Based on provisions made by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, every homeowner will soon be required to make an energy efficient bathroom light selection. The Act is part of a move to make the U.S. more energy independent, produce more clean renewable fuels, protect U.S. consumers and increase the efficiency of products like bathroom lights.
Most retailers who specialize in bathroom lighting have plans to begin phasing out incandescent bulbs by the year 2012 to comply with the act.
The alternative to what we have always done by using a standard light bulb is to use LED (light-emitting diode) lights, which give off light by using electron movement and avoiding the usual filaments that tend to burn out. LED bathroom lighting can last for 10 to 20 years without having to be changed.
One of the barriers for the average homeowner to using LED bulbs in bathroom wall lights is the cost. An LED light can be pretty steep at about $100, though it certainly pays off over the long haul. What you will save in energy bills and the costs associated with replacing bulbs are well worth the initial investment.
As manufacturers continue to improve production and advance LED technology, the price will begin to decrease and make it more affordable to purchase.
When you are trying to find bathroom-ceiling lights, vanity lighting or any kind of lighting for the bathroom, there is a clue on the product to tell you if you have found an energy efficient bathroom light selection. These products will be labeled as energy star fixtures and carry an energy star rating.
Energy star LED fixtures will expend about 75 percent less energy than incandescent lighting. LED fixtures last for about 22 years, based on three hours of usage per day; they usually come with a three-year warranty; and the lighting is part of the actual fixture with LED lights and usually cannot be replaced in the fixture. Compact Fluorescent Lights offer similar energy star savings. In 2007, the savings prompted by energy star CFLs was $1.5 billion.
Choosing the right energy efficient bathroom light selection will have to involve a choice about you design tastes and the decor already present in your bathroom. It also will require that you decide how much you are willing to spend on lighting. Making a sizable investment now will save many dollars in the long run.
