Prolific inventor Thomas Edison would be surprised to know no improvements would be made to his creation for 130 years.
Question: Is it true that traditional incandescent lightbulbs will be phased-out starting in 2012? Why did the federal government change the efficiency standards and what are the practical alternatives to old-fashioned bulbs?
Answer: The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates we use 13.6 percent of our nation’s energy supply to keep the lights on, and with incandescent bulbs—a technology developed in the United States by Thomas Edison in 1878 and largely untouched since—a lot of that power is wasted. If you’ve ever touched a traditional lightbulb when it’s on, you realized most of the energy it uses (90 percent) is converted to heat (ouch!).
To tackle this issue, Congress passed the Energy Information and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). The law requires bulbs of all types use less energy by certain target dates. When the first of these new standards goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2012, traditional 100-watt incandescent lightbulbs will no longer be manufactured in, nor imported to, the United States. Existing stockpiles will still be available for sale, but once they’re gone, they’re gone for good. It’s important to note, however, that the new efficiency requirements only apply to screwbased lightbulbs; specialty bulbs for appliances, heavy-duty bulbs, colored lights and three-way bulbs are exempt.
EISA efficiency standards will kick in for other wattages over the next three years. Traditional 75-watt incandescent lightbulbs will no longer be available as of Jan. 1, 2013; 40-watt and 60-watt versions will no longer be available as of Jan. 1, 2014. The law also mandates all lightbulbs become 70 percent more efficient than classic bulbs by 2020, says Brian Sloboda with the Cooperative Research Network (CRN), a division of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The federal government estimates that as a result of these new standards, Americans will save $6 billion to $10 billion a year in lighting costs.
“It’s equivalent to standards passed in the 1980s to make refrigerators more energy efficient, and we’re reaping those benefits,” Sloboda says.“Refrigerators use less than one-third of the electricity today than they did in the mid-1970s, but consumers can’t tell a difference in how their food is cooled. The premise is, why not do the same for lightbulbs?”
Better lighting options
Once traditional incandescents go the way of the passenger pigeon, residential bulbs will largely fit in three categories:
Advanced halogen incandescents: For consumers comfortable with their old incandescent bulbs, halogen incandescents are a good transitional choice. Featuring a capsule of halogen gas around the bulb’s filament, they use 25 percent less energy and last three times longer than regular incandescent bulbs. “Halogen offers a big efficiency advantage over standard incandescent bulbs,” says John Strainic, global product general manager, GE Lighting. “It consumes fewer watts while delivering a precise dimming capability and a bright, crisp light.”
While reflector-based halogen lamps will fail to meet the new efficiency standards, advanced halogen lamps with IR coatings will remain a viable option. IR coatings redirect heat energy to the filament, increasing light output without increasing wattage. These products provide a 20 percent to 30 percent increase in efficiency compared to reflector-based halogen bulbs, but cost two to three times more.
Compact Fluorescent lamps (CFLs): The most economical option on the market today, CFLs use 75 percent less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. CFLs are now available in a wide array of colors and some can be dimmed. According to David Schuellerman, GE Lighting’s public relations manager, CFLs are best used anywhere lighting is left on for extended periods and full brightness is not immediately necessary, such as family rooms, bedrooms and common areas. As with all fluorescent bulbs, each CFL contains a small amount of mercury (five times less than a watch battery) and should be recycled. Many retailers offer free CFL recycling; visit epa.gov/cfl for details.
LEDs: The newest alternative in home lighting is the LED bulb. Consumers are familiar with single LEDs as indicator lights in electronics; now manufacturers are searching for economical ways to contain a colony of LEDs in a single lighting shell. LED bulbs are more expensive than other options—a replacement for a 60-watt incandescent bulb costs between $30 and $60—but they are highly efficient and last 25 times longer than a classic bulb. Prices are expected to fall as LED technology improves and consumers embrace new alternatives.
LEDs are not without their problems—they have to stay cool to operate efficiently, and when several bulbs are placed together for a brighter, more consumer-friendly light, lifespan decreases. Some manufacturers offset this by adding cooling elements to LED bulbs. Some bulbs feature a spine design to allow air to flow around the base; other models have fans built into the ballast.
Look for lumens
Choosing the right replacement technology requires consumers to switch from thinking about lightbulbs in terms of watts (amount of energy used) to lumens (amount of light produced).
“Lumens, not watts, tell you how bright a light bulb is, no matter the type of bulb,” explains Amy Hebert at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). “The more lumens, the brighter the light.”
As a rule of thumb, replacing a traditional 100-watt incandescent bulb requires an alternative that delivers about 1,600 lumens. Similarly, a 75-watt bulb is equivalent to 1,100 lumens; a 60-watt bulb to 800 lumens; and a 40-watt bulb to 450 lumens (see the chart on page 12).
To help shoppers make the transition, the FTC has designed a “Lighting Facts” label and shopping guide that compares a bulb being purchased with traditional incandescent lightbulbs based on wattages and equivalent lumens. Beginning in 2012, labels on the front and back of lightbulb packages will emphasize a bulb’s brightness in lumens, annual energy cost and expected lifespan.
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