Holdouts for Humble Bulb Defy a Government Phase-Out
Hazel Thompson for The New York Times
Jonathan Wright’s shop sells lighting fixtures in Tunbridge Wells, where residents are resisting the switch to compact fluorescent bulbs.
Published: April 23, 2009
TUNBRIDGE WELLS, England — On a quaint lane called Camden Street, the sidewalk easel stands out for its apocalyptic tone: “100-WATT BULBS IN STOCK. (FOR HOW LONG WE DO NOT KNOW)”
Hazel Thompson for The New York Times
Tunbridge Wells is an affluent place not normally prone to protest.
“Let some government official come in and tell me I can’t sell these,” Jonathan Wright, who has owned Classic Lighting for 40 years, said defiantly as he surveyed his warren of upscale light fixtures and shelves filled with neatly stacked bulbs. “I’ll find them wherever I can get them and sell them for whatever they cost. People are buying in bulk because they want them.”
Mr. Wright says that in the last two months he has sold 3,000 of the 100-watt bulbs — the traditional mainstay of British light fixtures — more than 30 times the usual. People are buying 10 at a time, the limit per customer, even though their price is nearly 50 percent higher than it was a year ago.
Mr. Wright’s store is on the front lines of resistance to controversial global efforts to end the era of energy-gobbling incandescent light bulbs by phasing out their sale to encourage (or in Mr. Wright’s view, force) people to turn to more efficient compact fluorescents.
In Tunbridge Wells, the phase-out has brought howls of protest from people not normally prone to rebellion. This is, after all, the quintessential well-heeled English middle-class city — a place where Marks and Spencer is the epicenter of a high street dotted with bookstores and cafes, where people still wear Wellington boots and Conservatives win nearly every election.
Jenny Gale, 60, who said she had tried compact fluorescents while living in India, dislikes the new bulbs. “You can still find the old ones in stores that have some left, and for after that I’ll be stockpiling,” she said. “I’m not going to buy the new ones; I refuse. I hate the light.”
Countries like Australia, Canada, the United States and the European Union nations have drafted varying plans to ban or restrict the sale of incandescent bulbs in the next few years. In the United States, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. effectively bans the sale of almost all incandescent bulbs by 2014, although last year Representative Michele Bachman, a Minnesota Republican, introduced the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act, a bill that would overturn it.
Sales of the bulbs will be banned in the European Union as of 2012, but Britain has moved especially swiftly: the government asked retailers to stop selling 75- and 100-watt bulbs as of Jan. 1. Most complied, including large chain stores, transforming the humble light bulb into a precious commodity.
Some consumers have calmly adapted to the green new world of compact fluorescents. “Seeing as that’s the only ones we can buy now, I use them,” said Katherine Allwood, a student. To get government credits for green initiatives, local electricity companies are even giving them out free of charge. But not everyone is taking.
“My mother tried them, and I said, ‘Mother, my God, what have you done to your lights?’ ” said Pat Evans of South Godstone, northwest of here, who was out shopping. “For now, I have a good supply of normal bulbs, but I suppose they won’t last forever.”
Incandescent light bulbs used to have a clean image, representing the wonders of modern convenience (as in the phrase “as easy as changing a light bulb”). Yet in an age of global warming, the energy they consume — and waste — creates a public relations problem. Lighting accounts for about 20 percent of global electricity use, or about 7 percent of global emissions. Incandescent bulbs, which dissipate the lion’s share of their energy as useless heat, use 5 to 20 times more energy than the newer variants.
But the British have found themselves testing just how much people are willing to adjust long-held habits with the goal of greening the planet. (Like other European Union countries, Britain has promised to lower its emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.)
“Saving the planet is important, but it’s not just about these bulbs,” said Mr. Wright, the store owner. He said that compact fluorescent bulbs were fine for some fixtures that produced diffuse lighting and that people should be educated to use them. (The bulbs can in theory screw into any fixture that takes an incandescent bulb.)
But their light is “awful” for many other lamps and fixtures, like reading lights and lighting near computers, since both types of compact fluorescents have a flicker, he said.
Indeed, his customers have a litany of complaints. The light is too dim, especially for reading and putting on makeup, they say; the bulbs, which are a bit longer than incandescents, protrude from small light shades; they take a long time to reach full brightness; they cannot be dimmed by switches; they contain mercury and therefore require special disposal.
Still, most stores here have abided by the government’s request, if only to cultivate a green image. (Compliance is technically voluntary for now, since the European Union does not end incandescent sales until 2012.) At the local branch of Tesco’s, Britain’s largest supermarket chain, there are no 75- or 100-watt incandescents, and the array of bulbs on display measures just 10 square feet or so. After all, if bulbs last six to 10 times as long, the display can be one-sixth the size. The compact fluorescent bulb considered equivalent to the 100-watt incandescent version sells for $3.65; the old variant used to cost roughly $1.
“People are switching because it’s hard to buy normal bulbs now,” said Mark Garnett, who works for an energy company. “They complain, but they do it.”
Many people say that the ban prompted them to do the right thing for the environment and that the inconvenience is minor. “I probably wouldn’t have made the switch otherwise — only certain types of people would have done it voluntarily — so it’s a good thing,” said Scott Evans, a surveyor here.
But for now, said Helen Nayak, 29, she and her husband are using compact fluorescents in their hallways only. They are saving “regular” bulbs for “rooms where we really want to see things,” she said.
REF: The NY Times
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How to help: Organizations offering relief to Typhoon Haiyan survivors
Aaron Favila / AP
One of the most powerful storms ever recorded killed at least 10,000 people in the central Philippines, with huge waves sweeping away entire coastal villages and devastating the region's main city.
