Ditch the halogens – LED downlights generally use five to eight times less power and up to 10 times less. Tim says. Photo: lucijak1.
If you’re still using halogen downlights, you’re paying for it — literally.
These outdated bulbs are nowhere near as efficient as their modern LED counterparts, and the difference is glaring.
The good news is that swapping them out is easier, cheaper and more beneficial than you might think.
“It’s a straight swap over from halogens to LEDs – it’s not invasive and doesn’t require any kind of renovations to your ceilings,” True Connection Electrical director Tim Middleton says.
Many reasons make switching to LEDs a bright idea, but the most obvious is the power usage comparisons.
“LED generally use five to eight times less power, and up to 10 times less,” Tim says.
“Over time, the savings on your energy bills stack up.”
Not all LED lights are created equal, but assuming you choose a good quality product, this contemporary alternative to halogen is significantly more economical over its lifetime.
“At a high level, LED lights can often last 10-plus years without needing to touch them, while halogen lights will have multiple globe and transformer changes in that same period,” Tim says.
“The transformers – a critical component – are far superior in LEDs and more reliable.
A straight switch from halogen to LED downlights not only looks better but is much more energy efficient. Photo: True Connection Electrical.
LEDs quite literally outshine halogens as well.
Tim says they’re the best product for illuminating older houses that can have poor natural light penetration.
“Not only do they look better, but you get much better light coverage,” he says.
“LEDs provide lots of alternatives for your lighting – it doesn’t have to be a straight downlight-for-downlight swap. For example, you can swap your old oyster or batten fix fittings for four downlights, providing better light coverage and a more modern aesthetic and feel to the interior of your home.”
Aside from the fiscal and aesthetic virtues of LEDs compared to halogens, Tim shines a light on the perhaps lesser-known safety benefits.
Namely, LEDs produce less heat and, therefore, pose less of a fire risk than their halogen counterparts.
“Halogens can actually run quite hot and have been the source of house fires,” Tim says.
“If you want to know the difference, suffice it to say that certain types of LEDs can be fully covered by insulation, but halogens can’t because of the fire risk associated with high levels of heat on the insulation material. In fact, if you’re installing or replacing insulation today, and you have halogen downlights, it’s basically a requirement that you switch to LEDs.”
For more information, contact True Connection Electrical.
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