Make the Right Choice ... For Effective Lighting in Your Home.

With the Impact of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) going into effect in 2012, traditional incandescent light bulbs will be phased out over the next three years, starting with 100 watt light bulbs in 2011. This will require you to get more involved in choosing the right light for the right application for your home, from outdoor lights to area lights and task lighting. Our goal is to provide you the tools and information to choose the right light for the right location with the right performance in your home. It gets down to three common features that help you choose the right fit—brightness, color (appearance), and application.

What are my Choices?

With the phasing out of standard incandescent light bulbs, you can decide to use a mixture of halogen, fluorescent or light emitting diode (LED) lighting in your home. When you make your decision on which type of bulb is right for your desired application, it is key to keep in mind energy-efficiency, life of bulb and value—how it works to meet your expectations. For example, halogen bulbs look like standard light bulbs but have a longer life and are more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs. They also provide a little less light and give off a substantial amount of heat. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) use much less energy than incandescent and halogen bulbs and last much longer in the right application. We know, for example, that CFLs work better in high use applications where the light won't be turned on and off frequently (this tends to reduce its life). They also don't work as well in outdoor applications in cold weather or light fixtures with photo sensors. See How do I get the most from my CFLs? LED replacement bulbs are a relatively new technology that provide comparable energy savings to CFLs but are projected to last longer. LEDs currently do not provide the brightness of an incandescent or a CFL and they do not provide area or non-directional (omni-directional) lighting. They work best for task lighting like outdoor floods, indoor recessed lighting and reading or desk lamps because their major benefit is directional (uni-directional) or task lighting. They are normally sold at a premium price in comparison to halogen and CFL bulbs.

How do I Choose the Right Light for the Right Location with the Right Performance?

When choosing the right lighting, read the label on the box to ensure it meets your brightness, color and application requirements. Also be sure to use ENERGY STAR® approved lighting.

You now have the opportunity to choose the right light for the right job in your home and to achieve energy savings at the same time.