light quality

Incandescent lights aren't anymore a benchmark of quality and warm colors.

Some people still prefer incandescent lamps - even now that they are being banned in EU and other countries, or are due to be phased out starting in 2012, in USA…

Their low prices is a reason for that preference, but the incandescent are only cheap in the immediate; in the medium and long run, they are more much expensive: they use 3 to 4 times more energy than fluorescent and LED bulbs, and last a small fraction of LEDs or fluorescents.

Choosing your lights

Some people also say that incandescent provide a nicer light, which isn’t at all true: today’s high-efficient fluorescent and LED lights can equal or surpass the light quality provided by incandescent products.

You just have to choose the right fixture and the right bulb, taking into account…

1) the light output (measured in Lumens);
2) the light color (which can be “cool” or “warm” and is measured in degrees Kelvin) and…
3) the light color replication (measured by the lamp CRI)…

The light output

When choosing, pay close attention to the light output - something that can be measured in Lumens (instead of Watts). Be sure that the light of your fluorescent or LED lamp is bright enough for your needs.

Your lighting supplier should be able to advice you on how much light you need for different parts and rooms. 60, 75 and 100 Watt incandescent bulbs correspond respectively to around 880, 1.200, 1.700 Lumens.

Specifying the light color (tones)

Light bulbs differ in the color of light they emit.

Lighting color ranges from cool to warm tones, something often called color temperature (temperature in this case hasn't to do with heat). The color temperature, or if you prefer the color tone, is measured in degrees Kelvin.

Choosing warm colors

If you want warm colors choose 2700º - 3000º Kelvin lamps (standard incandescent bulbs have around 2800º Kelvin and halogen bulbs around 3000º Kelvin), or lower.

Not all fluorescent lamps are available in this ranges (and this is a reason why some people still think that incandescent lights emit a nicer light) but most today’s high-quality fluorescent and LED lamps provide very warm tones. Just pay attention to packaging.

Warm colors correspond to the preference of people that like the incandescent bulbs color - a good option for bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms, since these tones are more flattering, combibe better with clothing and skin tones and create a ‘calmer’ atmosphere (though not exactly a better light).

Cooler colors

Cooler light colors have a higher Kelvin “temperature”. That is, they involve 4.100º Kelvin or more (4.100º to 8.000º). This range of temperatures provides a clear light and is usually preferred for kitchens and bathrooms, or for visual tasks. They produce higher contrast than warmer light.

Color replication

Another feature you should consider when buying a light is the accuracy in terms of color displaying, that is, in technical language, its Color Rendering Index or CRI.

And the rule, in this case, is very simple: the higher the CRI, the better the light source at rendering colors accurately.

To get a good color replication, prefer lights with a high CRI, that is, lights with 80 CRI or more. Qualified indoor home’s fixtures should have lamps with such CRI.

The image above (from Energy Star) shows the difference between low, medium and high CRI lamps.

High quality fixtures

Also remember that the light quality and the capacity of the bulb at rendering colors accurately also depend on the quality of the fixture. You should prefer an energy-efficient fixtures.

See: Light fixtures