Typhoon Haiyan affected a total of 9.5 million people across the Philippines — and displaced at least 600,000 — when it slammed into the country on Friday, according to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Survivors were described as being in desperate need of clean drinking water and food.
"In some cases the devastation has been total," Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras told a news conference.
Haiyan is estimated to have destroyed about 70 to 80 percent of structures in its path as it tore into the coastal provinces of Leyte and Samar.
The United States said it is fully committed to helping the Philippines recover, and is providing $20 million in immediate aid, but the need is massive
The organizations listed below are deploying urgent relief efforts on the islands. See how you can help:
The American Red Cross has launched a family tracing service among other aid operations. If you are unable to reach a family member in the Philippines, you can contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross to initiate a tracing case. Representatives added that it has deployed two people to assist with assessments in the Philippines. It asks those who want to support relief efforts to mail a check to their local American Red Cross chapter, with "Philippines Typhoons and Flood" in the memo line. Go to redcross.org for local chapter information or redcross.org.ph to donate directly to the Philippine Red Cross.
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee has begun collecting donations for relief efforts. To contribute, go towww.jdc.org or call 212-687-6200.
AmeriCares said it has sent a relief team, two emergency medical modules and three new medical aid shipments to remedy the health crisis — particularly the “widespread shortages of medicines.”
Apple has created an option in the iTunes Store allowing iTunes customers to donate, and iTunes will transfer 100 percent of donations to the American Red Cross. Donor support will provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters.
AT&T and Verizon are offering free calls and texts to the Philippines for customers trying to contact friends and family there in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.
Catholic Relief Services is accepting donations on its website as it begins moving supplies and staff to respond to the typhoon.
ChildFund International has been in the Philippines since 1954. The organization is distributing clean water, food and other household items to victims of the typhoon. It is in the process of setting up child-centered spaces in evacuation centers to provide counsel and relief to children and families affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan.
Direct Relief has shipped 1.5 tons of medicine, nutritional supplements and first aid supplies to the Philippines and hope to ship more with the help of donations through their website. They have also partnered with Team Rubicon, a veterans’ disaster response organization, who is helping Direct Relief drop off portable kits to displaced survivors.
Google has launched a person finder.
Habitat for Humanity plans to offer shelter repair kits for families who need to re-build their damaged houses.
International Medical Corps deployed an emergency response team of medical personnel and sanitation experts to the Philippines to and is accepting donations through their website in order to ship medicine, clean water and food. They are also asking for $10 donations by texting MED to 80888. Infection control is a priority “to keep those already healthy, healthy,” and “medical and social interventions are needed,” to help those who have been injured and displaced,” said Noel Miranda, leader of the Philippines team.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has launched a $10 million appeal and sent an emergency team to Manila who have already started to work on the ground. For more information, visit www.rescue.org.
Mammoth Medical brought a team of surgeons, doctors and medical support volunteers to the Philippines. The group is equipped with three surgical teams and more than 30 parcels of medical supplies as well as a self-contained surgical tent. Click the link for more information.
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) has organized teams of doctors, nurses, surgeons, psychologists, water and sanitation experts and other specialists to respond to the typhoon’s aftermath. The organization is also dispatching nine cargo planes loaded with tons of water, sanitation and medical supplies. The humanitarian cargo includes medical kits for treating the wounded, equipment for medical consultations, tetanus vaccines, relief items such as tents and hygiene kits, water and sanitation equipment and, if needed, an inflatable hospital, said spokesman Tim Shenk. Some of the group’s medical teams were already in place in Cebu Tuesday, but blocked roads, a damaged airport and bad weather have made access to affected areas particularly difficult. Click the link to see how you can help.
Mercy Corps is accepting donations on its website as emergency responders move food, water, shelter and other supplies to the region.
National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) has created a disaster relief fund for victims in the Philippines.
Operation USA said it will allocate donations directly to relief and recovery efforts.
Oxfam teams on the ground are reporting an urgent need for food, clean water, medicine and shelter. Teams are ready to deploy water and sanitation materials to those affected but need help to scale up their response.
The Philippine Red Crosssaid it has mobilized teams on the ground to help with rescue and relief operations. Click the link to learn more.
The Salvation Army is also asking for $10 donations by text. One hundred percent of money donated by sending TYPHOON to 80888 or through their website will be used to sort, ship and distribute donated goods.
Save the Children is also mounting disaster relief efforts to help children and families in the region with emergency assistance.
Team Rubicon is working to facilitate search and rescue efforts and provide medical triage for a field hospital in Tacloban. Click the link for more information.
UNICEF is taking donations to help provide children with shelter, clean water, nutrition and vaccines. Representatives said its staff in the Philippines is being repositioned to help in relief efforts and 66 tons of emergency supplies are being sent from Copenhagen. An airlift set to arrive on Tuesday will include water purification systems, storage equipment and sanitation supplies. Donations can be made to UNICEF at unicef.org/support.
World Food Programme (WFP), a United Nations organization, said it will send more than 40 tons of high energy biscuits and work with the Filipino government to help with logistics and emergency communications systems. Representatives said they have allocated $2 million for the disaster response and officials joined an assessment mission to survey damage in Leyte and Samar provinces. It asks for donations at www.wfpusa.org or by texting the word AID to 27722 to instantly donate $10.
World Vision said it will provide food and water to those in evacuation shelters. Representative said it is putting together resources to assist 1.2 million people, including food, hygiene kits, emergency shelter and protection. It asked for one-time donations to be made at worldvision.org.
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The Politicized Light Bulb
Alan Zale for The New York TimesReady for the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs?
Last week, the Senate Energy Committee held a hearing on two bills, one toupdate energy-efficiency standards for appliances and a second that would repeal federal energy standards,which go into effect next year and will make old-fashioned 100-watt incandescent light bulbs obsolete.
