Shopping for light bulbs can be challenging. Not so long ago, you went to the store and bought an incandescent light bulb. But those have been deemed energy inefficient, and many will no longer be available from stores in 2012 – which leaves us selecting from an array of approved energy-efficient alternatives.

Although there are many options to choose from, two forms of energy-efficient lighting seem to dominate the market as replacements for the old incandescent. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) or light bulbs have the bigger share of the market, while LED bulbs are gaining in popularity. So what are the differences?

A CFL is a miniature, twisted version of the straight fluorescent tubes commonly used in office and retail settings. Many are designed to screw in to standard incandescent fixtures. When gas inside a CFL is excited by electricity, it produces an invisible ultraviolet light. The UV light then hits a white coating inside the CFL, producing light you can see.

The advantages of CFLs, according to ENERGYSTAR®, include:

• Provides the same amount of light as an ordinary bulb, but uses about 75 percent less energy
• Generates approximately 75 percent less heat, cutting home cooling costs
• Lasts up to 10 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb (Anywhere from 6,000 to 15,000 hours of use.)
• Saves about $30 in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime
• Allows for different color temperatures (color) for differing applications
• Quality CFLs give off pleasing, wide-spread general light at reduced energy costs compared to standard incandescent light bulbs.

The disadvantages of CFLs include:

• A minute amount of mercury is included, which requiring careful clean-up and disposal
• Low-end, low-price bulbs often flicker, and burn-out quickly
• Higher initial cost than incandescent bulbs
• Not all CFL bulbs are dimmable. Use CFLs labeled for dimming
• Most photocells, motion sensors and electric timers are not designed to work with CFLs. Always check with the manufacturer or check the box for compatibility
• CFLs require a warm-up time before reaching full brightness. The time varies from a few seconds to minutes, depending on the manufacturer

LEDs, or Light Emitting Diode light bulbs, are “the new kid on the block” for residential and commercial lighting. Instead of giving off light from a vacuum (like an incandescent bulb) or a gas (as in a CFL), LEDs use Solid-State Lighting technology, or SSL. LEDs produce light while electrons move around within its semi conductors

LED advantages include:

• No mercury or other harmful elements are in a finished LED
• Extremely low energy consumption (LEDs use 8 watts to produce 60 watts of light. A CFL uses 14)
• LEDs last an estimated 25 to 30 years, or 50,000 hours
• Contain no glass and are difficult to break
• Excellent for rapid cycling, vibration, and hard-to-reach applications

LED disadvantages include:

• High cost, which will be recovered by long life and energy-savings, but it still deters many purchases
• LEDs are often more direction oriented in light output, which may be ideal for a recessed can, but not your reading lamp

So there you have it – some pros and cons of LED and CFL lighting. Choose the ones that best meet your needs and wallet.

With the new E.I.S.A Lighting laws going into effect soon, many people are concerned about the light quality that will be in their homes. Many people have tried CFL’s that are subpar and are upset about their slow start-up times that leave their rooms gloomy and dark when they flip the switch to turn on the lights. However, most people do not know about TCP’s InstaBright™ technology.

InstaBright was created because there was a market for faster starting CFLs. This CFL technology from TCP comes on faster with a 30-45 second run-up time. At 10 seconds, a TCP CFL with InstaBright will be up over 200 lumens where other bulbs are still under 100 lumens. Here’s a quick demonstration of this amazing technology:



TCP InstaBright CFLs are available in globe, par and A-Lamp sizes in a variety of color temperatures and wattages. These great bulbs are also ENERGY STAR® rated. InstaBright bulbs take away any concerns about walking into a dark room after flipping the light switch. For more information on InstaBright, visit the TCP website.

The Energy Independence Security Act of 2007 (E.I.S.A.), is forcing innovation to an old standard for the good. The E.I.S.A. standards call for better performing and more efficient lighting. That means that starting in 2012 (2011 for California’s accelerated schedule) inefficient lighting options will be phased out in place of more energy efficient options. The goal is that all sockets will be filled with energy efficient options by 2014. Here’s an exact breakdown of how the E.I.S.A standards are shaking out:

The law is not banning incandescent lighting, it is just creating a standard for lighting that traditional incandescent lamps do not meet. The government is creating this standard for lighting, because it is in the public’s best interest. These standards are ensuring the quality and safety of the public, just like they have on many products on the market today.

