Ringing in the New Year means more changes in the light bulb
world for 2014. Starting January 1, the last of the federal government’s new
lighting standards take effect. The Energy Independence and Security Act of
2007 included new standards for manufacturers to make light bulbs more
efficient and to reduce the amount of energy needed to power them. This third
phase-out we’re about to see affects some 40 watt and 60 watt general service
incandescent bulbs.
What does
that mean for you? Choices. Basically, there are three different bulbs that
will replace the older, less efficient ones. Compact fluorescents (CFL’s),
LEDs, and halogen-insert incandescent bulbs. At Lighting Design, we have
several different ones to choose from, so it’s a good idea to come in and ask
questions. The CFL bulbs have come a long way from when they first came into
the market. The color is better, and the prices have really dropped. However,
they are not the right choice if you are using a dimmer switch. LED bulbs are
the most efficient, and with wattages of less than 9 watts, use very little
energy. Still, although prices are dropping and the long term energy costs are
better, a lot of people have a problem paying that much up front for a bulb. They
are a great choice for applications like undercabinet lighting. The
halogen-insert bulbs are probably the best “baby step” choice for most people.
They cost a little more than traditional bulbs, but the brightness and color is
very comparable. And although the lifetime of the bulb isn’t much longer, they
are about 29% more efficient.
The new choices will result in us
all reading labels, too. We’re all used to reading nutrition labels on food
products, and now light bulb packaging includes a Lighting Facts Label. While
we are looking for the most vitamins and nutrients for the least amount of
calories when it comes to food, with bulbs we want more brightness for less
energy used. The label gives you facts like brightness (lumens), estimated
energy costs, life expectancy of the bulb, and light appearance or color. For
example, if you are searching for a bulb with the warm appearance of an
old-style incandescent, choose a bulb that is 2700 Kelvin. And if you’d like
the same brightness of your 60 watt bulb, choose a bulb with around 800 lumens.
While there has been an outcry of “banning
bulbs,” the truth is that it is not that extreme. The government won’t come to
your home and take your away bulbs. They are simply requiring manufacturers to
create better, more efficient bulbs for all of us. Considering the technology that
we’re used to is over 130 years old, I would say it is probably time for a
change.