During the hearing, Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, complained to Kathleen Hogan, a deputy assistant secretary at the Energy Department, about the department's “busybody nature” in restricting choices for consumers. He also blamed her for the poorly functioning toilets in his house.
The light-bulb issue has become highly politicized. Conservative lawmakers say the government should not be trying to dictate to Americans what light bulbs they can use.
Why are some Americans put off by attempts to encourage more energy efficiency in their homes? Why are Europeans and Australians, for example, more amenable to small changes for the sake of energy conservation?
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Smart, but still a bit dim
The good: The Lumen LED Color Smart Bulb offers plug-and-play simplicity at a relatively reasonable price. Each bulb's 30,000-hour lifespan is double what you'll get from a Philips Hue bulb.
The bad: The Lumen app only offers basic control of the light, with none of the automation controls or IFTTT compatibility you'll get from Philips. The bulb itself is also a little dimmer than we'd like.
The bottom line: For basic needs, the Lumen LED Color Smart Bulb might make sense, but consider waiting to see if the app improves, and to see what the competition will bring to the table. For more advanced control of your lights, a Philips Hue setup is probably worth the extra cash.
In an age where people are starting to expect more from their lights, we've already seen Philips offer wireless color controls for its Hue LED bulbs, not to mention some competition from crowdfunded upstarts like Lifx and iLumi. Now, Lumenation wants to get in on the fun with the Lumen LED Color Smart Bulb, a color-changing bulb from Tabu that you can control right from your smartphone over Bluetooth 4.0.
At a suggested retail price of $69.99, the Lumen definitely doesn't come cheap, although it does cost $20 less than what you'll pay if you preorder a bulb from Lifx or iLumi. As for Philips, a single Hue bulb will cost you $59.99, but if you want to use it, you'll need a Hue Bridge, which Philips only sells as part of the $199.95 Hue Starter Pack. Granted, with three smart bulbs in the box, the Hue Starter Kit offers a better price per bulb than any of the current competitors. For one or two bulbs, though, Lumen bulbs look like they might be a smart, affordable alternative — just so long as you aren't expecting anything more than the most basic controls over the look of your light.
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How basic? Think of the currently emerging crop of smart lighting options as a high school advanced-placement class. The Lumen is your average C-student — smart enough to earn a passing grade in a competitive environment, but not special enough to really stand out from the crowd. The bulb itself looks futuristic, but only in the same way that countless other LED bulbs look futuristic. The Lumen app boasts a simple interface and easy-to-use controls, but it lacks any sort of advanced, distinctive features or creative flourishes. It screams "knockoff" just as loudly as the sad approximation of Tony the Tiger that you'll find on a store-brand box of Frosted Flakes.
Of course, some people prefer the value of store-brand knockoffs, and to an extent, there's value in Lumen bulbs, too. The light does what it promises, changing colors on demand, and if this is all you're looking for from a smart bulb, then look no further. As for the rest of the Lumen's features — the presets, the wake-up light scheduling, proximity detection, and so on — all of them felt like they were developed just enough so that Lumenation could say it had developed them. Lumenation earns its completion grade with a working product, but won't be scoring extra credit anytime soon.
The Lumen app is simple to use, giving quick access to color, brightness, and preset controls.
(Credit: Screenshots by Ry Crist/CNET)
Still, wobbly metaphors aside, some people will see advantages to using Lumen bulbs as opposed to pricier, more established products. Unlike Philips Hue bulbs, which connect to the Hue Bridge over a ZigBee mesh network, Lumen bulbs speak directly with your smartphone or tablet over a low-energy Bluetooth connection. This means that setup is as simple as downloading the Lumen app, screwing in your bulb, and turning on your lamp.
Since the Lumen bulb relies on Bluetooth 4.0, it's only compatible with recently released iOS devices (iPhone 4 and iPad 2 users are out of luck). If you have a Bluetooth 4.0-enabled Android device, you'll be able to use Lumen bulbs just as soon as Lumenation releases the Android version of its app, which it promises will happen by the end of 2013. I won't blame you if you hold off on ordering until it makes good on this promise.
Need some mood lighting? Lumen's Romance Mode will gradually cycle through warm tones.
(Credit: Colin West McDonald/CNET)
Once you've paired your bulb with your device, you'll be able to turn it on and off remotely, change its color, or launch one of the those aforementioned presets. These aren't nearly as numerous or customizable as what you'll get with Philips — you're limited to two color cycles (the cool-toned "Relaxation Mode" and the warm-toned "Romance Mode"), along with both a fast and slow version of "Party Mode," which strobes red, blue, and green light in succession. Ideally, you'd be able to select your own combination of colors and the speed at which they'd cycle, but the Lumen app doesn't offer this level of functionality yet.
As for good, old-fashioned, normal-colored light, the Lumen uses a dedicated white LED capable of giving off 400 lowercase lumens, making it comparable to a 40-watt incandescent bulb. This isn't quite as bright as I'd like — Philips Hue bulbs, for comparison, give off 600 lumens each. Switch from white light to colored light, and things will get slightly dimmer still. As an accent, it does a fine job, but don't rely on the Lumen to serve as your primary light source.
The Lumen is rated to last 30,000 hours — twice as long as a Philips Hue bulb.
(Credit: Ry Crist/CNET)
Lumenation claims that each bulb will last up to 30,000 hours. That's an impressive number, given that Philips Hue bulbs are only rated to last 15,000 hours, but keep in mind that Philips Hue bulbs come with a two-year warranty. It's unclear whether or not Lumen bulbs, on the other hand, come with any warranty at all. I know I'd feel a lot better about that 30,000-hour lifespan claim if they did.
