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The Great Debate
Terms & Conditions of Use
This month, Randall tackles a cost/efficiency comparison between line voltage and low voltage light sources.
- By Randall Whitehead, IALD
Q: Randall, in the middle of a family room remodel, my customer’s architect recommended low voltage recessed lights (MR16). But the less expensive alternative is line voltage 4-inch recessed lights. Can you provide a cost/energy-efficiency comparison between low voltage and line voltage?
A: I often hear people saying that an MR16 bulb uses less electricity than a 120V reflector bulb. In truth, a 50W MR16 bulb uses as much power as a standard 50W reflector bulb. The difference is that it gives you close to 100W worth of illumination for 50W worth of power consumption.
But there is also the issue of lamp life: low voltage bulbs compared to line voltage bulbs. A standard household bulb lasts 750 hours, while a standard reflector bulb lasts 2,000 hours, and a standard MR16 lasts 6,000 hours. Note that this is what is called average rated lamp life, which essentially means that at the rated life, such as 750 hours for a household bulb, half of the lamps would be burned out at the 750-hour mark and half would last longer than 750 hours.
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| Low voltage recessed adjustable fixtures, using 12V halogen lamps, provide 100W of dazzle for 50W worth of power. |
Q: Also, do you have a quick cost comparison of bulb replacement and life spans that I can use with customers?
A: Cost-wise, a standard household bulb (such as a 60A19IF) retails for around 85 cents, a standard reflector bulb (such as a 50R20) costs around $5.50 and an MR16 (such as the GE Precise brand) will run around $8.
Replacement-wise, if you left the lights on 8 hours a day for 7 days a week, the household bulb would need to be replaced every 13 days, the standard reflector bulb would need to be replaced every 35 days and the MR16 would need to be replaced every 107 days.
Of course, if I left the lights on in our house 8 hours a day every day of the week, I would be shot.
PAY IT FORWARD
If every household in the U.S. changed one room over to Energy Star®-rated fixtures or lamps, we would prevent air pollution equal to the emissions from 8 million cars. For more info go to www.energystar.gov. |
GOT A QUESTION FOR RANDALL?
Throw him a curve.
Send questions to:
Residential Lighting magazine
attn: Last Word in Lighting
400 Knightsbridge Pkwy
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Fax: (847) 634-7885
E-mail: cpalermo@vancepublishing.com |
Source: Residential Lighting December
2005
Copyright © 2010 Scranton Gillette Communications
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