-WATT’S with That?
The standard light bulb otherwise known as A-line lamps, will soon be gone. The first deadline will occur 12/31/12. Those blinding, evil, 100 watters will no longer be sold. Note that California has adopted the ban early.
EISA 2007, the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, mandates an increase of efficiency by more than 30%. Compact fluorescent lamps had seemed to be the way to go. Led, Light Emitting Diode, technology is creeping in quickly.
The Deadlines:
100 WATT-12/31/2012 75 WATT -12/31/2013
60 WATT-12/31/2014 40 WATT-12/31/2015
!!!LET THE HOARDING BEGIN!!!
The new look of lamps was to be clunky, off-putting tubes and spirals. Prices for compact Flourecents range from $2-$20+ per lamp. Color quality is all over the place, 4100 color gives the appearance of a brighter white light, but can be straining on the eyes. Industrial settings like factories lean towards the 4100 color choice. 2700 color is the softer light, Hotels and Restaurants use them to enhance the ambiance. The drawback on most compacts is the lack of dimming capabilities. Dimmable features drive the price up towards the $20 mark.
100 WATT=26 WATT Fluorescent. A great deal on a GE 26 Watt Energy Smart CFL – 6 Pack – 100 Watt Replacement is available at Amazon @ 19.12. Remember, Amazon offers free shipping on orders over $25.00. You can stock up on all the wattages, Here is the list of equivalents.
23 to 26 WATT=100 WATT 20 WATT=75 WATT 13 to 15 WATT=60 WATT
10 WATT=40 WATT
WATT’S with the new look of LEDs?
We thought spirals and tubes were strange. LEDs may have strings of little diodes, mini flat panels, and some have funky blueish light. Finding the right lamp will be trial and error. Lamps today can range from $5 -$150 each. Here’s a few examples, some are ick. 
Watt are the equivalents for today’s wattages?
Wattage Equivalents Lumen Range LED Wattage Range
100 Watt Standard 1600-1750 16-20
75 Watt 1100-1210+ 9-15
60 Watt 800-1100 6-9
40 Watt 450-800 4-6
Don’t let anyone tell you different under 4 Watts is no better than a night lite!!!
Opt for the higher wattages on an LED and look for qualities such as ‘reflective’, ‘warm white’, ‘equivalent to 60w, 75w etc.’ and the life rating, which can range from 20,000-50,000 hours. Look for lumens in the range of the top end of the equivalency. Like compact fluorescents most LEDs do not dim, if you need dimmable as well as other features the price will be higher. A hundred dollar sticker price is not uncommon for one bulb.
The ROI, or return on investment is a reality and a huge benefit even at the higher pricing. LEDs can last 50,000 hours.
50,000=5.7 years if the light is on 24 hours. If you have the lamp on for only 8 hours a day, the lamp wont need to be changed for 17 years.
The new generation will be born and graduate from High School and never know the experience of having to change a light bulb. An average incandescent light bulb has a life of 750 hours, at 8 hours a day it would last 93 days and need to change it 4 times a year. If the cost is .50 a lamp, it’s a $2.00 investment. 17 years would be $54.00. Plain math on the hard cost may be incentive enough for a decision to change them out. BUT the kicker is, the energy use.
Using the example of one 60W regular lamp @ 20 cents a KWH equals a cost of $36.00 a year per lamp based on 8 hours a day. You may multiply the quantity of lamps in your home for a better glimpse of your own use. The equivalent in an LED, 9 Watts for a 60W swap, within the same time frame would yield a bill of $5.40, a savings of 30.60. LED lamps will pay for themselves in less than a year, and the benefits would repeat year after year without a lamp change. If you replaced 4 lamps, you would save $120, and so on.
Where to buy? Big Box retailers, Supermarkets, Home Improvement Stores are selling them today.However the best deals are on the Internet. A few examples are:
GE Energy Smart LED 40wt Equivalent A19, Three Bulbs is great deal at Wal-mart, a 3-pack of lamps for 117.66 or a 60 Watt lamp @ Amazon with a lower price,
Leave a Reply
