Fred Bodin Writes-
Good lighting is of prime importance to an art gallery, and here at Bodin Historic Photo lighting burns huge amounts of electricity. I have 36 track and ceiling lights in the showroom and windows, and each used a 75 watt halogen spotlight. Do the math, and that’s 2700 watts burning 7 days per week, 8 to 10 hours a day. About ten years ago I experimented with CFL fluorescent lights, which use less energy and last longer than the halogens, but produce an ugly green or blueish light. CFLs made my artwork look awful, so I stopped buying them.
Five years ago I jumped on the LED bandwagon, which promised large energy savings and a 10 to 20 year bulb life. But the light’s color still wasn’t right: either too pink or too cold white (like a hospital OR). Last year I found the perfect LED: the GE PAR 30 2700K warm floodlight. I use the long neck version because of the size of my fixtures. I discovered this light at ACE Hardware for about $50. They also have a larger version (PAR38) for recessed ceiling lights: GE Dimmable 12W LED Bulb (66529) – LED Light Bulbs – Ace Hardware. As my halogens and CFLs burned out, I replaced them with my new favorite LEDs.
Last year I found the same LED product at The EFI Mass Save Catalog Product Offer | GE LED PAR30 for $35 each. So I ordered 6 of them and now have 10W LEDs in 21 of my 36 gallery lights. My electric bill is already drastically lower, dropping from $100–$120 per month down to $50–$60 per month, saving $600–$720 per year. The savings will be 85% when all of my fixtures are re-lamped with LEDs. (360 watts with 10W LED vs 2700 watts with 75W halogen). Below are some comparisons.
Halogens: GE 75W halogen warm spotlight: $15–$20. 1,500 hour life (vulnerable to vibration**). Dimmable. $9.03 operating cost per year.
LEDs: GE 10W LED warm floodlight. $35–$50. 25,000 hour life (not vulnerable to vibration**). Dimmable (check dimmer compatibility). $1.20 operating cost per year.
*CFLs: Not a contender because of the yuk color. **Vibration is a major cause of failure for filament bulbs, such as halogens, and is caused by shipping, handling, or a rockin’ party.
My advice: Come into my gallery and see the LEDs first hand. Buy one or two LEDs with the warm 2700K color balance to fit your light fixtures. Compare the color with what you’re using now. Then start re-lamping and saving money!
Here’s my favorite LED, lit by the same LED in my gallery track light.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Great info Fred. I have been switching over to the LEDs for the past two years and love them. “Dimmer compatibility”. Does that mean that the reason some of these dimmable LEDs don’t dim very well (they flicker at certain light levels) are because of the dimmer switch being old and incompatible? Never thought of that one. I will be in this weekend to check all your lights out and maybe it is time to upgrade my dimmer switches.
The $50bucks for a light bulb seems outrageous but you show you get it all back pronto on the electric bill.
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$35 if you order it thru Mass Save, linked above.
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Awesome, can’t wait for those LEDs to keep coming down in price. Another problem with CFLs is that if one breaks, you have a little hazmat operation inside your house trying to contain the mercury. In a few years will look at CFLs as a very brief and unfortunat time in lighting.
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I save by burnt out CFLs and return then to the hardware store for recycling:)
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This is really great to know because we have been avoiding LEDs as the color cast is so ugly–thanks for sharing Fred. The lighting in your gallery is beautiful, and have also noticed that it is especially beautiful when taking photos in your gallery, at evening events, without a flash.
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Yes, they look as good as any traditional halogen track light, and only use 10W. I’ve also shot some great photos here with available light, and haven’t even gotten around to figuring out how to set the color balance on my camera yet.
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I agree, really great info and I can attest to someone who was formerly really against this type of lighting for aesthetic reasons. The warm light they emit at Fred’s gallery is as nice as any traditional light bulb I’ve ever seen.
Fred being a businessman who depends on the art on his walls being lit properly is a fantastic testament to their use as a viable attractive lighting source.
Great Post!
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Thanks Joey. There are only 2 CFLs and one halogen left in the showroom of the gallery. This summer I’ll start replacing the CFLs in the front windows. Julie from Harbor Goods is coming over to borrow an LED to test out in her shop.
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Great info Fred, thank you. As you know we are changing our lighting and you are such a great source of info for us!
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Come on over and check out the color of these LED lights. When you redo your lighting, it will be significantly cheaper than the overhead fluorescent tubes you have now. They’ll last longer too!
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Wow. That is quite a savings. Great info. Thank you.
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