So you’ve opted for recessed lighting for your home. Well done. Recessed lighting offers many advantages. It has a low-profile design, an efficient light distribution, and a minimalist style.
However, picking the right type of recessed lighting alone is not enough. You must also select the right kind of bulb to go along with it. Otherwise, you may fail to achieve the desired results.
So, what kind of light bulbs are used in residential recessed lighting and how can you pick the right one?
Continue reading to find out the answers…
4 Types of Bulbs
The four major types of bulbs used in recessed lighting are incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent, and light emitting diode (LED).
Incandescent – These are the oldest light bulbs and, unfortunately, also the least energy efficient. They waste 80% to 90% of energy they consume. In short, use them and you’re bound to get a hefty electricity bill at the end of the month.
Halogen – Halogen bulbs are basically incandescent bulbs with a difference. In their case, the filament is housed within a small quartz capsule that contains halogen. They last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs but waste just as much electricity as the latter.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) – They are more energy efficient — up to 20-25% — than traditional bulbs. They also last longer than halogen and incandescent bulbs. All the same, they’re neither the most-efficient nor the longest-lasting bulbs. Both these titles go to LEDs.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) – These bulbs are the newest technology in lighting and fast becoming a crowd favorite — and for good reasons. They last 2 to 4 times longer than CFLs and 8-10 times longer than traditional bulbs. What’s more, they are up to 80% more energy efficient than traditional bulbs.
In short, LEDs are perfect for hard-to-reach light fixtures, as well as for saving electricity.
That said, not all LEDs are created equal. The best ones come with a rating of CRI90+ while the average ones are CRI80+.
You should always go for CRI90+ LEDs, as they offer the most balanced light and don’t contain harmful ‘blue’ light (present in CRI80+ LED bulbs).
At LiquidLEDs, we only sell high-quality, CRI90+ LEDs because we know what’s best for you.