At its brightest, the Lumen bulb only uses 7 watts of electricity, which comes out to a very efficient 57 lumens per watt. It'll also draw a little bit of juice to power the Bluetooth connection with your phone, but since it's a low-energy Bluetooth 4.0 connection, this should only be a marginal amount. All of this is to say that the math adds up on this bulb, which makes for some much-needed reassurance given that the Lumen doesn't come from a trusted, well-known lighting brand.
If you want to schedule your Lumen light to turn on automatically, you're stuck using Wake-Up Mode.
(Credit: Screenshot by Ry Crist/CNET)
That said, the strength of the Lumen's hardware is actually a bit bittersweet, given that the software is so much of a weakness by comparison. A smart bulb like this just begs for automation scheduling, but all the Lumen app offers is the underwhelming wake-up mode. The potential is there for conditional, if/then statement-based automation, too — something we've already seen with the happy marriage between Hue bulbs and IFTTT. But again, the Lumen app falls short, only offering an underdeveloped proximity mode and an incoming call mode that doesn't seem to work all that well.
(Credit: Colin West McDonald/CNET)
The bright side to all of this is that apps can get better, and hopefully Lumen's app will do just that and will catch up to its bulb in the process. Fortunately, along with the upcoming Android release, Lumenation is promising major app improvements, including a revamped proximity mode and even a music-syncing feature. If and when those features arrive, the $69.99 Lumen LED bulb might be a tempting way for the color-curious to dip their feet into smart-bulb waters. If you're looking to control more than two bulbs, though, you're probably better off just springing for a Philips Hue Starter Kit.
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More to these bulbs than just their smarts
The good: The Connected by TCP Wireless LED Lighting Kit is a cinch to set up, and the app is easy to use as well. Each bulb gives off 800 lumens — more than Philips Hue or Insteon LED bulbs.
The bad: TCP doesn't offer compatibility with cool Web services like IFTTT or new all-in-one hubs like Revolv, the way that Philips does.
The bottom line: For basic lighting automation needs, this TCP kit will do the job nicely — but at a price of $169, you might be tempted to spend $30 more and go with the Philips Hue Starter Kit instead.
The smart home options just keep on coming. The latest is the Connected by TCP Wireless LED Lighting Kit, which will set you up with three LED bulbs, the router hub that serves as their collective brain, and a handy remote control. Setup is a breeze — just plug in the hub, screw in the bulbs, and download the free TCP app to your Android or iOS device. You'll be controlling your new lights within minutes.
As smart lighting kits go, there isn't a lot to dislike about what TCP's offering here. Each bulb gives off a very respectable 800 lumens of warm, natural-looking light, yet still manages to claim a life expectancy of 25,000 hours. The TCP app is intuitive and easy to use, even when you're programming advanced lighting scenes and schedules. The hub is compact and well-designed, mindful of the fact that space is at a premium on today's typical router shelf. The addition of a separate remote control is another nice touch.
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Of course, this brings us to the cost. At $169, this lighting kit certainly doesn't come cheap — but it's still priced competitively. An Insteon Hub and three of its LED bulbs will cost you at least $200, while the three-bulb Philips Hue Starter Kit will set you back $199. Of course, Insteon also comes with huge expansion potential, given the sheer number of devices it supports. As for the color-changing, IFTTT-compatible Philips Hue bulbs, they have an undeniable cool-factor that TCP just can't touch. If basic light control and automation is all you're looking for, TCP's kit makes a lot of sense, but if you want more from your lighting system, there are other, more powerful systems that are probably worth the extra cash.
TCP LED bulbs (right) glow with a comparable brightness and color temperature to 60-watt incandescent bulbs (left).
(Credit: Ry Crist/CNET)
Bulb breakdown
As LED lights go, TCP's bulbs are definitely on the impressive end of the spectrum. You'll often see LED bulbs stretch the truth by claiming that 600 or even 400 lumens of light output makes them comparable to 60-watt incandescents, which average 880 lumens of light output. TCP bulbs, however, put out 800 lumens each, so when they say "60-watt equivalent," they mean it. Also, with 11 watts of power usage, this means that TCP bulbs are putting out about 73 lumens per watt. That's a number to be proud of.
TCP bulbs glow at a color temperature of 2,700 degrees Kelvin, which gives them a warm, yellowy quality. If you're thinking about replacing your incandescents, but are worried that you'll be forced to subject yourself to cold-toned, bluish light, then you'll be pleasantly surprised by what you get from TCP.
|
Lumens
|
800
|
600
|
591
|
|
Life span
|
25,000 hours
|
15,000 hours
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52,000 hours
|
|
Watts
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11
|
8.5
|
8
|
|
Efficiency
|
73 lumens/watt
|
71 lumens/watt
|
74 lumens/watt
|
|
Color temperature
|
2,700K
|
2,000K
|
2,400K
|
Additionally, TCP bulbs are rated to last 25,000 hours. Though 25 times better than the common incandescent, this is still a fairly average number for an LED bulb. All the same, it's a number that I'm happy with, given the above-average brightness. At three hours a day of average usage, it'll last well over 20 years before fading to 70 percent of its original brightness (the current definition of a "dead" LED). Even then, it'd still be shining with around 560 lumens worth of light output. Insteon's LED bulb, for comparison, starts out with a light output of 591 lumens.
TCP warrants all of their lighting kits for two years, which helps lend some credibility to their longevity claims. It's not as bold a warranty as the Cree TW Series LED, though — with 800 lumens and a lifespan of 25,000 hours, same as TCP, Cree bulbs come with a warranty of ten years. With a bar that high, it would have been nice to see TCP put a little bit more money where its mouth is.
On the left, a TCP LED bulb that we dropped several times intentionally. On the right, a Philips Hue bulb that we accidentally dropped once.
