Choosing the Right LED Strip Light Bar
The LED strip light bar is an affordable fixture designed to replace fluorescent fixtures in utility rooms, shops, workshops, and garages. They feature a modern, sleek design and provide long-term energy savings while at the same time reducing the cost of maintenance. The LED technology ensures reliable color consistency. The quick and easy installation of these fixtures coupled with the long-life of the LEDs provides extended service life.
Lumens
When choosing a light bar, look for the amount of lumens that a fixture has rather than the amount of watts it uses. The lumen rating is a measurement of the amount of light produced. The more lumens a fixture has, the brighter a light created by the bulb or fixture will be. When lighting an area such as a garage, workshop, or utility room, considering the brightness of the light can make a much bigger difference than the amount watts being consumed.
Wattage
Wattage refers to the amount of energy that is consumed by a light. When shopping for efficiency, the lower the wattage, the less energy the fixture will require to illuminate a space. LED lights use less watts than their fluorescent counterparts while providing the same quality of light (measured in lumens). Using these lower wattage fixtures leads to immediate savings on energy bills.
Color Temperature
Measured in Kelvin, the color temperature determines how warm or cool a light source will appear. The LED strip light bar is available in cool and daylight color options, ranging from 4000K to 5000K. This produces the bright white light associated with workshops rather than a lower Kelvin rating, which would produce the sort of light commonly found in the average living space. Essentially, the higher the Kelvin temperature, the brighter white in color the light will appear.
DLC Listed and Energy Star Rated
A light fixture that is Design Light Consortium (DLC) Listed or Energy Star Rated oftentimes qualifies for energy rebates provided by local utility companies. This listing helps significantly reduce the cost of owning these fixtures. The qualified products list is a resource for program administrators, to help them decide which solid state lighting products to include in their energy efficiency promotions.