What do changing energy requirements for light bulbs mean for your house?

You’ve probably heard that a recent U.S. energy bill will outlaw incandescent light bulbs and require the use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which was signed by President Bush, seeks to reduce the energy use of light bulbs by 30 percent from 2012 to 2014. Beginning in 2012, the sale of bulbs that use more energy will be phased out, beginning with 100-watt bulbs.

How will this affect your home? If you want to start complying with the rules now, what currently available bulbs should you choose? Each bulb has its pros and cons and different effects on color in interior design.

CFLs. These bulbs are growing in popularity and are the best bargain in terms of eco-friendly bang for the buck.

LEDs. Many believe that LEDs are the true future of light bulbs. They use 90 percent less energy than incandescents and last 10 times longer than CFLs.

Halogen bulbs. More energy-efficient than traditional incandescents but less so than CFLs, halogen bulbs — a type of incandescent — may be a good solution if you want a longer-lasting, eco-friendly bulb, but are concerned about the mercury content or the bulb shape of CFLs.

Here’s a link that will give you a quick summation of the bill, its scope and timeline, and how the new generation of light bulbs will affect color quality in interior design.

http://www.swstir.com/use.do?method=article&id=791