On January 1, 2012 a
law phasing out standard 100-watt incandescent bulbs will go
into effect. However, it won't be the bulb apocalypse that some detractors have
been warning of. In short: the notion that
incandescent bulbs will no longer be available is a
myth. Nor will you be forced to buy
Compact Fluroescent Lightbulbs (
CFLs). "You will still be able to buy
incandescents,"
Noah Horowitz, senior scientist at the
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), told
Yahoo! Shine. "The only difference
being that the new and improved ones are more efficient."
The new incandescent bulbs operate and look just like the old-fashioned bulbs
that you are used to-they have the same shape and base design. And, according to
Horowitz, most people won't notice any difference in the color or quality of
light. What is different is that they have an improved filament design, which
makes them 28% more efficient as the law requires. So, when you are bulb
shopping for replacements for your old 100-watt incandescents, look for new ones
labeled "72-watt soft white." Sylvania, Philips, and GE all make similar versions.
The Federal Trade Commission has revised its labeling requirements for most
light bulb packages, which might initially cause some confusion. All new bulbs
will be labeled prominently with lumens in addition to watts. Watts measure
power used, lumens measure the amount of light emitted. Since CFLs, LEDs and
other types of bulbs vary in wattage, the most accurate way to look for new
efficient bulbs that give off the same amount of light you are used to and
prefer is by lumens. The approximate equivalents for old standard incandescents
are:
- 40 watts=450 lumens
- 60 watts = 800 lumens
- 75 watts = 1100 lumens
- 100 watts= 1600 lumens
The new light bulbs do cost more, but will save you money over their
lifetime. On average, a new incandescent bulb will cost $1 to $2 compared to 25
cents. That may seem like a big jump, but the NRDC estimates that you will
actually save $3 to $3.50 over the life of each bulb--which means they pay for
themselves. The average homeowner using all efficient lighting will save $100 to
200 per year on energy costs. That adds up to a savings of $13 billion per year
in the United States. New bulbs also reduce pollution. Upgrading our nation's
lighting will cut the need for 30 large power plants and reduce carbon pollution
by the same amount as taking 17 million cars off the road.
New incandescent bulbs aren't your only option. All major retailers, such as
Home Depot, Lowe's, and Target, sell a range of bulbs that meet the new energy
standards including the improved incandescents, CFLs, and LEDs. Compact
fluorescent bulbs are the cheapest, while LEDs are the most expensive but last
for as long as 25 years.
Here are some more shopping tips from Horowitz:
1. Look for "warm white" CFLs and LEDs. Most people prefer
"warm white" over those marketed as "cool white" or "day light." The Environmental Protection Agency offers detailed information on buying the right CFLs for your needs
2. Not all new bulbs are dimmable. If you are replacing a
bulb that was in a dimming circuit, make sure to buy a new incandescent or a CFL
bulb specifically labeled dimmable.
3. Not all new bulbs are created equal. To ensure you are
getting the highest quality product, choose bulbs with the Energy Star label,
which meet strict performance requirements.
4. Dispose of bulbs properly. You can throw incandescents
and LEDs in the trash. To dispose of CFLs, which contain a very small amount of
mercury (less than what's in a can of tuna), place them in a plastic ziploc bag
and bring to a Lowes's, Home Depot, or IKEA for free recycling.
The NRDC has a simple light bulb buying guide you can print and bring to the store.
Old incandescents will not be taken off store shelves on January 1, but
phased out as they are sold off. The old 75-watt incandescent bulbs will be
phased out in 2013 and the 60 and 40-watt bulbs in 2014. Horowitz points out
that that new law has spurred innovation: "Without the law, we'd still be stuck
with the 125-year-old technology that was so inefficient 90% of the electricity
used was wasted as heat."
http://shine.yahoo.com/green/truth-light-bulb-law-200200491.html