Choosing the Right Bulb( and Dimmer)


Do not get left in the dark about the new light bulb regulations. Enlighten yourself on the new energy- saving light bulbs and the dimmers that support them.






Up until lately, buying a light bulb was presumably as routine for utmost people as buying a tinderbox of milk. But new light bulb regulations that took effect January 1, 2014, aimed at reducing the ravenous energy consumption of the general service incandescent bulb, have made energy- saving druthers like compact fluorescent( CFL) and light- emitting diode( LED) lights top of mind for numerous. Then’s what you need to know about the new energy-effective bulbs and the dimmers that support them.



Forget “ Watts ” — suppose “ Lumens ”
For decades, we’ve been buying light bulbs grounded on how important energy they consume( watts), rather than how important light they emit( lumens). To help consumers more understand the switch from watts to lumens, the Federal Trade Commission now requires product markers to include both. To replace a 100- watt incandescent bulb, look for one that gives you about 1600 lumens. For a 60- watt bulb, you ’ll want 800 lumens. Learn more by checking out Lumens and the Lighting Data Marker atEnergy.gov.

Compact Fluorescent Lights( CFLs)
Unlike earlier performances of these lights, which emitted a fluorescent gleam, the new kinds offer both the same quantum and quality of illumination as the standard incandescent, but they use 75 percent less energy. CFLs are available in a wide range of wattages, from 5 to 68( original to moment’s 25 to 100 watts). They come in three color temperatures soft white, bright white, and daylight — and last roughly 10 times longer than current incandescent bulbs.



Light- Emitting Diodes( LEDs)
LED bulbs, which employ semiconductor technology to give illumination, use 85 percent less energy than incandescents and 50 percent lower than CFLs to produce the same quantum of light, making them the loftiest lumens per watt in their class. LEDs offer precise color quality and come in a range of color temperatures from soft medium to daylight. They’re dear than CFLs, but given their long life( 25 times that of standard bulbs) and energy savings, LEDs may well be worth the original disbursement.
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Lutron Skylark Contour C- L Dimmer

Lutron’s Skylark Contour C- L Dimmer
Darkening the New Light
While early performances of CFLs and LEDs were nondimmable, that too has changed. Lutron, the leader in darkening technology, now provides a variety of innovative options for reducing the light affair for the new generation of energy- saving bulbs. With compatible switches for CFL and LED lights, you can fluently control light situations to produce the right air for any room in your house. And, because darkening uses lower energy, there’s fresh savings to be had in lower mileage costs as well.



For a bulb to be dimmable, it needs to be compatible with a dimmer. Lutron C · L ® Dimmers were designed specifically for dimmable LEDs and CFLs, so be sure to look for bulbs that say “ dimmable ” on their packaging.( These dimmers are also completely functional with the recently regulated incandescent, should you continue to favor those bulbs.) With standard features that include a main switch and a dimming slide, models like Diva, Skylark Contour, Toggler, and Luméa are smart choices. The company also offers more-advanced models similar as Maestro Wireless technology, which allows you to control lighting situations with any combination of over to 10 dimmers, switches, detectors, and wireless controls each with the touch of a button.

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