Based on 2007 legislation establishing energy efficient standards, the following is the schedule of regulations that phase out energy inefficient bulbs

2012: 100W Incandescent bulbs

2013: 75W incandescent bulbs

2014: 60W incandescent bulbs

For more information, please go to http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=4150 for a more detailed discussion

LED lights are the last word in lighting technology. LED technology holds the promise of reducing human carbon footprint to manageable levels. The light produced by an LED chip depends on the gross light output and on the efficiency with which the chip design makes the light escape from the chip.

When LEDs were invented, the light output was miniscule and impractical for lighting applications. Then, sometime in the 1990s, scientists added tiny mirrors to the LED chip to channel the light outside. They also added small holes to increase light output from LED devices to make the idea of a truly green, eco-friendly light a reality.

It seems that human beings were neither the first nor the best in using these solutions. Scientists at Exeter University were surprised to learn that swallow-tail butterflies have been using the same strategies to increase the reflection of light from their wings for billions of years. These butterflies have scales in their wings that perfectly mimic the design of a 2 D photonic crystal and increase the light output.

The thought that butterflies beat human beings to it when it comes to perfecting the art of extracting light from LEDs is humbling. Things like these remind us how valuable nature is and how humanity can benefit from a deeper understanding of the ways of nature.

The next time you look at the bright spots on a butterfly’s wings you could be looking at the source of the next big breakthrough in lighting. Perhaps a study of natural photonic crystals will teach us to build still better LED lights in the future. Beetles, dragonflies, moths, the list of animals that use light reflection strategies is long and impressive and each tiny insect is the result of 380 billion years of uncompromising research and development.

At My LED Lighting Guide, we endeavor to bring innovative lighting products to you – products that make perfect sense – financial and environmental.

When we feel passionately for the environment we make radical changes in the way we live. Just as important as these radical changes are so are the little things that we do every day. These tiny acts, though merely drops in the ocean, can collectively make the Earth a cleaner and greener planet. The next time you go to a store browse carefully through the products. Base your choice not only on the quality and price of the product but also on the kind of packaging it has undergone. Opt for products   that have eco friendly packaging.

Ever wondered what happens to the packaging material – thermocol, plastics, etc. of any purchase that we make from a store? Environmental conscious people that we are we dump it carefully into a trash can and think that we have done our bit. But this just the beginning of an earth shattering saga! Millions of tons of packaging material are dumped every year. They require huge landfills for disposal. Residing comfortably in there for several years, they cause extensive soil and ground water pollution.

What is eco friendly packaging?

In a stricter sense Eco friendly packaging involves using degradable packaging material, reducing the amount used or doing away with it altogether. It involves the entire packaging process, its design, disposal and degradation. Eco friendly packaging has the following features-

1. The packaging material should be reusable. An ideal packaging material can be removed and reused to package other goods.
2. It should be recyclable. It should be possible to employ it elsewhere into making other products.
3. It should be biodegradable. Unlike plastics that persist in the environment for years these packaging materials should undergo rapid decomposition without liberating any harmful contaminants.
4. The packaging process should used packaging material with care. Weight and volume of the packaging should be minimal.
5. Very little energy should be spent in its production and transportation.

What you can do?

1. Opt for products that have recycled and not recyclable packaging material. If the packaging material has already been recycled it has already gone through the process and is more environmentally friendly.
2. Let the product speak for itself. Avoid products that have layers of packaging. The more funky, elaborate or …………the packaging is the longer it will stay in the environment. Opt for ‘no frills’ products. You will be saving not just money!
3. A packaging container that serves other functions is a good buy. A box of chocolates that can be used to store ornaments after you have finished the goodies is wise packaging. Go for it!
4. When you go to a store, voice your opinion. Tell the store incharge and others around why you are not buying such products. You would soon be a trendsetter.

There is no dearth of biodegradable packaging materials. Several natural materials such as sugarcane fibers, bulrush grass corn etc. can be used to make excellent packaging substitutes. Synthetic biodegradable polyesters that are as versatile as contemporary plastics are also now available. Their only drawback is their high cost. However, they can be used as a coating over natural materials to increase the latter’s strength and water resistance. Recycled paper, glass and aluminum also serve as useful packaging material.

