Our Best Bulb Reference Guide

Color Rendering Index

There are two standard measurements for the color characteristics of light: "color rendering index" (CRI), a term used to describe the extent to which an artificial light source is able to render the true color of objects as seen by natural outdoor sunlight which has a CRI of 100, and "color temperature", which expresses the color appearance of the light itself.

Color Rendering Index: Incandescent is used as the base reference of 100 CRI. Compact fluorescent lamps are graded at 82-86 CRI, which is considered high quality color rendering. CRI is a more important consideration for retail lighting design than it is for office lighting.

Any CRI rating of 80 or above is considered high and indicates that the source has good color properties. Incandescent lamps and daylight have a CRI of 100, the highest possible CRI. The higher the CRI of the light source, the "truer" it renders color. Sources with CRI values less than 50 are generally regarded as rendering colors poorly, that is, colors may appear unnatural.

So how important is CRI to you? Depending on the project or use of your bulbs, it can be equally important as the look. By comparing the appearance of a colored object under an artificial light source to its appearance under an incandescent light already set at 100 CRI. The higher the CRI value, the better the light source is at interpreting colors accurately.

 

Color Temperature: Refers to the way color groups are perceived – the psychological impact of lighting. Color temperature is how cool or warm the light source appears. The color temperature of a light source is a numerical measurement of its color appearance. But why is color temperature measured in degrees Kelvin (K)? This temperature is based on the principle that any object will emit light if it is heated to a high enough temperature and that the color of that light will shift in a predictable manner as the temperature is increased. This system is based on the color changes of a black metal as it is heated from a cold black to a white hot state. Colors and light go from red, orange, and yellow (warm - incandescent) to blue and white (natural daylight). So if you’ve ever asked what color is daylight, imagine how the sun, for example, rises at approximately 1800 Kelvin and changes from red to orange to yellow and to white as it rises to over 5000 Kelvin at high noon. It then goes back down the scale as it sets.

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Light Bulbs Replacement Guide (Incandescent to CFL or LED)

Sylvania Phase-Out Light Bulbs Replacement Guide (Incandescent to CFL or LED)

Sylvania LED retrofitting technology provides energy savings, long product lifespan and helps to meet sustainability goals perfect for your phase-out goals. They are reliable, high-quality replacements for light sources in both commercial and residential applications. Sylvania has warmer 2500K products specifically designed for hospitality applications as well as standard 2700K and 3000K color temperatures.

Here you have a simple light bulb replacement guide showing you how easy transitioning from your Incandescent bulbs to LEDs can be. All LED can be screwed in like traditional bulbs.

• If you are using a 60-watt incandescent or a 13 watt compact fluorescent (CFL), you can switch to a 10 watt LED bulb.
• If you are using a small 50-watt R20 flood bulb commonly found in track, recess, or landscape lighting, you can switch to an 8 watt LED R20 bulb.
• 50-watt low voltage, MR16 bulbs normally only found in track lighting can be converted to 7 watt MR 16 LED bulb; these bulbs are pushed in and generate much less heat.
• 65- or 75-watt large BR30 flood bulbs commonly used in overhead recess lights can be changed to a 12- or 14-watt LED flood bulb. We have both indoor and outdoor varieties available that can last up to 25,000 hours or a 22-year lifespan if used 3 hours a day.

Progress Lighting has been offering high quality residential and commercial lighting solutions for over a century. They pride themselves on great lighting technology, leadership and engineering with products that deliver aesthetic appeal, stellar performance, easy installation and value.

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LED Label Break Down

Understanding the LED Lighting Facts Label - Video & Infographic

Understanding LEDs. How to read a lighting facts’ label and learn a little bit more about light bulbs and LEDs.

• Brightness indicates how much light the bulb emits and is measured in lumens. More lumens equals more light. As a frame of reference, 800 lumens equivalent to a traditional 60 watt incandescent light bulb.
• Energy Cost, which indicates approximately how much it will cost to run this bulb on an annual basis. This figure varies based on the wattage, usage hours per day, and price you pay per kilowatt-hour of electricity from your local utility.
• Average Life is the bulb’s expected life in hours. Good LEDs should be expected to last 25000 or about 22 years if only used 3 hours a day.
• Light appearance is the color of the light and is really a personal preference. It does not indicate brightness, but rather what color the light will actually appear to be.  See above for the Kelvin scale explanation and examples of these colors.
• Energy Used is how many watts this light bulb uses. The higher the watts, the less efficient the bulb and the more it will cost to use. Remember, wattage only indicates how much energy is being used. You need to check your lumens to see how much light the bulb actually puts out.

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