Content about Lighting

July 26, 2012
CFLs: A buck a bulb in South Dakota

A partnership between Xcel Energy, a utility company that provides power to South Dakota, and home improvement retailers will offer compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) for as little as a dollar each. The program, announced on July 23, is designed to help residents save energy and money.

June 20, 2012
Recall on two lighting fixtures

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a voluntary recall of two mounted lighting fixtures, one an indoor ceiling fixture and the other an outdoor lantern. 

March 30, 2012
Energy and the modern home

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.

March 30, 2012
Energy savings version 2.0

Ron Jarvis, VP environmental innovation for The Home Depot, said he is “extremely impressed” with how consumers are not just asking for, but demanding, energy-efficient products for their homes — this despite an unsteady economy. 

But thanks to strong marketing programs and ongoing education about the long-term cost-effectiveness of energy-efficient products — and 20 years of Energy Star promotions — customers are opting for products that will save them energy and money.

March 5, 2012
Aero-Tech lights up domestic manufacturing

Ray Schlosser, founder and president of Aero-Tech Light Bulb Co., of Schaumburg, Ill., did not build his “Made in the U.S.A.” campaign because it was the fastest route to profitability.

February 9, 2012
AZEK switches on outdoor lighting offerings

AZEK Building Products has added new outdoor lighting options to its AZEK Rail product line: two styles of Lighted Post Caps and Under Top Rail Lighting.

The Lighted Post Caps include the Villa Cap, available in White and Black, and the Island Cap, available in White, Black, Brownstone and Kona (dark brown). Both caps include multiple LEDs and fit all AZEK 5X5 Rail Post sleeves and complement existing post caps.

January 23, 2012
LED lighting gets more versatile

Acuity Brands expanded its LED indoor ambient lighting portfolio with the launch of the Z Series LED striplight by Lithonia Lighting.

The Z Series luminaires are compact, low-profile solid-state strips that deliver long maintenance-free performance in a wide range of retrofit and new construction applications, including uplight and downlight in commercial, retail, manufacturing, warehouse, cove and display. The Z Series luminaires join the portfolio of versatile Lithonia Lighting LED indoor ambient lighting products. 

January 6, 2012
Politically incorrect?

A triumph for the “light bulb freedom” movement, which opposed the phaseout of traditional incandescent bulbs starting Jan. 1, 2012, may turn out to be a hollow victory. Supporters had hoped to delay the implementation of the new energy-efficient light bulb standards with a rider on the 2012 Omnibus funding bill. Congress passed the bill right before Christmas, along with the light bulb rider, which bars the Department of Energy (DOE) from enforcing the planned phaseout of 100-watt energy-inefficient incandescent bulbs.

December 19, 2011
In a twist, Congress looks to delay bulb phaseout

The budget bill drawn up to avert a federal shutdown includes a provision that will delay enforcement of the new energy-efficiency standards for light bulbs. The rider related to the FY 2012 Omnibus funding bill does not repeal or change the standards, however. Instead, it imposes funding limitations on the Department of Energy (DOE) to enforce the light bulb standards for FY 2012.

December 16, 2011
Ace lights the way in Fort Hood, Texas

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.

December 9, 2011
Lighting options expand at Lowe's

Lowe’s has added two new brands to its bulb assortment, one a new manufacturer in the LED residential market and the other utilizing a new lighting technology.

Samsung Electronics will release its first LED lighting solutions for the U.S. consumer market through Lowes.com and at select Lowe's home improvement retail stores nationwide. The bulbs include A19, PAR20/30/38 and MR16 bulbs -- all designed to replace traditional incandescent, halogen and CFL bulbs throughout the home.

December 1, 2011
TimberTech rolls out lighting options for decks

Wilmington, Ohio-based TimberTech has added three new lighting offerings for decks.

TimberTech is now offering concealed Under-Rail lights. Easily installed inside the top rail between the balusters, they are practically unseen and bring soft and warm light that shines downward keeping the bulbs from falling directly into the line of sight, according to the company.