These new lighting standards are phasing out the blubs that you have come accustom to, but they are offering a lot more options that fit the energy efficient standards. Here are some options to keep in mind when shopping for light bulbs to meet the new requirements; the Compact Fluorescent Light bulb, the LED, and Halogen bulbs. There is no need to panic, all of these new lighting options are optimized for specific applications and will provide you with energy efficient lighting that will look great in you specific space.

Stay tuned for more lighting regulation information and how to set the mood with an energy efficient lighting option!

A light bulb is a light bulb is a light bulb – right? Wrong! There are certain types of light bulbs (or lamps as they are known in the lighting industry) which meet specific needs. Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL), for instance, are especially useful where dimming, rapid on/off (for signs), or long lamp life is required.

So what is a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Light Bulb? CCFL, like their cousins Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL), use small, integrated ballasts to regulate electric current into a glass tube. The current then reacts with mercury and phosphors to generate ultraviolet light. In traditional CFLs, the cathodes incorporate thin tungsten wires which can reach upwards to 900 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold cathodes use more robust solid metal stubs which max out at 200 degrees Fahrenheit – hence the relatively “cold” cathode.

What are the advantages of Cold Cathode Fluorescent Light Bulbs? Cold Cathodes are ideal for use in theaters, amusement parks, marquees, flashing signs, chandeliers, decorative applications, sanctuaries, down lighting and track lights. They are available in all common shapes, including a-lamps, flame tips, torpedo, G20 globes, G25 globes, G30 globes, R20 floodlights, R30 floodlights, and flat pars.

Dimmable down to 5% of total light output, Cold Cathodes provide more flexibility than CFLs. And, Cold Cathodes last for approximately 25,000 hours of use. That is over 15,000 hours longer than most CFLs. The extended life reduces the maintenance cost and hassle of replacing the lamps.

What are the disadvantages of Cold Cathode Fluorescent Light Bulbs? Cold Cathodes are restricted in light output, reaching only up to 40 watts comparable incandescent. Initial lumens range from 100 to 300. Compare that to the range of a traditional CFL – Upwards past 150 watts comparable incandescent and over 2850 initial lumens. Cold Cathodes tend to cost more than CFL for comparable uses. And finally, Cold Cathode and CFLs do not work well if used with timers, motion detectors, or photo sensors are used. On such systems, small amounts of electricity continuously enter the bulbs, even when turned off, diminishing the life of a Cold Cathode or CFL.

TCP has mastered the design and production of Cold Cathode technology.Choose the energy-efficient, long-lasting shape which best meet your unique lighting needs.

TCP, the leader in compact fluorescent lighting products, is the proud recipient of the North American Retail Hardware Association’s (NRHA) Gold and Silver Awards for their new promotional packaging. The promotional packaging is part of a larger branding initiative across all of TCP’s energy efficient product lines.

Extensive consumer research and testing was conducted as part of the project. “Having the most innovative technology and the highest quality is not enough. We focused on listening to the customer and designed packaging to fit their needs.” said Jim Connolly, Sr. Vice President – Retail Division at TCP. “This includes everything from how they choose the lamp to how they store it.”

“The idea was to make energy efficient lighting fun,” says Connolly. “The central element throughout both core and promotional items is the presentation of product features in the first person. Add in packaging configurations that are not traditionally used in lighting, and colorful, unexpected graphics and you have TCP’s new packaging.”

The NRHA Gold Award winner is TCP’s 13 watt T2 spiral. The callout “I fit everywhere” brings attention to the lamp’s exceptionally small size and universal fit and the unusual shape of the clamshell brings some fun to a traditionally conservative category.

The NRHA Silver Award winner is TCP’s 13 watt T2 spiral in a 4 pack clear cube. The clear cube allows customers to view the lamps before purchase to confirm they have the correct lamp size, base type and that there is no damage before purchase. The cube is easily re-sealable and can be conveniently stored or stacked unlike traditional clamshell products.

TCP’s new packaging was launched at this year’s Hardware Show in Las Vegas, NV and will be available at retail summer 2010. Promotional packaging is available now in select stores.