Light Bulbs: What you Need to Know

The Federal Government has passes a law that phases out the standard incandescent light bulb. Here is what you need to know.

Changes in maximum wattage

100watt change to 72 watt max in 2012

75 watt change to 53 watt max in 2013

60 watt change to 43 watt max in 2014

40 watt change to 29watt max in 2014

*Changes go into effect one year earlier in California and British Columbia

Products available to replace your incandescent bulb: Types Halogen, Xenon, CFL, LED, Cold Cathode, Induction Light Bulbs.

 

Halogen, aka Quartz Halogen

*Omnidirectional, it throws light in all directions.

*On the Kelvin scale, the color temperature is approximately 3100 K.

* On average last 2,500 hours

*Dimmable

*Contain no hazardous waste

*Between 20 and 22 Lumens/watt

Xenon: 

Similar to Halogen in size, shape, color and light output. It burns cooler and last longer than halogen.

*Average xenon last 8,000 to 10,000 hours

*Dimmable

*Contain no hazardous waste

*Between 20 and 22 Lumens/watt

CFL, Compact Florescent Light:

*Omni directional light source

*Available in different colors on the Kelvin scale  

 *On average last 6,000 to 15,000 hours

*not all are dimmable

*Contain some hazardous waste; mercury should be disposed of correctly.

 

LED, Light Emitting Diode:

*Unidirectional light source, throws light in one direction

*Available in different colors on the Kelvin scale

*On average last 25,000 to 50,000 hours

*not all are dimmable

*Contain no hazardous waste (studies being conducted on possible hazards with lead, copper and nickel content in LED bulbs)

*Between 50 and 100 Lumens/watt

Cold Cathode:

*Omni directional light source

* Available in 2700 K (warm white)

*On average last 25,000 hours

*Most are dimmable

*Contain some hazardous waste and should be disposed of correctly.

*Between 100 and 125 Lumens/watt

Magnetic Induction Light Bulbs:

*Omni directional light source

*High on the Kelvin scale, the color temperature is in the 4000k-6000k range, it has a blue hue. (2700k may be available soon)

*On average last 65,000 to 100,000 hours

*not dimmable

*Environmentally friendly as induction lamps use far less energy, and almost no mercury per hour of operation than conventional lighting. The mercury is in a solid amalgam and can easily be easily recovered if the lamp is broken, or for recycling at end-of-life.

*Between 62 and 90 Lumens/watt

Important Terms to Know

Wattage/Watt – (w) – The measure of electrical power
Voltage/Volt – (v) – The measure of electrical charge
Ampere/Amp – The measure of electrical current
Kelvin – (K) – The measure of color temperature
Lumen – (lu) – The measure of light brightness
Candela – (cd) – The measure of light intensity
Pattern – The beam pattern of light that is projected. This includes depth and width of illumination, and angle of light dispersion.