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Choosing LED Recessed Lighting for Your Kitchen
At Wolfers, we’re big fans of LED lighting technology because of its many benefits.
- LEDs last longer than most incandescent light bulbs and CFLs because they don’t have a filament that will burn out.
- LEDs don’t produce as much heat as regular incandescent or halogen bulbs.
- LEDs typically last longer than incandescent bulbs and CFLs and most halogen bulbs.
- LEDs offer much more versatility in design, thanks to their small size and numerous color options.
- LEDs offer rebate incentives. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers incentives and rebates to encourage the use of LEDs
For these reasons, LEDs are an ideal option for recessed lighting in your kitchen (or any other area of your home, for that matter).
So what should you look for when choosing LED recessed lighting for your kitchen? We turned to Susan Arnold, one of our wonderful lighting consultants in Waltham, to provide some tips.
- Pay attention to Kelvin temperature (K). A temperature of 2700K provides a warm light while 3000K provides a brighter, cooler light source.
- Look at the Color Rendering Index (CRI). This indicates how well a light source renders color. A CRI of 90 is good for skin tones
. - Review the warranty. What does the warranty cover? Who is the manufacturer? How long is the warranty? (It should be at least five years.) And if the warranty is for five-plus years, how likely will the manufacturer/supplier still be in business? It’s important to consider where you’re buying your products. At Wolfers, we’ve been in business for nearly 85 years.
- Confirm that the fixture is UL or ETL listed. UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. and ETL is a mark for Intertek Testing Services. Essentially, these certifications assure you that the bulb has gone through rigorous testing (the federal government regulates both companies). Consider it a seal of approval.
If you’re wondering what to keep in mind regarding existing recessed fixtures, here are two important points:
- Replacement lamps are always a challenge when it comes to dimming (different dimmers affect LEDs differently).
- Replacement lamps change frequently as lower wattages and higher lumens are frequently released. Be careful when you buy these lamps and consider purchasing a spare (so that they will match).
At Wolfers, we have excellent recessed lighting fixtures that work well in kitchens. These two product collections are popular with customers (and they’re reasonably priced as well).
- Halo H4 LED Collection. This collection boasts downlight trims, adjustable gimbals, square downlight trims, and wall wash downlight trims.
- Juno 2″ LED Downlights and Adjustables. The sophisticated aesthetics and smaller aperture of the Juno 2″ LED downlights and adjustables offer the “designer-look” that perfectly complements many of today’s upscale residential and commercial interiors.
Interested in learning more? Visit one of our showrooms to see our kitchen lighting labs and experience LEDs in person. As always, our lighting consultants will be happy to answer any questions during your visit.
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