Replacing light bulbs: Instead of relying on power guzzlers, opt for LED lighting
Light bulbs have long been history? Far from it, because in quite a few households there are still extensive remaining stocks today. Nevertheless, light bulbs should be exchanged for energy-saving variants.
Table of contents: What to expect in this article
Replacing light bulbs: saving electricity with LED lights
There are still light bulbs in many households that still come from the remaining stocks and private collection warehouses. But who of the loyal light bulb users knows that modern LED lights, such as those on www.gluehbirne.de can be found in numerous variants that can save up to 90 percent energy? The classic incandescent lamps, which are usually shaped like a candle or a bulb, have a metal base for screwing into the lamp as well as a tungsten wire. The light is generated via this. This also works very reliably, but unfortunately not energy-saving.
Replacement with LED lamps is advisable (video)
Especially in this day and age, when all prices are exploding, consumers must strive to save as much as possible. This also applies to electricity, especially since electricity tariffs were raised enormously at the beginning of the year. Also, the recent reduction in prices did not allow them to fall back to the previous level.
Austerity measures are called for and also include the light bulbs that are still in use. No one has to do without the old and beloved light bulb design, because even modern LED Ceiling lights look confusingly similar to the previously common models.
Such models are often advertised as a “retrofit lamp”. This was handled similarly with the halogen lamps that were still available for a long time, these also had the classic pear shape. However, for reasons of saving electricity, these lamps are also banned today and have not been allowed to be sold for several years.
As an alternative to the LED lamp, an energy-saving lamp can be used. This is recognizable by the shape of its tube: it can be coiled, folded or bent. Gas is discharged in the tube. These lamps also have a metal base and an integrated ballast.
Video: Main occupation: Changing light bulbs at an altitude of 400m / Galileo / ProSieben
Which alternative is the right one?
Should all old light bulbs finally be replaced? Then a few characteristic values are important to find a real alternative.
Good to know: the wattage is no longer the decisive criterion, but the indication in lumens is relevant. A watt is comparable to around ten lumens. Therefore, the replacement of a 40-watt light bulb is carried out using an energy-saving lamp with 470 lumens.
Furthermore, the indication of the color temperature is relevant. This is displayed in Kelvin and should be between 2,700 and 3,000 Kelvin.
This warm white light provides a homely illuminated ambience. A higher Kelvin number is used when a neutral white light or a daylight white is to be achieved.
When choosing the right incandescent lamp, the color rendering index is also relevant. It tells how natural colors are reproduced. In residential areas, a color rendering index of Ra 80 is usually set.
LED bulbs as a replacement for incandescent lamps are part of the possible austerity measures in the budget and should rather be applied today than tomorrow. This is especially true in view of the fact that conventional light bulbs have not been used for more than a decade.
How to change incandescent lamps correctly
Those who have never had to change a light bulb, a lot of questions arise. On the one hand, these relate to the above-described aspects of lumen, color reproduction and color temperature. To choose the right incandescent lamp, it must be clear in which room it should be used and how much it should be illuminated. On the mentioned page www.gluehbirne.de there is a large selection of different light sources that are ideal for different rooms and requirements.
When replacing the light bulb, the procedure is then as follows:
Turn off electricity
The fuse associated with the lamp must be removed. This point is often forgotten, but it is indispensable for security reasons.
Unscrew old light bulb
Now the old light bulb can be turned out. Important: If it was previously switched on, it must first cool down – risk of burns! Turning it out is sometimes a bit difficult and there is a risk that the glass will shatter if the pressure is too strong. It is therefore important to stand to the side of the bulb so as not to be hit by any falling glass. The remaining socket must then be unscrewed using pliers.
Screwing in the new light bulb
Now the new bulb can be screwed in. It is advisable to test the spring contact in the middle first: can it be pushed down far? Then it should be bent up a little with a screwdriver. This way a better contact is possible. Now the bulb is screwed in firmly and without wobbling.
Check
After screwing the new light bulb, the fuse is turned on again. Now press on the light switch and ideally it will be bright. If this is not the case, the new bulb may be defective. Please repeat the process with another previously tested light bulb. If there is a loose contact, this is a case for the electrician.
Light bulbs: Inspired by the sun
When it was established that the Achieving the climate goals by replacing light bulbs probably no one expected how long the exchange process would really take.
It was clear that remaining stocks could still be sold. Likewise, that many people would stock up. But given that there are bulbs that are seemingly immortal (in 2021, the 119th birthday of a light bulb was celebrated in Livermore), the final exchange will probably take a few more years.
This is also not least for the reason that the choice of the suitable light bulb does not seem to be so easy.
Room lighting based on the model of daylight
To decide which light bulb is ideal, the sun can be used as a model. With her, it is clear that her light consists of different wavelengths, which becomes noticeable, for example, when the sun’s rays are refracted in a rainbow.
Depending on the position of the sun in the sky, the composition of the light changes. In the morning, the sunlight appears rather reddish, because the blue part is mostly scattered.
This is also the case in the evening, with even more floating particles on the way at evening time, which have a scattering effect on the blue. The red therefore appears more intense.
At noon, on the other hand, when the sun is high in the sky, the light appears white, the blue content is only slightly present, the light has an intense effect. It is precisely this proportion of blue that has a direct effect on humans and affects our metabolism.
This effect can be recreated with ideal room lighting. Artificial lighting, which is based on natural light, seems to be particularly pleasant. Therefore, when buying new light bulbs, not only is the To calculate energy efficiency classbut it is also necessary to pay attention to the light color.
Strong lighting is often referred to as cold light, it is similar to daylight and is ideal during the day. A warm light with a high red content has a calming effect and is the perfect lighting, especially in the evening.
Lighting specialists indicate the light temperature in Kelvin: in the morning, daylight has about 2000 Kelvin, at noon this value increases to up to 6000 Kelvin. If there are clouds in front of the sun, the blue part of the light increases, it gets “colder” and the light temperature can even reach 7000 Kelvin. In the information on the packaging of lamps, in addition to the Kelvin information, the terms “warm white” or “daylight” are often found.
The former is suitable for rooms in which work is not carried out and in which the illumination must therefore be less bright. Lighting with “daylight” is used wherever very bright light is needed: in workshops and other workplaces.
Even windowless rooms are thus optimally illuminated and allow a good view of the necessary details. Rule of thumb: the more concentrated a person needs to be in a room, the higher the color temperature should be selected.
