Before the invention of LED light fixtures, most people would replace their traditional lighting by comparing wattages. However, with the rise of LED bulbs, wattage is an unreliable method of understanding the LEDs’ strength. 

To get the appropriate LED light, you must look at the lumen output instead of the wattage. If you are swapping out traditional lighting with an LED, you might not know which is the right equivalent to your traditional lamps. 

For more information about lumen output, here is everything you need to know about LED equivalent wattages against traditional lighting. 

How Does Energy Efficient Lighting Work?

Before we discuss the LED equivalent wattages against traditional lighting, it is important to look at what energy efficient lights are and how they work. By understanding how these luminaries work, we can see why a lumen value is the best way of measuring an LED’s strength. 

Energy efficient lighting was created after traditional luminaires were deemed inefficient. These modern luminaries made much better use of energy and also significantly reduced energy bills. These lights are considered energy efficient because they perform far better than traditional lamps during their operation period. 

Most traditional lamps only use a fraction of the energy consumed towards producing light. Most of the energy used by traditional lamps goes to waste in the form of heat emissions. Most energy efficient luminaires use 90% of their energy to produce a similar brightness level as a traditional light bulb. 

In general, energy efficient lights were created so that consumers could enjoy high-quality brightness without worrying about energy bills. As mentioned before, energy lights do not rely on wattage to deliver powerful results. 

Energy efficient light manufacturers focus on light output to measure the quality of the luminaries. Since these light bulbs are known for their energy saving qualities, the wattage becomes irrelevant. 

Most energy efficient lighting has very low wattage but high light output which makes them a great option for large-scale applications. The main reason why these lights are energy efficient is their electrical component. 

These lights are manufactured with high-quality materials that ensure your luminaries last a long time. Energy efficient lighting has a very different circuitry compared to other traditional lamps. 

Most traditional light bulbs are equipped with a filament, which is the driving force behind their function. However, this filament tends to burn out easily, which means you need to replace your bulbs often. The filament in traditional light bulbs also produces heat energy, so most of your power supply goes towards producing this heat energy rather than light energy. 

With these qualities, traditional light bulbs have become highly inefficient, especially when compared to energy efficient light models. While energy efficient lighting is most commonly found in households, these lights are also well-suited for commercial properties, factories, office spaces, and public light sources. 

Two of the most popular forms of energy efficient lighting include CFL and LED luminaries. CFL light bulbs were the earliest form of energy efficient lighting and are still heavily in use throughout the UK. 

Compact fluorescent lights are a smaller version of large fluorescent lighting, and these bulbs easily screw into a standard lamp socket. CFL light bulbs give off an illumination that is similar to traditional lighting but without wasting most of the energy consumed. 

LED lights are a modern invention created to provide high-quality illumination without wasting energy. These lamps are the most energy efficient lighting on the market. 

LED stands for light emitting diode, and this structural component is why these lamps perform so much better than other traditional light bulbs. These luminaries are one of the most cost-effective lamps in the long run and are the best energy efficient light bulbs in the UK. 

Why Are Energy Efficient Lights Important?

For many people, the amount of light energy consumption often goes unnoticed as they are constantly operating in the background. However, it is important to note that small appliances are major consumers of energy, and inefficient lighting, such as traditional lamps, can significantly drive up your energy costs. 

Lighting is an important component in any building as it impacts our day-to-day activities. In a regular household, lighting accounts for 15% of the total energy consumption. In terms of environmental impact, a significant portion of greenhouse gasses is emitted from traditional lighting. 

Due to their inefficient structural component, traditional lighting is a major contributor to greenhouse gasses; therefore, it is best to replace these luminaires with sustainable, energy-efficient options. 

While 15% might seem like a small figure, it can significantly add up over the years due to rising energy costs. Therefore it is important to invest in products that will provide high-quality illumination and help you cut back on energy costs. 

Incandescent or traditional light bulbs can never become efficient as their mechanical composition does not allow it. 

These traditional light bulbs not only waste energy but also produce a lot of heat, damaging the light bulb and requiring frequent replacements. This heat account for 90% of the light’s energy consumption. This means you waste 90% of your energy costs with traditional light bulbs. 

Rising Environmental Awareness

With rising energy prices and an increase in environmental concerns, many consumers are bypassing traditional light bulbs in favor of more energy saving models. 

In April 2022, the energy price cap in the UK increased by 54%, and this number is expected to grow to 80% by October. Due to these high energy prices, there is an increasing demand for energy efficient light bulbs. 

