Energy efficient downlights

[Pandora]

Does anyone have high efficiency or LED downlights??

We have 40 downlights in our house, and Im looking at replacing them with more energy efficent versions.

I know that there are LED downlights, but they only provide 60-85% of the light output as the 50w downlights to.

Theres another sort that can provide more light but are less efficient - 30-40% more efficient than regular downlights, where the LED are 90% more efficient

Theres also that the LED models are mugh more expensive to buy. I know this is more than offset by the power bill reduction but they still are $60-$100 per light so thats 2400-4000 to do the whole house. They do last significantly longer though

[Tish]

We do - once they warm up they're pretty bright. I'm quite happy with them given the difference in running cost It also means you can insulate right over the top of them, so there are heating/cooling savings too.

[Pandora]

Thanks - I was worried about the insulation. Its a new house that was built in 2008, and has a five star energy rating - I would have thought that to get this theyd have to use the fire covers on teh lights and not have the holes cut in the insulation? Is this not the case?

[~Kim~]

hmm not sure Pandora. I thought that they still couldn't cover them with insulation as they just got too hot.

We have 2 LED downlights (I'm just not a fan of downlights in general so that was my compromise) and they are pretty bright. In fact they poo all over my mums in terms of clarity of light. Just takes them a few minutes to reach max brightness is all.

[Pandora]

I might have to get up in the roof and have a look.
I just dont see how they could pass a five star rating if there are 40 holes cut into the roof insulation becuase of the downlights.
If they ae I will be cranky as we wont qualify for the insualtion rebate as technically we have it evn if its doing nothing due to holes being cut in!

Hmm I might ring and get one of those free assessments that the govt are paying for, that way at least I will know one way or the other.