Content about Compact fluorescent lamp

Regardless of federal or state subsidies, the home product marketplace continues to generate product innovation that increases efficiency and value for the energy-conscious consumer.

An initial public offering is in the works for Shanghai, China-based TCP International Holdings, maker of energy-efficient light bulbs.

The supplier to Home Depot and Wal-Mart Stores (among many others) makes about 3,500 kinds of compact fluorescent light bulbs, about 275 varieties of even more efficient LEDs and 12 kinds of halogen bulbs.

Ace Hardware delivered more than 72,000 energy-efficient light bulbs to military families at the Fort Hood (Texas) Army Base, the largest active-duty military installation in the United States.

The free supply of light bulbs was intended to help residents of the Fort Hood Army Base turn their home maintenance to-do list into a to-done list as they prepare for new energy-efficient lighting standards scheduled to take effect in early 2012.

Consumer Reports has published its ratings on the new lighting technology facing consumers, and concluded that both CFL and LED bulbs have overcome many problems that challenged earlier versions of these energy-efficient bulbs. The full report, available for Fans on Consumer Reports' Facebook page, focused on the 60-watt equivalent of the standard incandescent bulb, testing both CFLS and LEDs. It concluded that CFLs save money faster due to their low cost.

Bill Hamilton, merchandising VP electrical for the Home Depot, has a challenge on his hands. How do you explain simply and clearly the complicated changes taking place in the fast-changing category of light bulbs? 


There are already more than 100 energy-efficient bulb options on Home Depot shelves today, and a multiyear phaseout of incandescent bulbs will begin in January 2012. 


An article in the New York Times sheds light on how some high-end designers view energy rules governing the use of incandescent light bulbs.

The article states that anxiety and stockpiling are some of the results of legislation designed to save energy by phasing out certain incandescent light bulbs, and phasing in compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Leviton has launched a campaign to encourage homeowners and businesses to evaluate their lighting control needs in order to make the kinds of decision that could make a difference in energy consumption. 

The "Make the Switch" campaign in support of Earth Day 2011 includes the educational campaign "10 Smart Tips for a Greener Home.' Among the tips:

• Dimming lights 25% cuts energy usage by 20% and extends a bulbs life four times longer;

While more than one-third of Americans are aware of the federal phaseout of incandescent light bulbs, the majority of consumers have yet to learn that the 100-watt bulb is scheduled to disappear from store shelves beginning in 2012. This is one of the many findings of an Osram Sylvania consumer survey involving 300 homeowners and renters nationwide.

A city near Mesa, Ariz. has partnered with two independent hardware stores in a light bulb exchange program that aims to exchange 16,065 incandescent and halogen bulbs for more energy-efficient replacements, free of charge.

Apache Junction, Ariz., working with Best Hardware, a Do it Best dealer,  and Frontier Ace Hardware, will allow customers to bring in their energy-inefficient bulbs to city hall and receive, at no cost, a voucher for a replacement low-energy compact fluorescent (CFL) or light emitting diode (LED) bulb from one of the hardware stores.