Several government legislatures are implementing the use of energy efficient lighting on a larger scale to cut back on energy consumption and reduce environmental harm. These legislatures are urging manufacturers to scale back on the production of inefficient lighting. This change is happening worldwide, and even the UK plans to phase out all inefficient lighting by 2023. 

While many consumers are shifting towards energy efficient light sources, manufacturers are also ramping up the production of energy efficient lighting. Lighting manufacturers are receiving support and incentives from government legislation to produce more energy efficient lighting solutions. 

Since there is an increase in production, many people are becoming more aware of such products and are moving towards implementing these luminaries in their homes. 

With the rise of climate change awareness, consumers are also seeking our environmentally friendly and sustainable light fixtures. Energy efficient lighting such as LEDs is highly efficient and very sustainable in the long run. These luminaires do not contain any harmful chemicals that would make it difficult to dispose of them. 

Traditional light fixtures contain trace amounts of mercury which is highly toxic when released into the open air. Even broken pieces of incandescent light bulbs can lead to mercury build-up in groundwater. However, LEDs can be disposed of easily, and these bulbs can also be recycled. 

Additionally, these lights do not produce blue waves, which can be harmful to human health. In short, energy efficient lighting is much better for the environment and for human beings. 

Due to an increase in demand, market experts forecast that the energy efficient light industry is set to reach a value of £324 billion by 2027. With high demand, consumers can expect more economical options when it comes to energy efficient lighting. 

Earlier iterations of energy efficient light bulbs were costly, and this became a barrier for many people trying to implement energy efficient lighting. However, with government support and increasing demand, consumers can expect to see more and more cost-effective energy efficient lights on the market. 

What Are LED Equivalent Wattages Against Traditional Lighting?

LED equivalent wattage conversion is important as it provides accurate data on how to measure the strength of your light bulb. This conversion data is especially important if you switch from traditional lighting to energy efficient LED lighting. 

The lumen value directly lets you know how bright your lighting will be, whereas the wattage only shows the amount of energy your light fixture will consume. Since LED lights do not consume a lot of energy, the wattage value is not relevant to their brightness. 

Instead, you must contrast and compare the lumen output to get a better understanding of the bulb’s brightness. Here is the LED equivalent of wattages against several categories of traditional lighting.

With this table, you can see how the wattage and lumen values differ across several light bulb types. Here are some important values to keep in mind if you want to replace a traditional light bulb with an LED.

• If you are replacing a 60 watt incandescent bulb, choose an LED between 5 to 7 watts. This will give you a 500 to 700 lumen output. 
• If you have a 100 watt halogen bulb or a 20 watt CFL, you should replace it with a 10 to 13 watt LED. This wattage will give you 1000 to 1250 lumen output. 
• If you are looking for a high-intensity illumination, replace your 250+ watt incandescent bulbs with 15 to 20 watt LED bulbs. These LED bulbs give off 2500+ illumination, which is an ideal area for those that require high levels of brightness

What Are The Different Types Of Light Bulbs? 

Now that you know the difference between LED and traditional lighting in terms of wattage, it is important to take a detailed look at the different types of light bulbs. 

Looking at different types of light bulbs will help you understand why LEDs perform much better than traditional lighting. Here are the four common types of light bulbs. 

Incandescent Light Bulbs

Incandescent or traditional light bulbs were invented over 100 years ago. Incandescent light bulbs have a piece of hard metal wire, and this wire has an extremely high melting point. The wire is generally made from tungsten, and it is surrounded by a glass cover. 

An incandescent light bulb has a hard wire with an extremely high melting point. This wire is made from tungsten, and it is surrounded by a glass cover. When electricity passes through the bulb, the wire glows and produces a light that fills a room. These components make up the structural form of a traditional light bulb. 

These light bulbs were effective in the earlier time period as many people did not have sufficient light sources. However, due to our changing landscape and modern technology, these incandescent or traditional light bulbs are now considered highly inefficient. 

Only approximately 5% to 10% of the electricity used by an incandescent lightbulb is converted into visible light. In comparison, energy saving light bulbs' wattage conversion is much higher. This figure shows that roughly 90% of your electricity goes to waste with traditional light bulbs; therefore, you spend a lot of money on wasted energy.  

Furthermore, incandescent light bulbs have a far shorter lifespan than energy saving LED bulbs. These luminaries have a shorter lifespan because the filament in a traditional light bulb burns out quickly. 

The heat emission produced by the incandescent bulb damages the filament, leading you to replace your luminaries constantly. 

