The change from summer to winter time immediately brings about a merciless decrease in the amount of daylight we are exposed to. This makes us realise that summer is really truly over and that we should buckle up for a long cold winter. As we stroll around at local winter fairs and spend the first evenings of the season at the fireplace, we slowly start accepting the idea of winter. Time passes by and before we know it we’re leaving our homes when it is dark outside and are coming back home when, exactly, it is dark again outside. Need not be said that the right illumination in these dark times can make or break our homes – and our spirit! But what defines “the right illumination”? Here are some factors to take into account when choosing a light bulb:
Lumen
The amount of light a light bulb emits is expressed in Lumen; the higher the number of lumen, the more light the light bulb diffuses. What the amount of lumen should be, depends on as well the size of the room, as the desired brightness of the light. Obviously an operation room should be brighter than a romantic restaurant.
Power
The amount of energy a light bulb produces, is expressed in Watt. This is an important factor to take into account to avoid overloading the buildings’ electrical system.
Dimmable
Do you simply need a light bulb to switch on and off, or would you need one that allows you to choose the brightness of the light according to the event? Being able to dim can add value to your home, in that one room becomes suitable for different purposes; for example a living room where the children have lunch and their parents enjoy candle light dinner.
Cold or warm light
Most probably a warm cozy light would be preferred in a living room where we pass most of the cold winter nights. In the lab or the kitchen of a restaurant though, the light needs to be bright and cold so that every detail is visible. This characteristic of light is expressed in Kelvin. Until 3000 Kelvin, light is considered warm, whereas it is considered cold when it exceeds 3000 Kelvin.
The light socket
Light bulbs and spotlights are produced with 5 different sockets: light bulbs have two different ones and spotlights three. Therefore prior to buying a lamp, the predisposition of the socket of the place you need to illuminate would need to be checked. The sockets for light bulbs are : E14 and E27, whereas those for spotlights are GU10, GU5.3 and GU4.
The cost, consumption, life expectancy and form of a light bulb
Other things to take into account are the cost, the consumption and the life expectancy of the bulb. Taking all of these factors into account, the overall expenditure sinks in. In some cases, it is more convenient spending more when actually buying the lamp, if they are energy saving for example and costs will be reduced in the long run. Furthermore there are many different forms to choose from; pear, olive, breeze, …
Careful readers will already have noticed that “the right light (bulb)” in absolute terms does not exist. The quality of light is always relative, as it needs to suit a place, a goal and one’s taste. In other words: the key to success is taking the context into account.
The Germani team will be happy to help out, should there be any questions left. Please contact our experts here.
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