(Credit: Ry Crist/CNET)
Another interesting thing about TCP's bulbs: they bounce. Most light bulbs…don't. It was a sad day here at CNET Appliances a few weeks ago when someone who shall remain nameless accidentally dropped one of the Philips Hue bulbs we were testing from a height of about a foot. The Philips bulb shattered, just like most light bulbs would have. If it had been a TCP bulb, however, we probably wouldn't have had a mess to clean up. Even dropping it from three feet up or higher, neither the bulb nor the hardware inside of it seem inclined to break (and believe me, we tested this over and over again — there's something strangely satisfying about watching a light bulb bounce.)
It's hard to criticize Philips for designing bulbs that break when you drop them, but I'm still impressed with how durable TCP's LEDs are. Maybe you'll never drop one of their bulbs, but given how much more they cost than your standard light, it's reassuring to know that if you do, you probably won't be forced to replace it.
With the TCP app, you'll have full control of your lights, as well as the ability to schedule them to turn on and off at specific times.
(Credit: Screenshots by Ry Crist/CNET)
How about that app?
The TCP app is one of the better-designed smart home apps that I've played with. It has polish overall, and the controls just make sense. This probably has something to do with the fact that it isn't new. TCP already offers a wireless CFL lighting kit that uses the same app, so they've had some time to tweak the app's user experience and work out the kinks.
From the app's main screen, you'll get a clear look at the status of all of the bulbs on your system (extra bulbs cost $29.99 each, and TCP claims that its hub can support up to 250 of them). If you opt to fill your house with TCP bulbs, you'll be able to group them into "rooms" to make things easier. From there, you can still control individual lights, or you can opt to take control of an entire room's worth of bulbs, dimming them up and down in tandem, or turning them all on or off at once.
The app also offers "Smart Control" of your lights. Using a simple interface, you'll be able to create and save specific lighting scenes, with different bulbs on, off, or dimmed to a certain level. From then on, you'll be able to return to those exact settings at the touch of a button. In addition, you can program your lights to turn on or off at different times of day, or even have them automatically sync up with sunrises and sunsets. Maybe you want your bedroom lamp to fade on when it's time to wake up — or maybe you want the lights in your house to make it seem like you're home while you're away on vacation. TCP's app makes all of it simple, even for users who aren't necessarily technologically inclined.
One app feature that I found particularly useful: each light will flash whenever you're configuring its settings. It's a little touch, but a smart one, giving you the reassurance that you're tinkering with the right bulb when you try and change its name, or assign it to a new lighting scene.
The dedicated remote is a great feature, as is the hub's attractive, compact design.
(Credit: Colin West McDonald/CNET)
What about features?
From the durability of the bulbs to the handy remote, the Connected by TCP Wireless LED Lighting Kit has a strong and smart design, and this carries over to its features. I was thoroughly impressed with the system's hub. Unlike most control devices that you'll find with systems like this one, TCP's hub is small and unobtrusive. It'd be easy to tuck it onto a shelf beside your router, and from then on, you'd probably rarely notice it.
As for that remote, it works just as you'd expect it to, with a range of about 150 feet. There are dedicated buttons for four different lights — you can choose which lights each one controls via the app. From there, you'll be able to turn each one on and off, or dim them. You also have the option of controlling all four bulbs at once.
However, I was disappointed to learn that TCP lights aren't compatible with external control systems like the Revolv Smart Home Solution, or the Staples Connect Hub, as there seems to be a smart home singularity on the horizon, with devices of all kinds joining together within unified apps, controlled by a single hub. TCP is choosing to skip that party — it's their app and their hub, or it's nothing.
Also, TCP might struggle to compete with other smart lighting options due to the fact that they really aren't offering anything unique. If you want an automatable LED lighting system, you have a few options capable of doing exactly what TCP's kit will do. If you want those lights to change colors, however, you'll need to go with a Philips Hue kit (or with soon-to-be-released bulbs likeiLumi, LIFX, or the Lumen LED Color Smart Bulb). If you want your lights to be part of larger, more complete home automation system, you'll need a system like Insteon or Nexia. That's a lot of competition offering to do a lot of things that TCP just can't.
(Credit: Colin West McDonald/CNET)
Are these the right lights for me?
If you're interested in automated lighting that isn't a pain to program, then they very well may be. In my tests, TCP's system worked flawlessly, and programming specific scenes or schedules was a cinch. The hub features an attractive, space-conscious design, the remote control was nice to have, and the bulbs were surprisingly sturdy. Best of all, those bulbs offer a very strong quality of light that I think most consumers would find very appealing.
Still, I think TCP would have benefited from a slightly lower price point. This isn't to say that TCP's kit is overpriced — $169 is actually relatively reasonable for an automated lighting system, and certainly less expensive than a Philips Hue Starter Kit. The problem is that it isn't that muchless expensive. For just $30 more, you can have full color control over your lights, along withfun features like geofencing and IFTTT compatibility. Or, for $40 more, you can get started with an Insteon Hub and three Insteon LEDs, then slowly start building a home automation supersystem.
With that sort of competition hovering not too far beyond TCP's price point, I think it's in a bit of an awkward position. Still, these are quality lights running on a smooth, well-designed system. If that's all that you need (or, if color-changing bulbs seem like a frivolous novelty), then the Connected by TCP Wireless LED Lighting Kit may be just what you've been holding out for.
Ref: CNET
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Las Vegas Installs “Intellistreets” Light Fixtures Capable Of Recording Conversations
November 9, 2013
The Las Vegas Public Works Department has begun testing a newly installed street light system with wide-ranging capabilities including audio and video recording.
According to the Michigan based “Illuminating Concepts,” the system’s main benefits include “energy management, security and entertainment.” The Las Vegas setup surrounding City Hall includes such features as emergency notification flashers, playable music and a sound announcement system, all controlled from an Ipad.