To solve such inefficiency issues, manufacturers came up with several other options to make light bulbs more efficient. The next step towards more efficient lighting came in the form of halogen light bulbs. 

Halogen Light Bulbs

After incandescent bulbs, manufacturers fine-tuned the structural component of the early light bulb to create halogen lamps. 

Halogen light bulbs use a similar filament technology as incandescent light bulbs, but these light bulbs run at a higher temperature which makes halogen light bulbs slightly more efficient than incandescent light bulbs. 

Halogen bulbs contain a small amount of halogen gas which mixes with the tungsten vapor from the wire. The mixture is deposited back onto the filament instead of going inside the bulb. This process allows a halogen bulb to shine brighter, and it extends the lifespan of the bulb slightly longer than an incandescent light bulb. 

Halogen light bulbs are mainly used in spotlight sockets and fittings. However, manufacturers are forgoing these light bulbs for even more efficient light bulbs. 

Along with traditional or incandescent light bulbs, lower level halogen light bulbs are being taken off the market for more energy efficient alternatives. 

After the halogen light bulb, modern replacements were designed that produced the same level of illumination but used less electricity. Governments also started implementing bans on these inefficient light bulbs to increase the availability of more efficient models. 

In 2009, the European Union started phasing out such light bulbs. The production and importing of halogen light bulbs were banned in the UK in 2021. Due to this phasing out, consumers started seeking out energy efficient alternatives. 

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

After incandescent and halogen lights, the first efficient light bulb created was called the compact fluorescent bulb. CFL light bulbs have a much longer lifespan compared to traditional lighting, as they can last over 8000 hours. 

Compact fluorescent lamps use approximately 70 to 80% less electricity than incandescent light bulbs. These bulbs have a much different structural component than traditional lighting. 

CFL light bulbs have a gas called argon inside a glass tube. This gas also contains small amounts of mercury vapor. This process creates ultraviolet light, which is invisible to the naked eye, but once this light passes through a fluorescent coating in the tube, it emits visible light. 

CFL light bulbs marked a big step toward energy saving light bulbs. However, these luminaries are still not efficient as LED light bulbs. 

Light Emitting Diode Bulbs

After CLFs, an even more efficient light bulb was designed by manufacturers. The next best energy saving light bulbs in the UK were light emitting diodes or LED light bulbs. 

In most applications, LED bulbs have replaced CFLs as energy saving LED light bulbs are more energy efficient and provide full brightness. When these LED bulbs were first developed, they were produced with a single-bulb structure. Initial LED light bulbs were used in electronics, instrument panels, pen lights, and more. 

The manufacturer has expanded the application of energy saving LEDs by designing them in small cluster bulbs. Due to the popularity of energy saving LED light bulbs, they are becoming one of the best energy saving light bulbs in the UK. 

For domestic and household applications, LED light bulbs come with a standard base fixture. The diffuser lens is a crucial component as it helps the light spread in a wider beam. 

One major feature of LED light bulbs is that the light emission is directional as opposed to traditional incandescent bulbs, which spread light in a spherical direction. This type of lighting direction favours recessed lighting or under cabinet lighting fixtures; however, directional lighting may not work well in table lamps. 

Modern LED light bulbs are designed to address directional illumination limitations. Manufacturers have designed these newer LEDs with a diffuser lens and a reflector to disperse the light in multiple directions. This illumination matches the light beam of an incandescent bulb but with energy wastage.

What Are The Benefits Of LED Lights?

If you are looking to replace your traditional lighting with LED, here are some important benefits you can enjoy with these luminaries. 

Longer Lifespan Than Traditional Lighting

One of the most important benefits of LED lighting is the longer lifespan. This quality makes LED luminaries of the most cost-effective light bulbs on the market. Most LED bulbs tend to last 10 times longer than an average traditional bulb. 

Some LEDs have an even longer lifespan making them a great reliable option for any kind of application. 

Light bulbs with a longer lifespan do not need to be replaced often, which means you save more money on bulb expenditures in the long run. This lifespan also reduces any inconvenience that comes from constantly replacing your lighting. With an LED, you can enjoy long-lasting, high-quality brightness. 

Better Durability 

One of the reasons why LED light bulbs maintain a longer lifespan is their durability. LED bulbs are far more durable than traditional lighting. Since LEDs are not equipped with a filament, they do not suffer damage easily. 

Traditional light burns out quickly since the filament sustains damage through heat emissions. Additionally, traditional light bulbs can break easily if not handled with care. However, most LEDs have a tough exterior that protects the electrical structure from several hazards. 

