lumen

The lumen’s limits: why old measures of light output don’t always work for LEDs, and what to do about it

The lumen’s limits: why old measures of light output don’t always work for LEDs, and what to do about it

When replacing one light source with another, you need a medium of exchange, and lumens exist to serve as that medium. However, LEDs may be the end for the old faithful lumen. In practice we’ve found it to be a significantly inaccurate indicator of brightness where LEDs are concerned.

Quantifying quality: on measuring good light after the CRI

Quantifying quality: on measuring good light after the CRI

LEDs are forcing an update to the CRI and a new standard is being considered that broadens the palette of test colors and adds a dimension to quality measurement. We think it's better.

On the “rebound effect” in energy efficient lighting or why LEDs aren't like other energy efficiency

On the “rebound effect” in energy efficient lighting or why LEDs aren't like other energy efficiency

Will LEDs, a technology that creates more light per unit of electricity than any commercial technology before it, increase demand for electricity? Will an efficiency technology increase overall consumption?

Buyer beware: the rise and rise of integrated LED products

Buyer beware: the rise and rise of integrated LED products

Integrated LED products are relatively new to the marketplace, appear to be the future, and may or may not be a good idea. We’ll evaluate three major lighting applications that are seeing an influx of integrated options—track lighting, downlights, and troffers—for what they cost, what the products mean for users, and where we recommend using LED lamps versus integrated LED fixtures.

The brightness you see versus the brightness you read about: on light levels, LEDs, and the shortcomings of the lumen

The brightness you see versus the brightness you read about: on light levels, LEDs, and the shortcomings of the lumen

The industry uses a measure called the "lumen" to measure light volume across light sources. Based on our installations, we believe the better quality the light, the "brighter" a lumen appears. Here we'll explore why we think the lumen fails to indicate brightness properly where LEDs are concerned and what we do about it.

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