“Actually, there’s a server that’s housed by the company that’s providing this product and we’re communicating with just a wireless, wi-fi connection,” Neil Rohleder of the Public Works Department told My News 3.
The company’s lights, which also offer a “Homeland Security” feature, received major backlash in 2011 following reports of the system’s federally-funded roll out across the country. The feature allows for emergency government announcements which will likely include such slogans as “See Something, Say Something” as well as other irrationally fear-based messages already seen in Wal Mart’s DHS-run “telescreens.”
Local privacy advocate Daphne Lee has begun speaking out against the system, pointing to the ever-increasing surveillance dragnet cast over everyday innocent Americans.
“This technology, you know is taking us to a place where, you know, you’ll essentially be monitored from the moment you leave your home till the moment you get home,” said Lee.
The Public Works Department claims they have no plans to use the system’s surveillance cameras… for now, leading many to believe the plan is already well underway as city-wide implementation is discussed.
“Right now our intention is not to have any cameras or recording devices…it’s just to provide output out there, not to get any feed or video feed coming back,” said Public Works Director, Jorge Servantes.
In light of the TrapWire system, a sophisticated program that uses advanced facial recognition software through regular CCTV surveillance cameras across the country, the likelihood of the city’s cameras being covertly used by the federal government, or with permission, remains a likely outcome.
Talking street lights have already been implemented in parts of Europe for a number of years. Apartment residents in North London were shocked to discover cameras ordering them to stay away from their communal garden, warning them that their photograph was being taken for entering a “restricted area.”
“At what point do we say this is the land of the free? People have a right to a reasonable amount of privacy,” Lee added.
As new NSA revelations widen the general public’s understanding of just how pervasive the surveillance state has become, the real question lies in whether or not the public will demand accountability as well as their privacy rights.
Originally appeared at Story Leak.
Ref: Infowars.com
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Please take a moment and thank a Veteran Today.
What is a Veteran?
Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye.
Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg – or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity.
Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem.
You can't tell a vet just by looking.
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
They are the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another – or didn't come back AT ALL.
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat – but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the parade – riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket – palsied now and aggravatingly slow – who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being – a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU".
"It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag."
Father Denis Edward O'Brien/USMC
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Commercial Lighting Tampa FL, 813-935-4448 / 813-514-1266
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Fluorescent Bi-Pin Lamp Holders Shunted and Un-Shunted
We often get questions on lamp holders when changing to LED linear T8 lamps.
What's the difference? A picture is worth a thousand words.
I think this will help simplify an explanation for the end user.
It's the end of the light bulb as we know it
With new, stricter efficiency standards almost upon us, it's time to think differently about your lights. Here's why you should feel fine.
(Credit: Colin West McDonald/CNET)
In 2007, the US Congress under President George W. Bush passed the Energy Independence and Security Act. Key among its provisions was a new series of regulations mandating the gradual phase-out of the manufacturing, importation, and sale of inefficient lighting. We've already said goodbye to 75- and 100-watt incandescent light bulbs, and on January 1, 2014, we'll be bidding adieu to 40- and 60-watt bulbs as well.
The move is intended to kick-start a new era of longer-lasting, more efficient lighting, and according to some, it's a move that's long overdue. After all, incandescent bulbs waste up to 90 percent of the energy they consume on heat output, which is why incandescents get so hot when they're turned on. According to EnergyStar, if every American household replaced just one standard light bulb with one of its certified, high-efficiency light sources, we'd save about $600 million in annual energy costs and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year — equivalent to the yearly output of roughly 800,000 cars.
Still, plenty of folks are concerned about the higher costs of higher efficiency, and some simply prefer the warm tone that you get from incandescents. Just before 100-watt incandescents were phased out last year, one in eight Americans said that they'd stockpile the bulbs when polled by lighting company Osram Sylvania, and you can find similar chatter right now with regards to the 40- and 60-watt varieties that are on their way out next year.
Regardless of whether you love the idea of a greener energy standard or hate the idea of additional mandates on the free market, the bottom line is that you're going to need to change the way you think about your lights. No longer will swapping a bulb out simply be a matter of slapping a buck or two down on the hardware store counter for a quick, readily disposable lighting fix. The bulbs of tomorrow are already here today, and they're more advanced, more efficient, and yes, more expensive. You're going to need to put some thought into which ones will serve as the best investments for your home.
In short, it's time to start thinking about light bulbs the way we think about appliances. Here's what you'll need to know.
GE's "omnidirectional" bulb gives off as much light as a 40-watt incandescent, while only consuming 9 watts.
(Credit: Martin LaMonica/CNET)
You've still got options
In 2007, when the law was enacted, one of the key criticisms of the legislation was that the only real alternatives to incandescents would be compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, which, despite their high efficiency, were largely unpopular with consumers and perhaps even dangerous because of the trace amount of mercury contained within each bulb. Times have changed in the last six years, though, with manufacturers stepping up to the challenge — and the opportunity — of an impending bulb void.
The most obvious change since 2007 is the wide arrival of high-efficiency LED bulbs that only use a fraction of an incandescent bulb's wattage, and promise to last up to 20 years or more. Take note that LEDs don't suddenly "burn out" the way that traditional incandescents do. Instead, their brightness fades slowly over a long time period. Manufacturers can calculate how long it will take the light to fade to 70 percent of its original brightness, and this point, known as L70, is the current definition of an LED that's reached the end of its life.
These bulbs can run on the expensive side, with some hitting the $30 mark or higher, but there are more-affordable varieties, too. Take a quick glance at what Home Depot is offering, for instance, and you'll find highly rated LED bulbs from Philips and Cree selling for about $10 — and the price per bulb gets even lower if you buy in bulk. Additionally, as more competition arrives to the free market and these bulbs become more widely used, don't be surprised if prices fall even further.
