Category: The Energy Entry

Bulbrite has launched its Halogen A19 lamp, an incandescent bulb the company describes as “eco-friendly,” and that complies with the Energy Independence and Security Act.

The act takes effect January 1, 2012 and requires general-service light bulbs to operate up to 30 percent more efficiently than current standards require, effectively outlawing the sale of most incandescent bulbs.

The Halogen A19, a recent winner of the Platinum Award for Design Excellence, is available in four models from 29 to 72 watts. It is dimmer-friendly and can last up to 1,000 hours, the company says.

In April, Philips announced a range of incandescent light bulbsthat it says comply with the impeding regulations. The EcoVantage range has the same look, shape and feel as common household bulbs, but, similar to Bulbrite’s offering, uses halogen technology to offer energy savings.

California is phasing out incandescents a year early. But other states have pushed back against the regulations.

In March, South Carolina legislators introduced theIncandescent Light Bulb Freedom Act, which would permit manufacturers to make incandescent bulbs in the state, as long as the bulbs are stamped with the words “Made in South Carolina” and sold only in that state.

Consumers Can Enjoy More Bulb Choices, More Energy Bill Savings

www.lumennow.org

Washington, D.C., October 19, 2011 – Energy-efficient lighting means more options and more savings.  The more energy-efficient light bulbs U.S. consumers use in their homes, the greater the savings – $50 to more than $100 a year per household.  Those are key messages that the diverse LUMEN coalition – Lighting Understanding for a More Efficient Nation – is conveying to consumers, beginning with today’s launch and website debut.

LUMEN’s primary goal is helping consumers understand the variety of lighting options available to meet their diverse lighting needs and save them money while saving energy.

Money-Saving Choices Already Available

Money-saving choices are already on the market, ahead of the three-year transition that begins January 1, 2012. California began leading the way a year early in January 2011.

“Lighting manufacturers have been preparing for this transition for many years. Resources have been focused on changes in packaging and in new product development. NEMA welcomes this effort to help consumers understand the many choices they have as this transition takes place,” said NEMA Lighting Division Chair Pekka Hakkarainen.

“LUMEN will clear up misinformation,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. “For example, consumers can buy new energy-efficient incandescent light bulbs using halogen technology that look like the old, wasteful bulbs and provide the same light quality but are about 30 percent more efficient and last up to three times longer. Also, both compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, and light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are 75 percent more efficient and last longer. In fact, LEDs can last up to 25 years!”

“A homeowner now has many more options than ever before when it comes to lighting the home.  Understanding which option is best for a specific application is where LUMEN members can help the homeowner.  The lighting industry is going through a technological transition and we need to help educate the consumers,” said Larry Lauck of the American Lighting Association.

New FTC Labels

In addition to “enlightening” the public about the variety and benefits of new lighting choices, the LUMEN website also explains the new FTC labels that will ease the transition from measuring how much electricity a bulb uses in watts to measuring a bulb’s light output in lumens – hence the coalition’s acronym. These labels will be found on an increasing number of light bulb packages as the January 2012 implementation date approaches. The new labels provide information on a bulb’s longevity, lifetime cost and the appearance of the light it sheds on a continuum from cool to warm.

Under the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, inefficient 100-watt bulbs will no longer be made starting January 1, 2012, though retailers can sell out their existing stocks of old bulbs. The higher energy-efficiency standards will apply to 75-watt bulbs starting January 1, 2013, and to 60- and 40-watt bulbs beginning January 1, 2014.

Some current members of Congress may be trying to rescue the energy-sucking incandescent light bulb, but just four years ago, the 110th U.S. Congress decided to create a contest that would inspire the development of its ultra-efficient replacement.

The Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize, also known as the L Prize, received its first victor this week: Philips Lighting has taken the top award, netting a $10 million cash prize and bragging rights for being the contest’s first and only competitor to meet its high expectations.

The winning product may hit store shelves next year. It uses less than 10 watts to generate as much light as the standard 60-watt incandescent light bulb it was designed to replace, which translates to energy savings of about 83 percent. It also lasts about 25,000 hours, compared to 2,000 for its standard counterpart.

The bulb went through extensive testing in a lab, as well as in the field, including in food sales, food service, healthcare, lodging, office, residential and retail setting.

This video explains more about L Prize testing:

With the 60-watt incandescent being one of the most widely-used light bulb on the market, Philips and other manufacturers have raced to find its more efficient equivalent since the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. In addition to creating the L Prize and several other energy efficiency and security measures, the bill effectively banned the manufacture and import of most current incandescent light bulbs.

A number of potential replacements now on the market include Philips AmbientLED, ($40); Sylvania’s Indoor Soft White (39.98), and Lemnis Lighting’s Pharox III ($27 at Amazon.com).

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Ad Council today launched a national consumer education campaign to help consumers save money on utility bills. Created pro bono by Texas-based advertising agency GSD&M, the public service advertisements (PSAs), aim to help consumers save money on their energy bills by doing things such as sealing leaks in their homes and using energy efficient products.

“Americans spend about $2,000 per household on energy every year—but many of them could save a few hundred of that without changing their lifestyle,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “Many American families can take simple steps to reduce their energy bill, while making their homes more comfortable, and use that money for something they really need or want.”

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