Improved Safety

One of the most overlooked advantages of LED lighting is safety. LEDs lighting is one of the safest options for light fixtures. The biggest hazard when it comes to lighting is heat emission. 

Most LEDs produce little to no forward heat emission, whereas traditional lights convert a significant portion of the energy consumed into heat. This makes traditional lighting highly inefficient and raises several safety concerns. 

In addition to this quality, since LED lights consume less power, they operate very well on low-voltage electrical systems. This quality makes LED much safer in case of any electrical emergency. 

Better Colour Rendering Index

Colour rendering index measures the light’s ability to reveal the real colour of objects when compared to a light source. Ideally, your light source should give off a similar CRI as natural lighting. 

High CRI is a generally ideal quality; however, this level can also depend on the application type. Most LED light bulbs give off a high CRI rating compared to traditional lighting. With an ideal light, you get the best visual quality out of all other light fixtures.

Better For The Environment

If you are looking for an environmentally friendly light fixture, choose LED light bulbs. These bulbs are one of the best options for a light that is efficient and environmentally friendly. LEDs do not contain any harmful chemicals which can prove hazardous to the environment. There is no mercury used in the production of energy saving LED light bulbs. 

Even though CFL bulbs are efficient, they use mercury. When a bulb with mercury breaks, it can escape as a vapor. This mercury vapor can be inhaled, which proves hazardous to human health. 

Mercury can also settle as a fine powder into carpets and other textiles. Since LEDs do not contain harmful chemicals, they are easy to dispose of, and most LED luminaires can also be recycled. 

Provides Directional Light Beam

LED technology is designed to emit light for only 180 degrees, while other traditional forms of lighting emit illumination at 360 degrees around the light source. While this might seem like a limitation, it is a great way to stop unnecessary lighting from driving up your energy costs. 

Light fixtures that emit illumination at 360 degrees tend to be more inefficient as they provide illumination in areas where no light is needed. This means your energy is going to waste. For example, if you install a traditional light bulb flushed into your ceiling. 

Even though this bulb will light up the room, it will also unnecessarily shine light onto the ceiling. This happens due to 360 degree light emissions. Therefore, LED lights are far more efficient as they only illuminate areas that need light. 

Better Dimming Capability

One of the best ways to conserve the lifespan of your light bulb is by using a dimmer feature. LED light bulbs are designed to operate efficiently at any level of brightness. Some traditional lighting becomes less efficient if they are frequently dimmed. 

One of the biggest benefits of using a dimmer with LEDs is that they become more efficient as you reduce the power. This also increases the total lifespan of your LED light bulb. However, you must make sure you have the correct dimmer hardware to use this function with LED lighting. 

If you are replacing your traditional light with an LED, ensure that you have the correct equipment to use an LED dimmer function. 

Design Flexibility

A single LED light bulb has a small size which means you can use this bulb in multiple ways. You can use LED luminaires for a variety of applications and purposes. LEDs can be combined in groups to create high-intensity lighting, or you can use individual bulbs for focused illumination. 

You can also install LEDs in a linear fashion for various lighting purposes. In addition to multiple style choices, you can also install LEDs in various settings. LED light bulbs work well in a wide variety of temperatures without any risk of quality degradation.

Good Low Voltage Lighting Option

Since LED light bulbs have a low power requirement, these types of bulbs are convenient for remote locations or areas with a low level of electricity. You can also use solar panel energy to light up LED lights instead of running a generator or electrical line in a remote location. 

LED light bulbs are also highly compatible with small portable generators. Homeowners can power up their LED light fixtures with a small portable generator in the event of a power shutdown and other electrical emergencies. 

Cost-effective Option

One of the ultimate benefits of LED light bulbs is their cost-effectiveness. When light bulbs use energy efficiently, you save money. Even though earlier LED light bulbs had high upfront costs in the past, modern innovations have considerably reduced the cost of energy saving LED light bulbs. 

Due to technological advancements, consumers can anticipate even more reasonably priced LED light bulbs in the future. Apart from the upfront costs, LEDs help you save on energy and maintenance costs so you can enjoy high-quality illumination for a long time. 

These are a few of the most important benefits of LED light bulbs; however, there are many more advantages that come with energy efficient luminaires. 

How To Choose The Best LED Lights?  

Energy efficient LED bulbs come in a variety of different styles and configurations. Since there is such a wide variety of choices, it is difficult to know which LED works best for your application. 

The first step to choosing the right LED is to assess your lighting; after that, there are several other factors you must consider to make the right choice. 