Don't be too quick to rule out CFL bulbs, either. Since 2007, the variety of tones and color temperatures has improved, and more CFLs are dimmable these days. As for the mercury, the amount sealed inside each CFL is less than 1/100th of what you'd find inside an old-style thermometer — enough to warrant a fair degree of caution when it comes time to recycle the light or clean up a broken bulb, but not enough to justify avoiding them outright.
One other option consumers should keep in mind are halogen bulbs, which are simply incandescent bulbs with the addition of a small amount of a halogen gas like iodine or bromine. Major manufacturers like Philips, GE, and Sylvania have already released higher-efficiency halogens that meet the new lighting standards, and at a few bucks a bulb, these lights should serve as a solid compromise for incandescent users reluctant to spend double digits on a replacement.
Philips EcoVantage halogen incandescents are an affordable middle-ground between futuristic LEDs and your standard, everyday bulb.
(Credit: Philips)
Incandescents aren't necessarily going away
If you're worried that the EPA will come knocking on your door, ready to fine you for each desk lamp that still has an incandescent screwed into it, you can relax. The law restricts incandescents from being manufactured, sold, or imported, but it doesn't say anything about using them, so feel free to use up any bulbs you have on hand before making the switch.
What's more, even after those bulbs have burned out, you may still be able to go out and replace them with additional incandescents. One of the law's concessions is that retailers will be allowed to continue selling whatever incandescent bulbs they already have in stock after the regulations fall into place. When the initial round of regulations phased out 75- and 100-watt incandescent bulbs, it was still possible to find them on the shelves of local stores as long as six months after the law's enactment. If you're one of these consumers who feels hesitant about saying goodbye to your old-school bulbs, you've got a little bit of wiggle room.
Finally, keep in mind that the 2007 law is "technology-neutral," meaning that incandescent bulbs aren't banned outright. Instead, the law regulates the sale of all lights deemed "inefficient' by the new, stricter standards. While this falls largely in Thomas Edison's incandescent lap (the technology is 134 years old, after all), it still leaves room for the development and sale of higher-efficiency incandescents, like those low-cost halogens.
Rated at 2,700 Kelvin, this Philips LED features a more yellow light than the white light some LEDs give off.
(Credit: Martin LaMonica/CNET)
Know the numbers
Today, light-bulb manufacturers are required to include a great deal of information on their packaging. Some of these figures, like the bulb's average energy costs per year, are pretty self explanatory, but others, such as the color-rendering index (CRI) are less clear. Understanding all of these figures is key in determining which light bulbs will provide the best value for your home.
One of the first things consumers might look at is the average life expectancy of the bulb. With your standard incandescent bulb, this is usually something like 1,000 hours, or just under a year if the bulb is used for an average of 3 hours per day. With a high-end LED bulb, you might see a figure like 25,000 hours or even 50,000 hours. I'll save you from doing the math — that's as much as 45 years of hypothetical usage. Throughout that entire time, you'll be paying significantly less on energy than you would have been with your old light, so an LED bulb that's built to last can make for a terrific investment.
As for that CRI number, think of it like an average grade for the bulb's ability to faithfully reproduce various colors in comparison with natural daylight. During testing, a bulb gets a grade of 1 to 100 for each color. For instance, a bulb that scores high with greens will make limes look just as green as they would in the sunlight. These color grades get averaged, and the result is the CRI number — the higher the better. Bulbs with CRI numbers in the 80s are typically very good, high-end lights, although we're seeing some consumer-level bulbs, like the recently announced Cree TW Series LED Bulb, start to creep up into the 90s. If you're looking for clear, vivid colors from your light, seek out bulbs such as these.
Cree's new TW Series LED Bulb boasts an impressive CRI of 93.
(Credit: Cree)
For brightness, you'll want to look for the number of lumens that the bulb puts out. A lumen is a unit of measure for light output. In essence, a bulb is simply a device that converts watts (electricity) into lumens (light), and generally speaking, the more lumens a bulb produces, the brighter it will appear. Remember that not all bulbs are created equal — some are dramatically better at converting watts into lumens than others. An 8-watt bulb might produce more lumens than a 10-watt bulb, for instance. If brightness is your chief concern, check the boxes carefully.
Don't get confused by color temperature, either. Color temperature, measured on the Kelvin scale, is not an indication of how hot or bright the bulb gets. Instead, it's a measure of the color of the light that the bulb produces. Think of a flame — it's orange and yellow at first, but a reallyhot flame glows blue. Color temperature works the same way. Lights on the low end of the spectrum (2,700 to 3,000K) will have a warm, orange color, whereas lights on the high end (4,500 to 6,500K) will look more bluish. Lights that fall somewhere in the middle of the scale should shine bright white.
The color temperature difference between the 17-watt Philips Ambient LED (left) and a 26-watt CFL is easy to see.
(Credit: Candace Lombardi/CNET)
No matter how you end up lighting your home, the important thing to remember is that you'll still have the power to decide what's best for you. No one is forcing you to use a certain kind of light bulb — the government is just forcing manufacturers to build you better ones. After 134 years of incandescents, maybe it's about time.
Are efficient LED bulbs worth the price?
As general-purpose LED bulbs come to market, the prices are relatively high. But if you consider long-term savings and use them for specific purposes, they look more compelling.
At this point, LED bulbs are the hybrid cars of lighting. They're cheaper to operate but cost more upfront than their less-efficient cousins.
There have been LED spotlights and smaller lights for years, but now people can buy LED bulbs that give out as much light as a 60-watt incandescent and are designed for use just about anywhere. And rather than purchase them online or in a specialty store, they will be available at Home Depot, Lowes, and no doubt other familiar retail outlets next year.
