What does the Government Ban on Incandescent Bulbs Really Mean?

The federal government banned the distribution of incandescent light bulbs effective January 1, 2014. Once retail supplies of incandescent bulbs are depleted, consumers will be forced to make more energy efficient choices. What, exactly, are those choices?

Compact Fluorescent Lamps:

Typical wattages for CFL’s are 13W and 23W compared to the traditional 60W and 100W. Lifespan is usually 8000 hours compared to 2000 hours. Different colours are available, typically Warm White, Cool White and Daylight.

Light Emitting Diodes:

LED’s are an emerging technology and it is sometimes difficult to separate the hype from the fact. Here is what we know:

• LED’s have long life. While an estimate of 50,000 hours may be accurate for the LED itself, there are typically three components to an LED bulb – the LED, the electronics and a heat sink. Failure of any one of these components will kill the device. It is safe to say, however, that LED’s have a longer lifespan than CFL’s and, obviously, traditional light bulbs.

• LED’s are efficient. Will a 5W LED replace a 13W CFL? Probably, but the industry has yet to prove comparable wattages. It is safe, however, to assume that LED’s are more efficient than CFL’s.

• Colour options with LED’s are almost infinite. While LED’s can be available in typical colour renditions, extremes are also available. We are installing bright blues, for instance, in shower lights. That’s just cool!

Halogen: Halogen is a variation of the traditional incandescent bulb. Halogen gas inside the bulb increases the efficiency and 40W is a direct replacement for 60W. Halogen lamps run hot, however, and typical lifespan is 1000 hours. Cold Weather Performance: CFL’s are a poor choice for outdoor lighting in sub-zero temperatures. They can fail to start and light output is decreased. LED’s are probably a better choice but we have had customer complaints about LED cold weather performance as well. Until LED’s are proven, the only lamp I can recommend for typical household outdoor use is halogen.

Cost: Consumers who have purchased incandescents in the past will experience sticker shock when they buy CFL’s, LED’s or halogen. If you amortize the cost over the life of the lamp, coupled with the energy savings, there is definite value in CFL’s and LED’s. Dimming: CFL’s can be dimmed but sometimes it isn’t easy. CFL dimmer switches are available but the range can sometimes be from 40% to 100% in light output. Unlike incandescent amps, where dimming can actually increase lifespan, dimming can shorten the life expectancy of CFL’s. LED’s are easily dimmed, although we have found some LED dimmers will cause a momentary delay in start-up. Dimming range with LED’s is usually acceptable and there is no indication that dimming affects life expectancy. So What do Your Eyes Perceive: Most of us grew up with good old fashioned light bulbs. We can provide alternatives to incendescent with comparable lumen output but does it really look the same? This is where science and perception collide. Part of the puzzle is in colour rendering. Incandescent bulbs are, in fact, close to natural sunlight in colour temperature. Even when CFL’s and LED’s attempt to match that colour temperature, the light still seems artificial. So what is the answer? There isn’t one. Let the sun shine in and try a blend of halogen with your CFL’s and LED’s. Disposal: CFL’s contain trace amounts of mercury and should be disposed of accordingly. LED’s contain electronics and, again, should be disposed of accordingly. So You Have Been Waiting for my Personal Opinion, Right? I’m one of those guys who likes to tell the government to get out of my life and telling me what kind of light bulbs to use isn’t going to help change that attitude any time soon. There are still uses for incandescent bulbs. For instance, we are in the contracting business and provide temporary lighting. If a painter’s pole hits a CFL, we’re sweeping CFL dust off the floor. Those things are fragile. LED’s aren’t an option. They’re too expensive to get coated in ceiling texture; that’s providing they aren’t stolen before getting sprayed with the white muck first. In Canada, cold weather is inevitable and incandescent bulbs are still the best option for outdoor use. LED’s might be okay for outdoor use but, personally, I remain unconvinced. The government has provided a trade off, which are halogen bulbs. Consumers, however, are going to be disappointed in life expectancy.

Disposal is another concern. CFL’s contain mercury; LED’s contain electronics. The government’s plans did not include safe disposal. I assume, however, that municipalities will be quick to include lamp disposal at their recycle stations. I can understand the government’s desire to mandate energy efficiency. I think, however, that this program is premature. The LED industry needs to settle out first. There are too many options and too many variations in quality. As a contractor, we make recommendations to clients based on knowledge and experience. Certainly, we have had great success with LED’s but there are still occasions where our response to inquiries is a qualified, “I don’t know”. We don’t sell “I don’t knows”. I can relate it to the use of T5 flourescent tubes, which were introduced as a brighter and more efficient alternative to the old T8’s. It didn’t take long for the industry to adopt T5’s and T8’s became a thing of the past. T5’s became so popular that they replaced many of the less efficient gas discharge fixtures in warehouse and sports lighting applications. The industry evolved by itself. Perhaps a ban on incandescent bulbs was deemed necessary but, in my personal opinion, the program needed a couple more years before implementation. Neil Edwards. Alberta Master Electrician