November 9, 2011
Dorcy introduces its brightest flashlight yet

Columbus, Ohio-based Dorcy, the flashlight leader, introduced the Dorcy Metal Gear XLM (extreme lumen) LED aluminum flashlight.  Producing 618 lumens from a single LED chip, the new high-performance flashlight provides a beam distance of up to 1,100 ft.

November 7, 2011
Home Depot to hold Christmas light trade-in

From Nov. 3 to 13, Home Depot is holding its annual Eco Options Christmas Light Trade-In event. Customers can bring in their old strings of holiday lights -- working or not -- and receive a coupon for up to $5 off the purchase of a new, energy-efficient LED light set.

October 12, 2011
Sylvania LED bulbs to appear at Menards

Osram Sylvania released new LED bulbs at Menards stores on Oct. 11, according to an announcement from the Danvers, Mass., manufacturer. Part of the “Ultra LED” A line, the omnidirectional bulbs are available in two wattages. The 8W is equivalent to the 40W incandescent, and the 13.5W is equivalent to the 60W incandescent. The Ultra LED BR 30 and BR 40 are replacements for the equivalent 65W incandescent models.

September 13, 2011
LED Relight kit is designed for retrofits

Atlanta-based Acuity Brands expanded its LED indoor ambient lighting portfolio with the launch of the Lithonia Lighting RTLED Relight assembly kit. The kit is designed to bring the advantages of LED lighting to renovation projects. 

The easy one-to-one fixture replacement installs from below the ceiling and offers a high quality of light with the added benefit of energy savings. The energy savings can be maximized by the use of advanced LED lighting technology, full range dimming, and flexible, intelligent control options.

September 5, 2011
Consumer Reports releases light bulb ratings

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.

August 31, 2011
Lights out for incandescent bulbs?

The phaseout of the standard, energy-inefficient incandescent light bulb has caused confusion, controversy and more than a few myths as the 2012 deadline approaches. Thomas Edison’s descendents have even been dragged into the controversy. Separating fact from fallacy is not all that difficult (as long as you steer away from politics). After interviewing manufacturers, retailers and trade organizations involved in the world of light bulb commerce, Home Channel News has put together a list of misconceptions about the upcoming phaseout. 


August 12, 2011
Philips wins $10 million DOE bulb contest

Philips Lighting has won the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize” -- more commonly called the “L Prize” competition -- with its 10-watt LED bulb that will be part of its AmbientLED and EnduraLED line.

August 2, 2011
HD lights up awareness in key category

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. 


July 26, 2011
Home Depot hosts lighting showcase

New York -- The Home Depot is spreading the word about energy-efficient lighting options.

During a New York made-for-media event, the retailer and a handful of its vendors retrofitted a hotel suite to showcase new light bulb technologies in a home setting.

The New Lighting for New Savings: Light Bulb Showcase 2012 featured products from Philips, Cree, Lighting Science Group, TCP and Lutron.

July 21, 2011
Nexxus Lighting awarded two LED patents

Nexxus Lighting Inc. has obtained two U.S. patents on Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology, the company has announced.

US Patent Number 7,974,099 represents the company's Selective Heat Sink (SHS) process around which it has designed its Array LED replacement lamps and bulbs.

US Patent Number 7,960,921 allows the LED light source to sense ambient thermal changes and adjust current levels and light output to maintain proper thermal performance of the product.

July 13, 2011
Bid to reverse light bulb rule fails

An attempt to repeal the phaseout of standard incandescent light bulbs failed to muster enough votes to win approval in the House of Representatives, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.

June 17, 2011
Former Home Depot exec joins lighting company

TCP, the Aurora, Ohio-based manufacturer of energy-efficient lighting products, has announced that industry veteran Jorge Fernandez will be joining the company in the position of senior VP business development. Fernandez comes to TCP from Home Depot, where he led the company’s energy-efficient lighting category.

May 16, 2011
Philips unveils EnduraLED A21 17-watt bulb

Philips Electronics will unveil the Philips EnduraLED A21 17-watt light bulb today at the Lightfair International trade show.

Designed to replace a 75-watt incandescent bulb, while reducing energy consumption by 80% and lasting 25 times longer, the Philips EnduraLED A21 17-watt marks another important milestone in LED lighting technology for everyday use, the company said.