Here is how to choose the best LED lights for you.

Consider The Level Of Brightness Needed

When it comes to choosing the perfect LED light bulbs, the brightness level is an important factor. One of the most important deciding factors when purchasing a light bulb is the level of brightness. 

Not every single LED light bulb has the same level of brightness. Read the package of your preferred LED lamp to check the brightness level. You can check both lumens and wattage to determine the brightness level. 

To avoid any confusion, it is better to check the lumen information to compare light bulbs accurately. For example, an 8-10 watt LED bulb is equivalent in brightness to a 75 watt incandescent bulb. However, it is important to note that wattage measures the energy taken up by the bulb, not the brightness output. 

As mentioned before, with LEDs, you need to look at the lumen output to assess the bulb’s strength. Since the lumen measures the perceived illumination, the higher the lumens amount, the brighter the light bulb. 

Light bulbs with a similar wattage may have varying lumens values. Most light bulb manufacturing companies only give lumen information instead of wattage; therefore, you must check the lumen to assess the brightness of an LED light bulb accurately. 

Make sure to refer to the LED equivalent wattages against traditional lighting to help you decide the ideal brightness level for you. 

Consider The Colour Temperature

With traditional light bulbs, consumers never had the option of choosing between colour shades. These standard bulbs all had a similar colour temperature and colour quality. However, LED light bulbs come with several colour shade options, so you can choose the perfect shade for your room.  This shade range provides lights in various shades of yellow and white. 

For warm lighting, you should aim for a warm yellow light temperature.  Cool white light works best for task lighting purposes. Whereas warm lighting is commonly used for accents and atmosphere. Warm lighting also works well in smaller areas.

If you want sharp and intense illumination, you should opt for LED lights in a cool white shade. In all energy efficient LED bulbs, the colour temperature is measured in Kelvins or K. To pick out your desired shades, you must look for specific values. 

Lighting for your home is a personal choice, but if you are unsure of what colour temperature you need, it is best to start from the middle point. Try installing LED bulbs at a 3000K temperature. If this light is too yellow or blue, you can easily swap it with another colour temperature light bulb. 

The Style Of The LED Fixture

As mentioned before, LED light bulbs come in a wide variety of configurations. Some LED fixtures have several bulbs, while other fixtures use a single bulb structure. One of the most common styles of LED is a 3-way LED light. These luminaries are powerful enough to act as a replacement for 30-75 watt incandescent light bulbs. 

Even though these luminaries have a 3-way they still consume less energy than an incandescent or other traditional light bulb. 3-way combination LED bulbs are extremely versatile and they work great in domestic or commercial properties. 

Additionally, LED light bulbs work well with a variety of different light fixture styles, including recessed or can lighting. However, make sure to check the diameter of the bulb and compare it to the light fixture fitting.

Most light bulbs have an indicator that tells which fixture style is compatible with the bulb. These indicators include R20, BR30, or BR40. 

If you are replacing traditional light bulbs with LED light bulbs, you should still look for similar indicators. For recessed lighting, look for LED light bulbs that specify their compatibility with recessed lighting. 

Opt For High Quality LEDs For A Longer Lifespan

Avoid purchasing cheap light bulbs from discounted stores or low-quality manufacturers. These LED bulbs are cheaper because they have a low-quality design structure. Low-quality LED light bulbs have a lower-grade chip that fails very easily after prolonged use. 

Many cheaper LED light bulbs also don’t work well inside enclosed light structures. These light bulbs burn out easily within a year or sometimes less as they heat up. 

Even though the upfront cost of high-quality LED bulbs is high, you won’t have to spend money on maintenance and replacement as these bulbs last a long time. At Meteor Electrical, you can find a wide range of LED light bulbs, especially the Kosnic range, which guarantees high-quality LED light fixtures.  

Check For Proper Certification

Many consumers turn to LED lighting due to energy efficiency; therefore, you must ensure your LED comes with the correct energy efficiency certification. Always make you check the certification before making a purchase, as this will ensure you have the correct product. 

Almost all LED light bulbs in the UK have a certification that guarantees the energy saving qualities of your LED light bulb. Make sure to check the packing for any such sign. Avoid purchasing any LED bulbs that do not clearly indicate an energy saving certification. 

Final Takeaway

With the rise of energy efficient light fixtures, many people are turning towards LED lighting. If you are looking to replace your traditional lighting, make sure to use a bulb with the correct equivalent wattage. 

To purchase the correct light bulb, refer to the LED equivalent wattages against traditional lighting.