Benefits of Recessed LED Lights and How to Buy the Ideal Ones

If you’re trying to be more budget-conscious, then you’re probably thinking about the most efficient changes you can make in your lifestyle without really compromising on your quality of life. Reducing their home’s energy bill is something that doesn’t come to most people’s mind when they’re trying to make budget adjustments, and even fewer people think about changing their lighting fixtures as a solution to their problem. Lighting accounts for about 10% of Australia’s entire energy output, and about 25% of the commercial sector’s overall electricity use. With that said, more and more households and businesses are replacing incandescent lighting fixtures with the more efficient LED lights. One type of LED light fixtures that is becoming increasingly more popular in Australian homes is recessed LED lights, also known as downlights.

What are the Benefits of LED Downlights?

Well, they provide a lot of benefits that most people aren’t aware of. For starters, they spend 70% to 80% less energy when compared to traditional or halogen bulbs. Further, they’re extremely durable and long-lasting, and their typical life expectancy is about 10.000 to 15.000 working hours. This also means that recessed LED lights are an environmentally-friendly solution. On top of that, they provide more illumination but are also dimmable so that you can adjust their intensity based on your personal preferences and needs. So to sum it up, you save money, help save the environment and reduce the need for maintenance.

How to Buy LED Recessed Lights?

When buying recessed LED lighting, there are a couple of technical terms you need to get familiar with in order to ensure you get the best fixture.

• Aperature – this refers to the cutout on the downlight trim where light is visible, which is a hole or opening
• Housing – the protective covering that surrounds the downlight
• IC rating – short for Insulated Contact, this is a feature required for fixtures which are installed in direct contact with your home’s insulation material in the ceiling or wall
• Trim – the decorative moulding around the hole or opening of the downlight
• Baffle trim – a trim style that features large grooves that reduce glare and absorb excess light. Generally, baffles are available in white (to reduce the appearance of the opening in the ceiling), or black (to reduce the glare)
• Reflector trim – a trim style that uses a polished, smooth interior to maximise the light output
• Gimbal trim – a trim style that enables you to control the direction of the light with the help of a pivot found inside the downlight’s housing

The biggest aspect you’ll have to consider is the size of the trim of the recessed LED lighting. Nowadays, there’s a wide range of sizes available, and the size of the trim will depend on the application of the light. When you’re looking at the different trim sizes, you’re generally looking at the measurement of the aperture. The “standard” aperture size for most residential applications used to be 6 inches. However, lately, 3- and 4-inch aperture sizes are becoming more popular simply because they look cleaner. But smaller isn’t necessarily better. You want to maintain a nice balance between size and function. While smaller sized downlights can be great for highlighting or detailing an area, they are not ideal for illuminating an entire room.

Downlighting is first and foremost an architectural lighting solution, meaning that it’s dependent on the area it’s installed in. The same LED downlight fixture that works great on a 3-metre ceiling will look dim on a 6-metre ceiling.

Next, you’ll have to consider the housing of the downlight, which can be either new construction or remodel. New construction downlight housings are for spaces where the ceiling line hasn’t been installed or has been removed so that the housing can be installed between the ceiling joists. Remodel housings, on the other hand, are for spaces with an existing ceiling and they can either be held in place with the help of clips or enter the ceiling through a hole.

Further, consider the IC rating of the housing. An IC-rated housing can be installed with the insulation going over or up to the housing. This is important for spaces where the housing goes into an attic, for example. If the housing isn’t IC-rated, then you’ll need a clear zone or buffer around it to make sure it operates safely. Worth noting is that you should know the requirements and codes of your area when remodelling or building. If you’re buying the lighting fixtures for the project, make sure you clear it with your architect, contractor or lighting specialist to ensure your fixtures will pass the code.

And lastly, consider the type of trim. The ideal trim type is determined by the design aesthetic and application. While round trims used to be the most popular ones just a few years ago, square designs are becoming more and more popular. Some recessed lights come with a decorative lens or flange that can be metal, glass or crystal. Further, trims are defined by their function. For instance, if you need to illuminate a specific feature or object in a room, go for a gimbal or an adjustable trim. Or, if you need a downlight for an outdoor space or a shower, make sure you get one that’s wet-rated. There are tons of options when it comes to downlights, and while that can be a problem for the uneducated buyer, it also means there’s a product out there to meet the scope and specific needs of your project.