The beginning of 2012 marked a change in the way we thing about lighting.  Earlier this year, The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 outlined new regulations to phase-out inefficient incandescent general service bulbs over a four-year period-in California this started a year earlier in 2011.

The phase-out process began with the 100 watt incandescent in January of this year and will be followed by the 75 watt in 2013 and the 60 watt and 40 watt incandescents in 2014.  Fortunately, there are many replacement options available that provide the same quality of light but meet the new standards and you can learn more about them in the Bulbs.com Learning Center under Incandescent Phase-out.

Following the incandescent bulb phase-out, PAR Halogen and Reflector lamps will begin their own phase-out starting on July 14, 2012.  To be compliant with EISA's energy efficient standards and a ruling by the Department of Energy in 2009, any parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) or reflector bulb that is 40 watts of higher can no longer be manufactured for use in the United States.  This includes PAR38, PAR30 (short and long-necked), BR30, BR40 and R20 halogen lamps.  These bulbs are extremely popular with businesses and homeowners, so we have increased our inventory to meet the needs of customers during the transition period.  However, as inventory supplies are depleted in the marketplace, the time will come to look at replacement options.

Again, fortunately there are many PAR replacement options that meet the new efficiency standards.  There include IR or Infrared PAR Halogens, low watt CFLs (compact fluorescent) and LED (Light Emitting Diode).  Also, top manufacturers are working on other new replacement options not on the market now that will closely replicate the look and feel of the higher wattage PAR lamps. Check out these replacement options below:

CFL

LED

IR Halogen

When considering replacement options, there may be some trade-offs to keep in mind. For example, you may need to select a bulb with a shorter rated life to get a greater light output. Or, you may opt to buy a bulb that costs more than a traditional PAR halogen, but lasts 20-30% longer. Since there are considerations when choosing a comparable replacement, we recommend speaking with one of our certified Lighting Specialists to help decide what option is right for your home or business.

Still have questions? Call 888-455-2800 to speak with a Lighting Specialist.