching to LEDs for optimal lighting is a wise decision that every facility manager must make; it is not enough. Move to “connected lighting” to combine your LEDs with intelligence. From hue adjustment to web control and even smartphone access, connected lighting has redefined lighting with features like these. With LED light points that are connected and managed wirelessly, commercial establishment managers can personalize and optimize lights from anywhere, at any time.

• Interactive Lighting Projections
  Why just have a simple LED light, when your light has the power to do a lot more than just illuminating the place? Make way for a revolutionary technology called interactive lighting that is slowly changing the way businesses use lights. You can transform the entire environment with interactive projections that let people interact with light. These lights can imitate the natural environment and can even transform as per mood. In hospitals, large screens can display a waterfall or serene, beautiful mountains to help the patients relax. In malls, these lights can be changed as per the moods of the customers, to help them have a better shopping experience.

• Advanced Controls 
  Another amazing commercial lighting trend to watch out for is LED that comes with built-in controls like integration daylight sensors, motion sensors, etc. Setting the ambient light with a threshold will turn off the lights in a smarter way. So, when nobody’s around, these lights can turn off and on without anyone’s instructions. Talk about smart lights, and LEDs seem to have really changed the game!

• Minimalist LEDs 
  For those who want to have chic, neat lighting at their premises, minimalist LED is a perfect choice. With simple, sleek design, and minimal details, these lights can subtly brighten any commercial facility in no time. Spaces that need a clean and clutter-free look, should opt for these lights that are smart, truly functional, and energy-efficient as well.

•   Smart Glass
  Another brilliant technology in the world of LED lighting is smart glass. Smart glass can give you total control over the amount of LED light   you wish to have at your place. It can adjust the level of light that enters from the outside, through windows. With this invention, commercial   building owners can choose the exact level of sunlight that they want to pass through the windows at their facilities. As a matter of fact, these  glasses can also control temperature levels – giving you an all-in-one solution for your commercial energy needs.