In the United States, Congress has just passed a new law that will put and end to regular light bulbs and call for bulbs by the year 2014. to be 25 to 35 percent more efficient that bulbs have been in the past. By using the fluorescent, halogen or LED light bulbs, you may be able to save as much as five dollars off your yearly total energy bill, for each one you install. Sounds like pretty good savings can be had and there is no reason you should not be replacing your light bulbs sooner rather than later.

Fluorescent bulbs are overall more efficient than other bulbs and should be considered as the main stay for all you’re lighting needs. They will not just save us money, but will also curb the need for fewer plants powered by coal. There will also be a major reduction in carbon emissions on a yearly basis and that spells great relief for our planet as well. Imagine how much energy can be saved, when the whole world has totally changed over to the new lighting and not to mention how much our earth will be thanking us for it.

While others are just starting to approach the subject of how fluorescent light bulbs can save money, energy and the environment, you could be well on your way to doing all three. By simply changing all the regular bulbs in your home, you can start to reap the rewards way ahead of many. The bulbs may seem a bit expensive at first, but you will soon see that your new bulbs will more than pay for themselves in the lowered energy bills you will receive, not to mention their long life durability.

Before the replacement, the 7-watt incandescent bulb used has a typical life of 3,000 hours, which translates into an actual usage of only about ten months. Hence, on the average, 340 bulbs would burn out each month and needed to be replaced, one by one, by the service crew. This routine maintenance led to an annual cost of tens of thousands dollars plus the need for a heavy lifter equipment.

In 2002, the facility management company of Ernst & Young Plaza, ABM Engineering Services, contracted to Act One Communications, Inc. in Irwindale, California to supply solid-state LED light bulbs to replace those incandescent bulbs. The new LED bulb produces the same brightness, yet only consumes 1.3 watt power for an 80% energy saving. In addition, the LED bulb can last minimum 50,000 hours, meaning it can be used for more than 13 years without replacement.

The LED bulb developed by Act One used 6 white LED lamps made by Nichia of Japan, the original super-bright blue LED inventor. The development work led to a final design that matched the color, viewing angle and brightness of the incandescent bulb.

Since completion of the project in 2002, those LED light bulbs have been operated in a totally outdoor environment for more than five years. The originally installed ones still light up every day after sunset with no need for routine maintenance, thus providing a truly long-lasting “star-like” scene for diners, shoppers and visitors at the plaza.

About Act One:
Act One Communications, Inc. is a manufacturer specialized in outdoor LED lighting, large LED video displays, and niche LED system applications. It provides products and services to clients in the North, Central and South Americas. For more information, visit www.actone1.com.