LED lights are leading the charge for efficient electrical products and the competition isn't even close. However, when it comes to sales and current lighting installations chances are most homes have halogen lighting as it was the efficiency leader for many many years and a cheaper alternative to more costly LED lights. However, halogen lights may be cheaper upfront they are costing you more in the long run. In this blog, we will touch on how these lights work and what are the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Halogen Lighting
Halogen downlights have been the most common style of light for many many years and are still very common in older homes as they are cheap to install and replace. But how do they work?
Halogen lights use a tungsten filament encased in a glass bulb filled with argon, nitrogen gas, or a combination of the two. These gases allow for the tungsten filament to heat up more than it could if it was in the open air. As the filament heats up it will release photons or light. This heat however is a drawback of a halogen light as it means that a large portion of the energy going into the light is being wasted through heat instead of producing light making these lights rather energy-hungry and inefficient and at a higher risk of starting a fire. One major benefit of halogen lights though and why they are still very common is that they are some of the cheapest lights on the market when compared to the more expensive LED lights. Halogen lights are also far more brittle when compared to LED lights as they need to be encased in glass that is easily cracked if dropped or hit whereas LED lights can be encased in much harder plastic that is drop and hit-resistant allowing for better longevity. All in all, Halogen make decent lighting solutions for older homes that already have them installed but if you are after savings on your next energy bill LED lights are for you.
LED Lighting
LED or Light Emitting Diodes are the modern more efficient alternatives taking the lighting market by storm. Unlike a halogen light that heats up a filament for light LEDs, the electrical current runs through a semiconductor to generate light. This light produces 80% less heat than a filament or halogen bulb and is 75% more efficient. This can lead to savings of up to 50 dollars per bulb over ten years in which time you would have gone through buckets full of filament lights. LED lights last up to ten times longer than filament lights and instead of just blowing one day the lights’ output will slowly degenerate giving you more time to get a replacement and not leaving you in the dark. On top of this as LEDs last longer it greatly reduces wastage as one LED could last as long as several halogen lights keeping them out of landfills and reducing your environmental footprint. LEDs also come in a wide range of colours letting you have colder sterile white lights over prep areas where you need them and warmer orange hues in living and dining areas to set the mood.
So in the end it's safe to say LEDs are the better alternative they are not only better for the planet but they will save you in power bills and the hassle of replacing lightbulbs each year. Don't wait around wondering what an electrician might quote you to replace your home's downlights with LEDs as First Call Electrical Services offers upfront downlight replacements. Our team offer replacements starting at $78.38 per light to change your light around. Our team are renowned for our excellent service with over 250 five-star reviews on Google you can trust our team. Don't wait to purchase your LED replacements and our team will organise a time that suits you.