End of Incandescence Part 2

Not long ago while in the midst of a million-dollar custom-home-building project, it was time to address questions of wiring and lighting with my clients and time to consult with my master electrician about the options available.  I assumed that I would continue working with the same lighting supplier I had always done business with—and that I would, by now, have several good alternatives to discuss with my clients.

I was surprised to discover that the alternatives are still few—and that I would have to switch suppliers to be able to outfit my client’s new home with appropriate lighting fixtures.

If you find it a little hard to believe that we would be facing such a dearth of options for something as basic as electric lighting, just think back to the early 90’s when new toilet standards mandated a 1.4 gallon tank.  Toilet manufacturers retrofitted existing toilets--which meant that we all had toilets that didn’t work.  It took European competition to force the American manufacturers to properly engineer their products.

Competition will eventually lead to new, better, and more energy-efficient lighting solutions.  But, in the meantime, I’d like to offer some tips that can help you save money and preserve as full as possible a range of lighting options for your home—whether you own an existing home or are planning to build.

•    If you already own a home, don’t panic and do any conversions now.  It is still premature.  You are likely to see some rapid change as the mandated phase-out gets closer.  

•    Understand that CFL’s work great in places where lights are going to be on awhile.  But you might want to stock up on incandescents in places where lights are often turned on and off—and where the softer glow of incandescence matters to you.

•    If you are considering building--or buying—a new home, make sure you have fixtures that conform to the new standards.  The safest route for now is to plan on using halogen and LED.  These bulbs will be widely available—and it is those two types that the lighting suppliers will be trying to conform to.

•    You probably want to know, if you have plans to remodel or to build, which lighting fixture suppliers should I be choosing?   While I don’t want to recommend a particular supplier at this point, the best advice is to do your research.  Before actually making purchases through a lighting supply store, check out the manufacturers whose fixtures appeal to you.  Go to their web sites , and contact them through their customer service numbers.

In general, the best advice is to stay calm, expect good new choices to emerge, and to do your homework.  When in doubt, consult with an expert in the home-building or lighting industry.  Remember that quietly stocking up on incandescent bulbs over the next couple of years is not an irresponsible thing.  It is a sensible way to ride out the “bumpy” period while we wait for great, energy-saving alternatives to emerge and to become truly cost-effective for consumers.

While we may mourn the passing of the familiar, beloved incandescent bulb, its phase-out will open the door to new, energy-saving possibilities.  Approached with an ounce or two of forethought and common sense, this is a change we can all celebrate.

If you found this article informative or have questions about it, feel free to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .