LED lighting is well-known for being energy efficient and environmentally friendly over traditional lighting options. Understanding key metrics of LED lighting including lumens, watts, and efficacy ratings are essential to knowing how they will perform. This article will cover what each term means, how to calculate efficacy, and why these specs matter for LEDs.

Lumens

What Are Lumens?

Lumens are the measure of the total amount of visible light emitted by a source. They quantify brightness meaning that the higher the lumen rating is, the brighter the light. An LED bulb that is 800 lumens will provide the same brightness as a 60-Watt incandescent bulb, but the LED bulb will consume far less energy.

Lumens matter for two main reasons. The first is that they measure the brightness of the light. If bright light is needed, then more lumens are needed. Lumens also help to compare light output across different lighting options like halogen and incandescent. There are more than lumens to look at when looking at LED lighting. Let's move on to watts and their importance.

Watts

What Are Watts?

Watts measure the energy consumption of a light source. For traditional light sources, a higher wattage meant brighter light. With LEDs, this is no longer the case. LEDs use significantly fewer watts to produce the same or greater lumens than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.

Watts are important because of their energy usage, and they are also an indicator of efficiency. The lower the wattage translates to reduced energy consumption. Lower electricity bills are also correlated with less energy consumption. It is important to understand watts in conjunction with lumens to help determine the efficiency of LEDs.

Efficacy Ratings

What Are Efficacy Rating?

Efficacy ratings measure the efficiency of a light source. They are determined by the following formula to calculate how many lumens are produced per watt of energy consumed:

Efficacy Rating (lm/W) = Lumens/Watts

An LED light that is 1000 lumens and consumes 10 watts would have an efficacy rating of 100 lumens per watt. See the math below:

1000 Lumens/ 10 Watts = 100 lumens per watt (lm/W)

When looking at efficacy ratings, a higher efficacy rating means the light is more energy-efficient and provides more light output for less energy consumption.

Efficacy ratings are crucial because they directly impact cost efficiency, energy consumption, and workplace productivity. High-efficacy lighting reduces operating costs by using less energy to produce the same or more light which lowers electricity bills. Additionally, lower energy demand contributes to long-term savings. For businesses, the improved quality of light provided by high-efficacy fixtures can enhance productivity, making them a valuable investment.

Understanding lumens, watts, and efficacy ratings is important when choosing LED lights. These metrics allow you to evaluate energy savings by identifying lights that have the appropriate lumens and wattage for light output and performance.