We’ve posted before on the upcoming legislation that will implement the phaseout of incandescent bulbs guiding consumers toward more energy efficient options. While checking out the latest updates on the American Lighting Association website we came across an article in their news feed that we thought would be beneficial. The article gathers some of the frequently asked questions regarding the new law in one place with thorough answers. We would like to share a few of the FAQs to help you gain further insight on the matter.

Q: Why is the government regulating light bulbs?

A. The new lighting standards are part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The purpose of the law, in short, was to reduce our energy consumption and our dependence on foreign energy sources.

Since lighting accounts for about 14 percent of the electricity used in buildings in this country, the law targeted lighting as one of the areas where improving energy efficiency could make a significant difference.

Q: Why are incandescent bulbs being singled out?

A. Conventional incandescent lighting — the kind we’re most familiar with — uses energy much less efficiently than other kinds. Only 10 percent of the electricity used by a conventional incandescent light bulb goes into producing light. The rest becomes heat.

The government wants to improve those numbers, at least in general-service bulbs, the kind we use most often.

Under the new law, it’s requiring those bulbs to be roughly 25 percent more efficient.

Q. Does that mean all incandescent bulbs are being banned?

A. No. The law applies only to general-service bulbs, the pear-shaped, screw-in bulbs with a medium base that fit most standard lamps and lighting fixtures. What’s more, the law affects only 40-, 60-, 75- and 100-watt general-service bulbs.

Even with that type of bulb, you’ll still have incandescent options. Manufacturers are coming up with more efficient types of incandescent light bulbs that will meet the new standards.

These more efficient bulbs are called halogen incandescent bulbs. Halogen is a form of incandescent lighting that uses halogen gas in addition to a metal filament.

Q. Won’t those halogen bulbs produce light that’s more harsh?

A. At full power, halogen bulbs produce a brighter, crisper, whiter light than conventional incandescent bulbs. That’s good for tasks such as reading, but not everyone likes it for ambient lighting.

But here’s a nifty thing about them: The light of halogen bulbs can be made softer and warmer by turning them down with a dimmer, said Terry McGowan, director of engineering for the American Lighting Association.

Dimming the bulb reduces its Kelvin rating, which measures the color of light, McGowan explained. A halogen bulb can range from a bright, white 2,930 Kelvins to 1,850 Kelvins, the color of candlelight.

So in effect, a halogen incandescent bulb gives you a variety of lighting options in one bulb.

To read the entire article and the additional FAQs about the lighting legislation visit Ohio.com