Turn it on, turn it off. We will be turning off our 100 watt incandescent light bulbs next year. So many people continue to use regular inefficient light bulbs! You know the ones - the old fashioned incandescent round bulb that gets burned out all too quickly. These burn the juice without regard to efficiency and have done so for well over 100 years now. If one sums up all the wasted electrical energy due to the inefficiencies of that technology, it would certainly be a huge number.
In 2012, we go into the next phase of energy efficiency dictated by the USA government. By 2015 we will be totally phased into the energy and security law of 2007. The incandescent light bulbs fail to meet the energy efficiency requirements as defined in this law.
Are we ready to abandon the standard 100 watt incandescent light bulb? It will be removed from stores' shelves on January 1st. The best alternative for a 100 watt bulb will be the fluorescent energy saving bulbs with an equivalent lumen output. However, there is a mad scrabble to provide another alternative - the LED technology version. Due to the heat output of this technology however, the maximum available to date has been 60 watts. The 100 watt version will be available later this year and will likely cost about $50. Are you ready for that? The LED technology equivalent of a 100 watt bulb does not seem cost effective, but perhaps it will be by the time it is needed next year. It should use significantly less electrical power than the incandescent or the florescent technologies.
Resources
+ Energy and safety law of 2007 - full text of HR6
+ Yahoo news - LED bulbs hit 100 watts as federal ban looms, May 16, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
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