I have always been a huge advocate of "good lighting". If you've ever worked with me, you have probably heard me say something along the lines of "lighting is a science" or "lighting can make or break a design easier than anything else - if you're going make an investment in a new kitchen, be sure to showcase it in it's full glory with good lighting."
As a result of my interest in lighting and it's integration into kitchen design (for both aesthetic and functional reasons), I am always on the lookout for interesting new products that provide increased flexibility and value in our designs. One of my latest interests has focused around the LED (Light Emitting Diode) options that are now beginning to spring up for commercial and residential applications. LE what, you say? Basically - it's the same technology as the really bright red brake lights that look a grouping of those little red pointer dots that you've used to give your cat a workout while having a good laugh (oh yes - I know you've done it too!) I'm not going to even try to explain the "science" behind these Star-Trekish fixtures, but if you're interested in that I suggest you start here. Those of greater technical capacity (I'm sorry, aka nerd. That's ok though - we love nerds! I, in fact, am a self proclaimed cabinet nerd. That's why it's politically correct that I call you out as a nerd.) will surely understand some of the gibberish that is found if you look beyond the surface of this topic. If you would be so kind to share any "valuable" insight related to residential lighting, I would surely appreciate it. PLEASE, layman's terms only!!!
For the rest of us, here's what I've found so far:
1. First, and probably most importantly, the technology is still evolving - but it seems to be at the point now that investing in this technology has crossed the line between frivolity and value consciousness.
2. There is a wide variety of the "strange and unusual" to be found online if you're not looking in the right place. Vendors are now adopting this technology and putting it to good use in both typical applications and new options that provide greater flexibility in design. A lighting supplier called Justice Design Group has the three most common residential applications available: a MR16 replacement bulb, a fantastic solid strip light that they call "LightRail", and a very flexible and innovate alternative to rope lighting that they call "Lightape". Here's what they look like (click on names for more application images):
(General room illumination - low voltage can fixtures or tracks)
(Fantastic for under cabinet, great as an architectural accent, multiple sizes & individual units can be pieced together allowing single on/off switching. Plus they're SMALL, 1 1/2" wide by only 1/2" thick, which opens the door for tons of applications.)
(How cool is this for those weird, hard to access areas where a punch of light makes all the difference in the world? It's literally peel & stick and can even be cut to length!)
4. The lamps can be a significant investment verses some of the more common options, but consider these advantages: (1) the MR16 LED bulb has a life of approx 20,000 hours verses about 1,000 for your standard incandescent bulb (2) the fixtures produce practically -0- heat (3) they use a fraction of the power necessary to light a typical incandescent lamp. According to Wikipedia, in 2008 a company called Sentry Equipment Corp used LED technology to light their new factory, tripling their lighting investment - but that investment will be recouped in under two years due to energy savings alone. On top of that, there will be no need to start replacing bulbs for 20 years! That, in my opinion, is pretty darn impressive.
5. Take a moment to let what I said in #4 sink in - 20 years for replacement. For many, the first though is WONDERFUL - I don't have to buy a bunch of bulbs anymore! OK, well if you're not buying bulbs anymore, that also means that YOU'RE NOT REPLACING THEM!!! When you consider the height of some of the ceilings in homes being built these days - 10, 12, 20ft - that becomes hugely significant. How many times do you look up to see one bulb out, but you just ignore it because it's SOOOOO difficult to change? If you don't deal with that, consider yourself very lucky. Not only does this benefit us when it comes to hard to reach fixtures, but if you've ever replaced a bulb in a low-voltage puck under cabinet light......exxxxactly, those that have know exactly what I'm talking about. A teeny little bulb that you're not supposed to touch with bare hands, plug wires that are way to easy to bend, and trying to coordinate yourself under your wall cabinets. I'm sorry Mr. Halogen & Mr. Xenon, you've just been nixed in my house.
6. Even if you don't have high ceilings, have you ever been in a 9'-10' room with low voltage halogen recessed can or track lights that have been on for an extended period of time? Oh my goodness, talk about an oven! I can't help but believe that the impact on your electricity bill simply due to reduced A/C usage would be HUGE!
If you'd like more information on LED fixtures from some experts, feel free to contact us for a list of references. We've talked to many locals involved with this technology, have seen demonstrations, have discussed with individuals from the manufacturing side of the auto industry (one of the first to adopt this technology) and have asked the more suspicious vendors to get a bulb, try it for us, and give us their feedback. So far, we're sold!
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