As always, Master’s Craft wants to be a source of new and valuable information on items related to your home.
New energy efficiency laws that took effect on Jan 1, are aimed at making lighting in your home more energy efficient. Starting in California as of January 1, 2011, the traditional 100-watt and 150-watt A19 incandescent light bulbs are no longer being sold in California. Next January 2012, these bulbs will be off the shelves nationwide.
The law also calls for the sale of 75-watt incandescent bulbs to be halted in 2013. (California will remove them from store shelves one year earlier.) And in 2014, Americans will no longer be able to purchase 60-watt and 40-watt A-shaped incandescents.
What does this mean for all of us who have incandescent lighting? We will have to gradually switch to another type of bulb. Homeowners will be encouraged to replace their traditional incandescent bulbs with compact flourescent lamps (CFLs) or high-efficacy halogens, both of which are longer lasting and use less energy. LED technology is also becoming available and are constantly being improved. In fact, we are currently remodeling a kitchen where all the lighting will be LED.
CFLs are spiral shaped, average between $2-$3 each and can last up to 10,000 hours.
Halogens emit the same warm light that an incandescent bulb does but lasts about twice as long or up to 2,000 hours. The cost is $1.50-$2.00 per bulb.
LEDs have a life expectancy of 25,000 to 50,000 hours and are fast becoming a great option. While they are still quite expensive ($30 to $50 per bulb), one LED bulb can easily outlast 20 or more standard incandescent or halogen bulbs. They should be seen as an investment that returns lower energy bills, require less time changing light bulbs, and ultimately have about the same or less out of pocket expense over the life of the bulb.
One of the biggest challenges with the new law and converting homeowners to more energy efficient options for lighting their home is teaching people what to look for when choosing a bulb. This chart from eBuild.com tells you everything you need to look for.
Full Article with Chart Here >>
When remodeling your kitchen or bathroom or building a new home it’s really important to find a contractor that knows the simple ways, such as lighting, to make your home more energy efficient.
If you have any questions about energy efficient lighting or are looking for ideas about where to start with your kitchen remodel or bath remodel, contact us. We proudly serve Montgomery County and Bucks County, PA, including the boroughs and townships of Hatfield, Lansdale, Souderton, Franconia, Telford, Hilltown, Doylestown, New Britain, West and East Rockhill, Towamencin, North Wales, Lower and Upper Gwynedd, Mongomeryville, Collegeville, Upper and Lower Salford, Salford, Skippack and Worcester. Owner Brian Martin is a NARI Certified Remodeler (CR) and a -NARI Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler (CKBR) . Master’s Craft Construction LLC is a proud member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
