It’s nearly lights out for one of the most classic home inventions used to illuminate our homes for decades, as 2012 is supposed to mark the end of the 100-watt incandescent light bulb. In just about 9 months, Thomas Edison’s iconic invention will be phased out to welcome in new energy-efficient options.
With the arrival of the new year, the government is shinning a spot light on some major changes you need to know about with regards to how you illuminate your home.
Under the Energy Independence and Security Act, the 131-year-old light bulb—relatively unchanged in its form today—will no longer be produced or imported in Arizona. You’ll still be able to purchase them at stores until supplies run out. And while there’s also nothing in the regulation stating that you can’t use incandescent bulbs anymore, the change is going to save you on your electricity bill in the long run.
While there may be some grumbling from critics about the higher price tag—about $1.50 to $2 a bulb compared to 25 or 50 cents for the older standard—the savings on homeowner’s electric bills should quickly generate some relief. Lower energy usage and longer life from the new bulbs will more than make up for the higher purchase price over the life of the bulb.
Among choices available to homeowners, these three are considered the future of technology in light bulbs: CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs) which run $2 to $3; halogens (around $4); and LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) which are the most expensive at around $6 per bulb.
Another change to look for is the government’s new Lighting Facts Label, which you should start seeing wherever you purchase light bulbs at stores.
Like the nutrition label on packaged food, a Federal Trade Commission-mandated new label on light bulbs will tell consumers all about the bulbs they buy.
The Lighting Facts label has already begun appearing on some bulb packages and will be on all medium screw-base bulbs—the ones that screw into a traditional light socket.
The label emphasizes lumen output, not watts as the old labels do.
Every light bulb will alert consumers of the package contents in three places:
1. A label on the front of the package will contain information on brightness—or lumen output—and the estimated cost to burn the bulb for one year.
2. A Lighting Facts label on the back of the package will repeat the information about brightness and energy cost, and add facts about the bulb’s life expectancy; light appearance—whether the light it shines is “warm” or “cool”; the wattage, or the amount of energy the bulb uses; and whether the bulb contains mercury.
3. Printed directly on the bulb will be the lumen output and whether the bulb contains mercury.
The Department of Energy has come up with a separate Lighting Facts label for LEDs (light-emitting diodes). Manufacturers may voluntarily affix the label to their solid-state lighting products after they pass tests that verify their claims about performance and lifespan. The DOE Lighting Facts label may prove useful to retailers and lighting professionals who specify fixtures with integrated LEDs.
Other changes in lighting are coming in the near future as well to look out for: In 2013, the familiar 75-watt incandescent will be history. And in 2014, Americans will wave good-bye to their beloved—albeit energy-inefficient—60 and 40-watt A-shaped incandescent bulbs.
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