In an effort to sustaining life on Earth despite depleting natural energy sources, more and more individuals are engaging their time into finding ways on how to turn the usual home into a green home. In a world that is entirely run and dominated by things that are electrically powered, one should take into consideration that in one way or another, time will come that the world will suffer from energy sources shortage and that time is starting now. Alternative energy sources are highly commended such as energy from the sun, wind, water, etc.

These alternative energy sources are classified as green technology that focuses on energy. Why is it called green? It is called as such because it focuses on providing technology on diverse field that promotes eco-friendly solutions by employing stuff that are not a threat to the environment. Furthermore, this technology offers long service life and can guarantee the same function as the existing technology it replaces. However, employing this may cost a fortune, but for sure the benefits and the performance guarantees to cover the acquisition price taken for a long time.

An example of green technology is the wind power technology. In essence, wind, like light, is a form of solar energy that is caused by the unevenness of the temperature in the atmosphere caused by the sun, rotation of the earth and the irregularities of the surface of the earth. Wind is also used as a means to producing electricity. How? Wind energy is used to move the wind turbines that then convert kinetic energy into mechanical energy or electricity; the exact opposite of the principle in electric fan which uses electricity to produce wind. So in places where the wind power is high enough to rotate the turbines, wind power technology is the best alternative for coal and fuel burning.

In light of this, since saving energy is the main issue employing efficient energy appliances or gadgets is also commended. Stuffs that can foster this feature are also considered eco-friendly because it reduces the need to produce electricity thus saving energy sources. An almost perfect example of energy efficient appliances is the LED lights. Why? LED lights are known to consume only a fraction of power that other conventional lighting requires. The process of producing light by the light emitting diode and the choice of materials use to construct them eliminates the emission of high temperature, therefore eliminating the possible wasting of energy that may just end up as thermal pollution. Moreover, employing this kind of lighting solution will not only give the consumer energy efficient lighting system but also superior lighting features that is un-compromised. It gives the equivalent brightness and luminance that its conventional counterpart can give with a more or less 70% energy savings. This is definitely a great performance combined in one lighting solution.

Now that more and more are shifting to go green, time will eventually come that the world will be full of concerned individuals that opts to make life on earth safe and sound just like before.

With the advent of high technology advancements, the environment is being compromised in the sake of better and more advanced lifestyle on Earth. Now that a majority of natural energy sources, what can we do to prolong the support for human existence? There are different measures that have been submitted for evaluation including all possible means of having alternative energy sources and banning of some stuff that could make the depletion rate faster and introduces threat to the environment and to human race. Among the candidates for being obsolete are the incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Why? Because of some reasons related to the damaging natural environment.

It was agreed upon by the government of the United States of America that within the years 2012 and 2014, the use of incandescent bulbs will be banned. This is because it consumes a lot of energy to produce light, thing that will definitely add up to the increased depletion rate of the natural energy sources. It is requiring an enormous amount of electrical energy to produce light. Its brightness entirely depends on the wattage that is applied to it. Although it is a very cheap substitute for the natural light and is readily available in the market, the operational cost is high as compared to other lighting system. Many are opposing to the scheduled eradication of this long time lighting solution because of its cheap price, but the government is educating the people on the practicality on facing back to this kind of lighting system.
On the other hand, as a measure of saving the earth from being too exposed to different poisonous substances, compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs are now scheduled to be phased-out in the coming 2015 in the United States. This act is in accordance with the natural environmental issues pertaining to the construction and disposal of the CFLs. Although it is more energy efficient than the incandescent lamps and lasts for a longer service time, it threatens the environment through disposing with it its mercury content. Mercury or hydrargyrum is a known substance coming from cinnabar or mercuric sulfide. It is a highly toxic chemical that can be obtained through inhaling or ingestion of the dust. Once CFLs are disposed, the mercury it contains will mix with the soil and makes it reddish in color. A lot of land fills are now prohibiting the disposal of mercury in the area. Users of CFLs are advised to recycle or just keep the busted CFLs for future processes.