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Weighing cost and light quality, LEDs are worth considering right now for downlights and worth keeping an eye on if you have a lot of incandescent bulbs. If you already have a lot of CFLs in places like desktop lamps, don't expect a quick payback by switching over. But LEDs offer some other advantages, notably longer life.
Lighting your living space is obviously a very personal decision, but as you think about upgrading with energy efficiency in mind, here are a few factors to consider.
Cost
The good news on LEDs are that these lights, quality-wise, are quite good and they put out enough light for a lot of needs. But there's no getting around the fact that LED bulbs for general lighting are a new technology that comes with a price premium.
If you were considering moving en masse to LEDs, you would need to take a long view from a financial perspective. Osram Sylvania figures that putting its $39.98 LED in to replace a 60-watt incandescent will save $132 over the life of the bulb, assuming a price of electricity at 10 cents per kilowatt-hour. That's more than 25,000 hours, or 17 years of using a bulb four hours a day.
The Sylvania LED designed for general lighting, which gives off as much light as a 60-watt incandescent and uses 12 watts.
(Credit: Osram Sylvania)
Taking a more conservative, short-term view, I did some back-of-the envelope calculations. If you used a bulb for just two hours a day and paid the national average of 11.5 cents per kilowatt hour, a single 12-watt LED will cost you about $1 per year. Comparable CFLs that consume about 14 watts come to $1.17 per year and about $5 a year for 60-watt incandescents in that scenario. (Seeformula.)
The minimal energy savings you get from going from CFL to LEDs reflects that LED bulbs are only slightly more efficient, when measured on lumens per watt. And, of course, CFLs have come way down in price over the past few years, while LEDs are still at the top of a projected downward cost curve. If you have incandescent bulbs, saving $4 a year with an LED is more compelling, but that's still a long pay back.
Electricity prices vary quite a bit (see here for your state average) in the U.S. and changing the number of hours per day will vary the result quite a bit. For example, if you use an LED bulb four hours a day and pay a higher rate of 16 cents per kilowatt hour, you'd save $11 per year per bulb over an incandescent, giving you a payback time frame for a $40 LED of between three and four years. Obviously, these savings get bigger, the more bulbs you replace.
More significant is that LEDs have a stated life time of 25,000 hours or more, compared to about 8,000 for CFLs, and less than 1,000 for incandescents. So if you factor in replacements, the numbers look more favorable.
Keep in mind that LEDs are on a faster efficiency and price-improvement track than other lighting technologies. Some lighting industry executives expect the price for an 800-lumen LED bulb to fall to about $20 within two years, which changes the math significantly. And utilities could begin to subsidize them, as they did with CFLs.
How you'll be using the bulb
Before you get too lost in the numbers, consider what you're using your lighting for. A good application for long-lasting LEDS is a tough-to-reach space or one where you need to leave the light on for a long time, for example. Often, CFLs are not always dimmable and LEDs typically are.
Also, consider that LEDs are best at directional light, which is why there are so many spotlight and downlight LEDs that fit into cans. Reviews for the Home Depot downlight from Cree–a 65-watt replacement that uses 10 watts–are generally positive and there are signs that pricing is going to be aggressive. They are listed at $49.97 online but they were available for $20, at least in some Massachusetts stores due to state incentives for efficient products. Another good use is a goose-neck desk lamp, which is designed for directed light.
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These latest general-use LED bulbs do a better job dispersing light, but there are limits. Last night I put two LED bulbs from Lighting Sciences Group into sconces that are at about at eye level on either side of a mirror. The amount of light was fine, but because most of the light was projected down, it didn't provide the light where I wanted it to use the mirror. That same bulb in a ceiling light works just fine.
Paying $20 or $40 for a bulb is obviously a lot compared to the $2 bulbs already available, but there are other reasons to switch bulbs besides yearly energy savings, as commenters at CNET and the Home Depot Web site made clear.
Many people get impatient waiting for CFLs to warm up, particularly outside, or they don't want to worry about mercury in CLFs (which should be recycled through waste collection agencies or retailers). The inefficiency of incandescent bulbs manifests itself as heat. Using cooler LEDs can be significant when you consider the cost of cooling.
I'm about to buy some LEDs for my own home and one feature I'm considering is color temperature. In some areas, I think that a warmer yellow light–rated at 2,700 Kelvin–would work well. But some LEDs have a cooler white at 3,000 Kelvin, which I'll put in other spots. I'll also be paying more attention to color rendering index, which is a measure of color accuracy.
Green factor
Some lighting manufacturers refer to the LED business right now as the "wild west," which doesn't sound very comforting as a consumer. The fact is that there are inflated claims regarding the life times and light quality of LEDs, which has even led to the Federal Trade Commissioner filing suit against a manufacturer.
As you're looking around, remember that for LEDs to last a long time, they need a heat sink. That's the main reason LED bulbs have metal fins that go down the side, making them look different than the classic Edison-style bulb.
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One way to combat that problem is to check out reviews and buy from places where you know you can return the product. A good resource for learning the lingo around lighting and getting specifications on individual products is the Department of Energy's LightingFacts Web site, where you can see a new label now being used.
Another thing that lighting professionals will tell you is that we should expect more diversity in lighting technology, not a takeover of LEDs. In the next years, expect to hear quite a bit more about LEDs for the home as retail outlets start carrying more and prices come down. Also worth watching is whether they live up to their promised long life.
I bought a hybrid car because I wanted the best mileage I could get and, similarly, I plan on buying some LEDs to lower my electricity usage as my CFLs burn out. And like other consumers, I'll be watching for prices to fall and hoping they last as long as they should. How well they fare displacing other types of lighting remains to be seen, but LEDs are now part of the mix.
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