Many designers seem to be using such products for their wow-factor without considering whether they produce adequate light for countertop tasks.
I get a picture of somebody working in their kitchen with a coal miner's lamp on their head.
Instead of using products that will not meet our clients' needs for proper task lighting, why not adhere to the US DOE (Department of Energy) standards for LED lighting?
Their engineers have run the tests and they have labeled tested products with an easy to understand label detailing the quality of the light output by the fixture and lamp(s) in four critical areas, with test results right on the label (kind of like the mileage labels we have seen on cars for years).
It's as easy as this: Look for the label. Don't buy or specify anything that doesn't have the label. Learn to understand the label. Buy the product that most closely meets the needs of the application.
Anatomy of the Lighting Facts Label
Light Output/Lumens
Measures light output.
The higher the number, the more light is emitted.
Watts
Measures energy required to light the product.
The lower the wattage, the less energy used.
Lumens per Watt/Efficacy
Measures efficiency.
The higher the number, the more efficient the product.
Color Rendering Index (CRI)
Measures color accuracy.
Color rendition is the effect of the lamp's light spectrum on the color appearance of objects.
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT)
Measures light color.
“Cool” colors have higher Kelvin temperatures (3600–5500 K);
“Warm” colors have lower color temperatures (2700–3500 K).
IESNA LM-79-2008
Industry standardized test procedure that measures performance qualities of LED luminaires and integral lamps.
It allows for a true comparison of luminaires regardless of the light source.
Registration Number
Unique number given to each manufacturer and product once they have been registered, verified, and approved.
Only products with valid registration numbers may display the Lighting Facts label.
Model Number
Unique manufacturer's model number for the product.
Type
Specific type of solid-state lighting fixture.
Brand
The brand the product is available under.
There is even a DOE web site listing all of the products that have been tested and approved so far: LightingFacts.com, as well as the judging criteria for each application (so you can understand the label) in their Residential Product Performance Scale.
I have taken their pledge to:
* Evaluate LED product quality by using the Lighting Facts label, which reports performance testing data that measures:
o Lumen output
o Luminaire efficacy
o Power input
o Correlated Color Temperature
o Color Rendering Index
* Use and promote products from manufacturers who participate in the SSL Quality Advocates program.
Therefore I will check all lighting products I post about, from now on, to make sure they have been tested and approved.
Buying LED lighting has just gotten a whole lot easier.
Peggy
07/16/2010
An addendum to this post:
Apparently, the Lighting Facts label is so successful it is now being COUNTERFEITED!
Verify that the Lighting Facts label presented by the manufacturer is a legitimate label
“Buyer (and specifier) beware” – not all labels are legitimate Lighting Facts labels!
Never assume that a label presented to you is accurate. Always refer to the product list on the program web site, www.lightingfacts.com/products, to verify whether:
o Items are registered with the program
o Performance values provided match values listed and verified by the program
04/08/11
A second addendum to this post:
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it will extend the deadline for the new consumer Lighting Facts product label from July 2011 to January 1, 2012. This decision was made after reviewing public comments. The new deadline will allow manufacturers more time to incorporate the label on their bulb packages. However, the FTC encourages manufacturers to incorporate the new labels on their packaging as soon as possible.
The new FTC Lighting Facts label emphasizes lumen output, estimated yearly energy cost, life, light appearance, and wattage. This information will help consumers choose the right bulb for their lighting needs, while shifting the focus from wattage to lumens. This effort is especially important with the Energy Independence and Security Act legislation which impacts light bulbs beginning in 2012.
