Tune In, Turn On!

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I can’t wait for the Clean Energy Ambassadors next free Webinar, New Light Bulb Standards—Controversy or Opportunity?! It’s going to be June 21 at noon Central time; 11 am Mountain Time. (Click here to register.) We decided to look into lighting after the mundane, 100-watt incandescent lamp found itself in the national spotlight this spring. Maybe you remember-- Congress was reconsidering the wisdom of phasing the old bulb out, in compliance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

In fact, EISA was a broadly supported bipartisan bill signed into law by President George W. Bush. The new standards promote lighting technologies that have been in the works for some time, but have had a hard time capturing the public’s attention on store shelves, due to that powerful force—habit. According to most experts in the lighting industry, the legislation was a reasonable mark of progress. (One TV comedian suggested that the worst part of this news is the loss of the light-bulb-heated Easy Bake Oven).

Lighting experts are especially looking forward to promoting new products beyond CFL technology, which improve on the incandescent bulb. For example, some new halogen bulbs and LEDs meet EISA standards, and reportedly look great.

New Light Bulb Standards are Sparking Debate!

A lot of people, including some utility folks, have been feeling uneasy about next-generation lighting. Count me among them. I have a lot of CFL lamps in my house, but a few brands and models have disappointed me, and I reserve a few sockets for bright, hot, old standbys. As a utility program watcher, too, I wonder what will happen to all those light-bulb give-away programs? Does it make any sense to promote voluntary change-outs of old bulbs, when those bulbs are losing their shine by law?

The June Lighting Webinar will answer these questions—or at least spark a factual debate. Our Webinar will include Jeff Harris, a veteran in energy efficiency technology and research, representing a broad industry coalition called LUMEN (Lighting Understanding for a More Efficient Nation). Jeff comes to us through partnership with the Clean and Efficient Energy Program at the Alliance to Save Energy.

We will also have utility speaker. (Honestly, we've talked to a few with great case studies and can't decide--Would it be unfair to hold a vote?) According to LUMEN, the new standards could save lighting customers $10 billion a year on electricity. Join us, and you can find out how to help your customers share in that savings and enjoy the indoor view that they’re accustomed to.

CEA Webinars are held from 12-1 pm Central time (11 a.m. – noon Mountain) on the third Tuesday of each month. CEA also posts related reference materials and a taped version of the webinar on our website. If you haven’t check us out yet, take a look!