Lamps are always present in our lives. They light up for us every day. That's why we at BUYnBLUE have put together a small lexicon of lamps for you here. Because often we don't even know what the world of lamps actually encompasses.
When we get up, we switch on table lamps, and in the bathroom, wall lights gently open our eyes. In the kitchen, fresh coffee is already waiting on the dining table, which is illuminated by a stylish Pendant Lamp.
When we leave the house in the early morning, streetlights and garden lighting show us the way. With the headlights on the car, we get to work safely. When we return home in the evening, the cozy living room lighting awaits us, while a delicious dinner is prepared on the well-lit work surface in the kitchen. Before we tiredly fall into bed, a pleasant reading lamp offers us a soothing atmosphere for dreaming.
Lamps are enormously versatile and a perfect help when natural daylight is insufficient or disappears. Usually, we simply switch them on and don't think any further about the interesting techniques and functions that make up a lamp.
What does a lamp have to do with temperatures, you might ask? In fact, you can choose between a warm light and a cold light when lighting a lamp. The color temperature of a lamp determines the atmosphere of the room. For a living room lamp, low color temperatures are recommended, which create an atmospheric ambiance. In the workplace or in the home office, a higher color temperature makes sense so that you have enough light to work with concentration.
The color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). The lower it is, the warmer the light shines. High color temperatures produce a seemingly brighter light. Depending on the intended use, you can wonderfully determine in your home whether you want a warm or colder living environment. For a cozy light that provides warmth in winter, it is best to choose a color temperature of 1800-2700 Kelvin (Extra Warm White). For lighting in the bedroom and for reading, 3000 Kelvin is suitable as a warm white light. In the office or in the home office, you can work perfectly at 3500-5000 Kelvin (Cool White). The natural daylight white is at 6000-6500 Kelvin and, like sunlight, is very intense. It tickles us out of bed every morning and makes us alert.
With the color code of a lamp, the color rendering and the color temperature can be determined. This special code consists of three digits. The first digit determines the color rendering and the following digits indicate the individual color temperature. For example, if you have chosen a lamp with the color code 930, this means that the digit 9 stands for 90-99 Ra (CRI value) and the digits 30 indicate a color temperature of 3000 Kelvin. This lamp therefore produces a colored warm white light.
In our Lamp online shop there are various lamp models such as extravagant Pendant lights, functional Wall lights and stylish Floor lamps, with which you can create your favorite atmosphere. The corresponding light source, such as a modern LED lamp or a light bulb, then emits the corresponding brightness and the desired color by means of a color code.
The CRI is the color rendering index of a lamp (Colour Rendering Index). Natural colors are produced by a high CRI. It is specified in Ra and 100 Ra corresponds approximately to the color rendering of natural sunlight. Lamps with a pleasant color spectrum should, if possible, have a CRI of at least 80-90 Ra, so that the body is not stressed by excessively strong artificial light. Lamps with a CRI of 90-99 Ra are ideal for daily use.
Our mood is not the same every day and we do not always prefer the same flair and brightness. For various occasions, most modern lamps can be dimmed, which means that the light intensity is reduced. The more current flows through a lamp, the brighter it shines. If the lamp is dimmed, less current flows through it. Built-in dimmers are necessary for this.
LED lamps can be perfectly bought with a matching LED dimmer, whereby with a modern “Dim to Warm System” you can also change the color temperature. In the meantime, however, there are also Smart Lightning products such as Tuya Smart, with which you can cleverly and conveniently control all functions and settings of a lamp via app or remote control.
Dimmers are also a great way to save energy. In September 2021, new energy labels were introduced in the lighting industry. These show exactly the efficiency of a lamp. The higher the energy class G, the more energy must be used for operation. Therefore, pay attention to the label when buying your lamp and use dimmers to save electricity! This not only protects the environment, but also your wallet.
The latest lamp technology has produced clever sensors with which you can individually control your lighting. There are various sensors, such as motion sensors, which detect movements in the vicinity of the lamp and then switch it on. In this way, the lamp only uses energy when it is needed. Sensors are also a smart alternative for security lighting in companies, medical practices and schools.
Twilight sensors are equipped in such a way that they can program the light intensity of a lamp depending on the available daylight. When it gets darker, the lamp automatically shines brighter. New infrared sensors detect the ambient temperature and radiate more strongly when it gets cooler. Sensors are often installed in Smart Lightning systems today and can be controlled via remote control or via app.
You probably still know the good old unit "Watt". If you want to buy a lamp, you must first know the required amount of light. Watt is the unit of measurement for the energy of a light source. It was considered that the higher the wattage, the brighter the light. With the invention of LED lamps, however, a lot has changed here.
The amount of emitted light is now mostly specified in Lux or Lumen. Once again, development is progressing and the lumen unit serves as a guide for the perfect light intensity for the corresponding room size, ceiling height, the function of the lamp and your location. The value Lux(lx) describes the light output in a defined area in lumens per square meter. Depending on where the lamp is to be used, you can see exactly on the packaging how high the light output of the lamp is when you buy it.
The lifespan of a lamp is measured in hours. Innovative and high-quality light sources such as LED lamps offer you a maximum operating time of up to 100,000 hours. In years, this corresponds to approximately 32 years.
LED lamps are the absolute frontrunners when it comes to lifespan. When you buy such a lamp, you can be happy that it will provide you with at least 15,000 hours, or an average of 5 years of faithful service. This is because LEDs work differently than, for example, halogen lamps or incandescent bulbs.
LED stands for "light emitting diode". If current flows through these semiconductors in a specific direction, the solid body emits the light and begins to glow. LED lamps are still quite expensive to purchase, but you can save up to 70% on energy costs with these lights. So it definitely pays off quickly.
When LEDs need to be disposed of after their long use, they are also more environmentally friendly. They do not contain any harmful chemical compounds, and their valuable components, such as rare earths and electronic components like diodes and semiconductors, can be effectively recycled. You can find more on the topic of how to properly dispose of old lamps here.
This small lexicon serves as a valuable aid when buying your next lamp. Technical data and knowledge of the various functions of a lamp make it easier for you to find the right lighting for your home.
Not only the design and materials, but also the type of lighting create the unique character in every room. Light influences our state of mind and you want to feel completely comfortable at home. In our online shop, there are high-quality lamp models that are as versatile as you are. Here you will find the right lamp for every occasion.
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