One of the candidates to replace the two is the LED lamps, which are widely known to last for a longer period of time, with no additional cost for its maintenance and most of all consumes only a fraction of energy as what the other two requires. It is safer to use because it doesn’t contain harmful chemical compounds just to produce light and emits heat very minimally. More and more are now utilizing LED lighting as a substitute for the conventional lighting system and experience its practical advantages that are known to answer the energy and environmental issues of the other two conventional lighting systems. It is likely that in the years to come, a lot of users had already switched to LED lights, providing light to every possible corners of the earth.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are good substitute to the now being banned incandescent lamps. It is more energy efficient and lasts longer than its counterpart. CFLs are more expensive because the price includes the disposal fee. It was introduced in North America in mid 1990s. Although it is more energy efficient than the incandescent lamps, its composition makes its disposal complicated. CFLs are known to contain mercury which is a very serious threat to the environment once disposed improperly. Mercury functions as the vapor inside the glass tubing of CFLs. Usually CFLs contains around 3-5 mg of Mercury; some have it as low as 1 mg. In essence, Mercury is utilized as vapor in a phosphor tube, which when electricity pass through, it produces short-wave UV (ultraviolet light) which causes the phosphor to fluoresce, therefore making visible light.

Mercury or Hydrargyrum or quicksilver is a liquid metal with a symbol Hg. Mercury is a poisonous chemical that can be derived from major deposits as cinnabar or mercuric sulfide, the reason for vermilion, the red pigment responsible for the reddening of the soil. The poisonous substance can be ingested or inhaled mercury vapor or by eating mercury contaminated fish. Mercury poisoning which is also known as mercurialism or hydrargyria is the disease that can be derived from exposure to mercury or its components. Acrodynia, Hunter Russell syndrome and Minamata disease are among the list of those mercury related diseases. It affects body senses such as impaired vision, hearing and speech. Disturbed sensation and lack of body coordination are also among the symptoms.

Imagine the world full of mercury-filled CFLs, time will come that the number one cause of human fatality is mercury poisoning. Steps are being taken into account for the eradication of CFLs. By the year 2015, the government of the United States of America will implement the banning of use of CFLs to stop the possible exposure to mercury. Although it is expected that many users of CFL will stop this banning procedure, a lot of informative measures are being given to the public to further understand why the government is pursuing this act.

When this thing comes into action and given that the incandescent bulbs will as well be phased-out, what can substitute CFLs as lighting solution? Majority are thinking that LED lamps are the next thing to be on the spot light to cater all the lighting requirement of the world.

LED lamps can be considered a viable means as alternative to the prevailing lighting system which are expected to be obsolete in the years to come. LED lamps are a lot more beneficial to employ than those two. Imagine the comfort one can have if for a long time, around 10 – 13 years, he will not be thinking of replacing bulbs and maintaining it. Additionally, LED lamps are comparatively using very low energy and still can give-out the equivalent brightness and luminance compared to its counterpart. Considering the price of purchasing LEDs, one just have to consider LED lighting as an investment that will definitely pay-off in the years to come.

Ample information should have to be distributed to further inform the public regarding the practical benefits of choosing LED bulbs over the other lighting options available today.

When we feel passionately for the environment we make radical changes in the way we live. Just as important as these radical changes are so are the little things that we do every day. These tiny acts, though merely drops in the ocean, can collectively make the Earth a cleaner and greener planet. The next time you go to a store browse carefully through the products. Base your choice not only on the quality and price of the product but also on the kind of packaging it has undergone. Opt for products that have eco friendly packaging.

Ever wondered what happens to the packaging material – thermocol, plastics, etc. of any purchase that we make from a store? Environmental conscious people that we are we dump it carefully into a trash can and think that we have done our bit. But this just the beginning of an earth shattering saga! Millions of tons of packaging material are dumped every year. They require huge landfills for disposal. Residing comfortably in there for several years, they cause extensive soil and ground water pollution.

What is eco friendly packaging?

