As many of you already know, the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) will result in some incandescent bulbs no longer being manufactured. The end result of this is that many standard A-shape incandescent bulbs will no longer be available in certain wattages.

When it’s time to replace the incandescent bulbs you have, you have a few different options: The two primary choices people seem to have been making are to stockpile as many incandescent bulbs as possible, or to switch to a more efficient technology. Many of our customers are moving to compact fluorescent and LED bulbs, and there are a number of great reasons to do so. However, if you are one of the people who has reasons to hold steadfastly to the traditional incandescent, allow us to introduce another option you may not be aware of- the halogen incandescent.

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As the weather gets nicer, people flock to their porches and yards. Unfortunately, so do bugs. If you’re looking to reduce the bugs around your outdoor lights but don’t like the look of yellow bug lights, LED might just be the perfect solution.

Traditional bug lights tend to be identifiable by their yellow color. The reason for this is that traditional bulbs emit light across a wide spectrum, including ultraviolet (UV) light. This light is invisible to humans but is highly attractive to insects. The yellow coating of a bug light is designed to filter out most of this ultraviolet light; they’re not designed to repel insects but to simply be less attractive to them.

In addition to the other benefits LED bulbs offer, most LEDs emit light in a very narrow spectrum and do not emit UV light, and are therefore not attractive to bugs. Many bulbs in our LED lineup are also damp location rated, so they’re ideal for outdoor use as long as they’re not directly exposed to the weather or completely enclosed.

If you want to save energy, increase life, and reduce bugs in your outdoor spaces, LED might just be the right light for you.

Gregory Henderson is co-owner of the Roxbury Motel, located in the Catskill Mountain town of Roxbury, NY. He and his partner Joe Massa's unique approach to contemporary lodging has been featured in a number of publications including New York Magazine, National Geographic Traveler, and Madame, and the Roxbury was called one of the "Grooviest Motels in the U.S." by Daryn Kagen of CNN Live Today.

We asked Greg to sit down with us to discuss the Roxbury Motel, and the role lighting plays in the lodging experience.

Chris Robarge conducted the interview, and is a certified Lighting Specialist and web marketer at Bulbs.com.

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Chris Robarge is a web marketer for Bulbs.com, he previously managed the Customer Service department.

When I used to work in the Customer Service department here at Bulbs.com, an issue that would come up time and again was customers who were finding that their quartz halogen replacement bulbs did not last as long as they were supposed to. As it turns out, there is a common cause and an easy solution.

A common cause of early failure for quartz halogen bulbs is surface contamination, and the most likely source of contamination comes from touching the glass portion of the bulb with bare skin. Even clean skin will leave behind oils. This contamination causes a hot spot when the bulb is operated, which can result in cracks or bubbles that will allow halogen gas to leak out, resulting in early failure.

The easiest way to avoid contaminating a quartz halogen bulb is to never touch it with bare skin. Handle the bulb using a rubber glove if possible, a sandwich bag will work if a glove isn't available. If you do touch the bulb accidentally, it's best to clean it thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, as water alone will not remove all of the oils.

I hope this simple tip will help you keep your quartz halogen bulbs burning bright. If you've installed your bulb properly and you're still experiencing early failure, get in touch with a Bulbs.com Lighting Specialists by calling 888-455-2800 or emailing customerservice@bulbs.com. There may be a better bulb for the job, and we'll help you find it!