[Greenbuilding] chandelier bulb recommendation?

Wed Jan 4 23:42:04 CST 2012

Lynelle,

There are some decent GU10 LED bulbs that we¹ve come across and a couple of
them are pretty popular. We¹re waiting samples of a new line that is also
made in Tampa, Florida, USA, instead of China (a nice bonus).

These guys will typically cost about $29/ea. But my
late-night-back-of-the-envelope comes to 3.096 kwh of savings over a 12 hour
period (slashing from 50W to 7W = 43 watts saved x 6 units x 12 hours). So
at US$0.12/kwh = $.371 saved per day or $11.14 saved per 30 day month. So
that¹s about a 15 month payback. Someone with a more alert brain may need to
back up my math. 

These LED units will get warmer than other LEDs but nothing compared to a
halogen.

One caution: GU10 fixtures all are wired for halogens and all that extra
load. We¹ve run into conversion problems b/c the transformer may require a
load that would be much greater than what the LEDs will pull. As in wanting
700 watts but you¹re only pulling 70 watts‹not even close. If you want to
dim them it becomes really tricky. If you don¹t need to dim, it¹s much
easier.  But see if you can find out if there¹s a documented minimum load
the transformer calls for.

Jason Holstine

Amicus Green Building Center
³Sustain Your Space²
Member - USGBC, GreenAmerica, NARI, NAHB
e: jason at amicusgreen.com
w: www.amicusgreen.com
p: 301-571-8590
tf: 866-587-9140
f:  301-571-8597

On 1/4/12 8:45 PM, "Lynelle Hamilton" <lynelle at kos.net> wrote:

> Does anyone have info on LED GU10 replacement bulbs?  I have a (egad)
> Halogen light in my DR.  Because it's also workspace, it's on 10-12
> hours/day on cloudy days. Thing uses 6 50W GU10s. I suppose the bulb
> heat contributes to the ambient warmth, but my masonry heater does a
> much better job, so this isn't a redeeming feature.
> 
> Yet, I'm loathe to invest $180 into 6 LED GU10s (at 35W per) without
> some idea of how they actually compare.
> 
> Has anyone used these or similar?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Lynelle
> 
> On 04/01/2012 1:02 PM, David Bergman wrote:
>> > Hi Benjamin,
>> >
>> > My first question would be: how often is the fixture turned on? If it
>> > is just an occasional use, then it may not be so important to change
>> > it to energy-efficient bulbs. Plus your payback period will be much
>> > longer.
>> >
>> > If the fixture is one that is on for longer or more frequent periods,
>> > then you're right to seek an alternative. There are some candelabra
>> > socket CFL's out there, but yes, they mayy be bigger and they probably
>> > will not be dimmable. Also be aware that, if you are currently using
>> > clear incandescent bulbs, a CFL will look different -- more like a
>> > frosted incandescent.
>> >
>> > There are LED candelabra bulbs available, and some are available in
>> > warm color temperatures (to answer Reuben's point). Also, not all LEDs
>> > are dimmable. But the real issue is that the brightness is lower. As
>> > far as I have seen, the maximum brightness models currently available
>> > are equivalent to around a 15 or 20 watt incandescent.
>> >
>> > If the light is on only occasionally, and especially if you dim it,
>> > you may be better off -- at least for now --sticking with the tungsten
>> > bulbs.
>> >
>> > David
>> > David Bergman  RA   LEED AP
>> > *DAVID BERGMAN* ARCHITECT / *FIRE & WATER* LIGHTING + FURNITURE
>> > architecture . interiors . ecodesign. lighting . furniture
>> > bergman at cyberg.com _www.cyberg.com_ <http://www.cyberg.com/>__
>> > 241 Eldridge Street #3R, New York, NY 10002
>> > t 212 475 3106    f 212 677 7291
>> >
>> > At 12:06 PM 1/4/2012, Benjamin Pratt wrote:
>>> >> The light that is most often on in my house is a 5 bulb fixture in the
>>> >> dining room (burning 40 watt mini-base tungsten presently). This is
>>> >> the one fixture in the house that does not have CFLs in it. My wife
>>> >> likes the warm look of tungsten, especially in this location, and i
>>> >> have been unable to convince her to switch to CFLs. Also, they are
>>> >> larger in size , and the shades that clip on each bulb may not fit.
>>> >> The ideal bulb would be the same size as the tungsten bulbs, dimmable,
>>> >> and a warm color. This may be a good opportunity to switch to LED's,
>>> >> Any recommendations as to what bulbs to get and where to get them?
>>> >> thanks!
>>> >>
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>> >
>> >
>> >
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