In a stricter sense Eco friendly packaging involves using degradable packaging material, reducing the amount used or doing away with it altogether. It involves the entire packaging process, its design, disposal and degradation. Eco friendly packaging has the following features-
1. The packaging material should be reusable. An ideal packaging material can be removed and reused to package other goods.
2. It should be recyclable. It should be possible to employ it elsewhere into making other products.
3. It should be biodegradable. Unlike plastics that persist in the environment for years these packaging materials should undergo rapid decomposition without liberating any harmful contaminants.
4. The packaging process should used packaging material with care. Weight and volume of the packaging should be minimal.
5. Very little energy should be spent in its production and transportation.

What you can do?

1. Opt for products that have recycled and not recyclable packaging material. If the packaging material has already been recycled it has already gone through the process and is more environment friendly.
2. Let the product speak for itself. Avoid products that have layers of packaging. The more funky, elaborate or …………the packaging is the longer it will stay in the environment. Opt for ‘no frills’ products. You will be saving not just money!
3. A packaging container that serves other functions is a good buy. A box of chocolates that can be used to store ornaments after you have finished the goodies is wise packaging. Go for it!
4. When you go to a store, voice your opinion. Tell the store in charge and others around why you are not buying such products. You would soon be a trendsetter.

There is no dearth of biodegradable packaging materials. Several natural materials such as sugarcane fibers, bulrush grass corn etc. can be used to make excellent packaging substitutes. Synthetic biodegradable polyesters that are as versatile as contemporary plastics are also now available. Their only drawback is their high cost. However, they can be used as a coating over natural materials to increase the latter’s strength and water resistance. Recycled paper, glass and aluminum also serve as useful packaging material.

If you want to make your house a green home and if you want to imbibe the virtues of eco living the well known adage runs true: “Reduce, reuse and recycle”. The three Rs are the golden mantra for a green, environment friendly lifestyle. Follow the dictum in all that you do and you would soon be setting an example for others. The three Rs are a part of the waste hierarchy- a well chalked out waste management strategy that lists the steps in order of their importance. The waste hierarchy has one key function- to get the maximum benefit from a product and to generate minimum waste. Recently, a fourth R ‘Rethink’ has been also been included. Rethink is about looking anew at wastes.

1) REDUCE

First and foremost buy and use less. Evaluate all the purchases the next time you go shopping. Do you really need that item, can’t you do without it? Consider the idea and avoid unnecessary purchases. Whenever possible buy large or bulk packets and buy durable items instead of disposable ones. Use internet to stay connected and to pay bills to avoid paper wastes. Carry reusable shopping bags to avoid unnecessary and harmful polythene bags. Consider the packaging of a product while buying it. Avoid elaborate and flashy packaging- it’s both expensive and harmful to the environment. Do not be taken in by apparently efficient products that actually generate harmful wastes, for example, CFLs when discarded contribute mercury to the environment.

Reducing is not just about purchases but also about using things wisely. Reduce your water bills by saving water, using low flow aerators, taking smaller showers etc. Bring down your electricity bills by replacing power sucking, less efficient incandescent bulbs with energy efficient LED bulbs.

2) REUSE

If you actually set out at making use of old stuff you will be surprised at the innumerable ways at which you can reuse what you thought was good enough for dumping. Hold a garage sale- someone might find use for your unwanted stuff. Pass on old clothes, shoes etc. to the needy. Old stuff need not always be thrown away. You can repair it and use it again. Simple acts like reusing wrapping paper on gifts, washing and reusing disposable glasses, using cloth nappies and diapers for babies, using cloth napkins instead of paper napkins can go a long way in bringing down wastes.

3) RECYCLE

When a process uses a discarded product to create a fresh one or to create a totally new product, the process is called recycling. Almost everything in the house can be recycled. Paper, magazines, acid batteries, plastic bags, bottles, furniture, electronic equipments, metal items…. There’s a huge list of household stuff that can be easily recycled. Old tires can make interesting seating, old furniture can be refurbished, paper can be recycled to make greetings and handicrafts. Recycling has triple benefits- it clears the house of unwanted stuff, saves money and helps you do your bit for the environment.