CFLs are growing in popularity because of energy efficiency. They use less energy, less wattage and have the same light quality. But what’s the difference between the Incandescents and CFL’s? The Aiken Standard breaks it down for you.

Incandescent bulbs will begin to phase out phase-out next year under federal legislation passed in 2007. Under the measure, all light bulbs must use 25 percent to 30 percent less energy than today’s products by 2012 to 2014. The phase-in will start with 100-watt bulbs in January 2012 and end with 40-watt bulbs in January 2014. By 2020, bulbs must be 70 percent more efficient.

According to EnergyStar, if every American home replaced just one light with a CFL, enough energy would be saved to light 3 million homes for one year, to save about $600 million in annual energy costs and to prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000 cars.

Incandescent light bulbs create light by passing electricity through a metal filament until it becomes so hot that it glows. These bulbs are familiar to most people and are the most inexpensive option as far as upfront costs.

However, they are not as energy efficient, lasting only 700 to 1,000 hours, they emit 90 percent of their energy as heat.
In CFL’s, an electric current is driven through a tube containing gases. This reaction produces ultraviolet light that gets transformed into visible light by the fluorescent coating on the inside of the tube.

CFL’s last up to 10 times longer than incandescents and use up to 75 percent less energy. This translates into more than $40 saving per bulb in energy costs over its lifetime. They come in a variety of shapes.

They do have some cons. They contain a small amount of mercury, four milligrams and are more expensive than incandescents. The bulb takes a few seconds to produce light as the gas warms up.

LEDs Use light-emitting diodes to produce light. The movement of electrons through a semiconductor material illuminates the diodes. These types of bulbs use at least 75 percent less energy and last at least 15 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

Original article can be seen on TMCnet.com

Home-owners and contractors often look for various resources where they can find information on the technical aspects of their weatherization efforts. We all want to make sure the job is done right but also make sure things are done correctly to receive a tax break is always a plus.

A great resource for information on weatherization and the technical standards behind weatherizing your home or office can be found here at the:

Weatherization Assistance Program – Technical Assistance Center

“The WAPTAC website contains a ‘virtual’ library of all rules, regulations, policies and procedures required by the Department of Energy’s weatherization program. The site is a central repository for presentation materials, photos and videos of work in progress, site demonstrations, news articles, and other documentation to support WAP operations. WAPTAC.org serves as the institutional memory of the Program”

This website gives you all the resources and information you need on weatherization in one central location. Want to know more about the Recovery Act? Not a problem, links are right off the main page. You will be able to find educational materials, local weatherization program information & even info on how to apply for assistance. WAPTAC is your one stop shop for weatherization resources. Take advantage today and save big with weatherization.

Did you know if every American home replaced just one light with a light that’s earned the ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year? Excellent news right? Yes its true, CFL light bulbs are increasing becoming more popular and the green way to go. Although CFLs are an excellent source of energy-efficient lighting, and work well with most lighting outlets there are a few that is not the best choice. Here are a few limitations to consider:

• On/Off cycling: CFLs are sensitive to frequent on/off cycling. Their rated lifetimes of 10,000 hours are reduced in applications where the light is switched on and off very often. Closets and other places where lights are needed for brief illumination should use incandescent or LED bulbs.
• Dimmers: Dimmable CFLs are available for lights using a dimmer switch, but check the package; not all CFLs can be used on dimmer switches. Using a regular CFL with a dimmer can shorten the bulb life span.
• Timers: Most CFLs can be used with a timer, however some timers have parts which are incompatible with CFLs; to check your timer, consult the timer package. Using an incompatible timer can shorten the life of a CFL bulb.
• Outdoors: CFLs can be used outdoors, but should be covered or shaded from the elements. Low temperatures may reduce light levels - check the package label to see if the bulb is suited for outdoor use.
• Retail lighting: CFLs are not spot lights. Retail store display lighting usually requires narrow focus beams for stronger spot lighting. CFLs are better for area lighting.

Proper disposal of CFL bulbs is important as with most items today, to keep the environment clean and healthy, proper disposal is key. Burned out CFLs can be dropped off at Home Depot and Ikea stores. Another solution is to save spent CFLs for a community household hazardous waste collection, which would then send the bulbs to facilities capable of treating, recovering or recycling them.

The HOME STAR Program (the formal name proposed for what is more commonly known as “Cash for Caulkers”) will be modeled somewhat after the “Cash for Clunkers” program that paid vehicle owners to trade in older, less-fuel efficient cars and trucks for new, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The plan’s authors hope to jump start the ailing construction and home improvement sectors as well as retail sales at home improvement stores. Here are some the details that are being considered as part of the 2010 program:

The plan has a current budget of $23 billion, to be parceled out over a two-year period. The funding for the Cash for Caulkers program may come from unused portions of the funds provided by Congress as part of the ARRA stimulus package of 2009 as well as from funds repaid by financial institutions as part of the TARP program.

This program will have six billion dollars set aside for homeowners who completed at least two approved weatherization programs on their homes. Twelve billion dollars allocated to homeowners who completed home weatherization projects that qualified as major projects, meaning they reduced energy consumption by at least 20%. Two billion dollars would allocate to auditing of funded projects. Finally, $3-billion would be directed to home improvement retailers to provide assistance to homeowners trying to complete these projects.

The amount of money available for homeowners will depend on the costs of the projects undertaken. As currently proposed, HOME STAR would be based on a list of acceptable weatherization projects eligible for the incentives. As the proposal currently stands, any homeowner who completed two of the projects would be eligible for up to $2,000 in stimulus money, and any homeowner who completed four of the listed projects would be eligible for up to $3,500. Any homeowner who undertook significant projects that reduced home energy consumption by at least 20% would be eligible for up to $4,000. Depending on the location, age, size of the house, and level of investment, retrofitting an average home can cut energy bills by 10 percent to 40 percent.

The projects undertaken would have to meet specific government requirements and have proven benefits. The Program will not pay for more than 50% of the total cost of any given project, leaving at least half of the cost to be paid by the homeowner. The Program’s sponsors hope that the Cash for Caulkers program will create lots of American jobs, save homeowners money, drive retail sales, reduce carbon emissions and reduce US dependence on foreign energy supplies. In addition, by saving money on energy, homeowners should have more money left over to spend on other things. Thus, program sponsors envision not only stimulating the economy but making a longer-term investment in our environment and national security.

Not only will it give money for weatherization projects but according to the report of the Vice President’s Middle Class Task Force report, existing techniques and technologies in energy efficiency retrofitting can reduce home energy use by up to 40 percent per home and lower associated greenhouse gas emissions by up to 160 million metric tons annually by the year 2020. Furthermore, home energy efficiency retrofits have the potential to reduce home energy bills by $21 billion annually, paying for themselves over time.

ENERGY STAR is the trusted, government-backed symbol for energy efficiency helping all of us save money while protecting the environment through energy-efficient products and practices. The ENERGY STAR label was established to:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy
• Make it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features, and comfort

If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), we could save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for one year. This equates to about $700 million in annual energy costs savings, and prevents 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year (equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars).

An ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.