Future in Lighting

Light-emitting diodes – sounds futuristic or like something from a funky nightclub, doesn’t it? Better known as LEDs, they are shaping up to be the future in lighting.

LED blub and tape

The incandescent light bulbs we grew up with are notoriously inefficient and don’t last very long. Compact florescent bulbs were touted as the answer to all our lighting woes, but they were woefully unsatisfactory. They are expensive, they flicker, and people didn’t warm to their twisty design. Add to that their poor color rendering (see Designing with Light), the dangerous cleanup when the mercury escapes from a broken bulb, and potential fire hazards, and it’s no wonder CFRs never took off.

Enter LEDs. They have actually been around for a long time as indicator lights but since CFRs failed to replace incandescents, they are beginning to be taken more seriously for general household uses. They still don’t compete in color rendering but they are long-lasting, safe and versatile.

LEDs come in seemingly endless design options, making lighting more fun than ever! You can find them in tape, panels, pucks, ropes, cans and bulbs. You can change colors and switch from cool to warm light all with one bulb. You can even download apps to control them from your phone! Here are some bright ideas for LEDs in your home:

  • This strip lighting uses energy-saving LEDs to illuminate the countertop.

    Strip lighting

  • Small LEDs can light up any drawer.

    led in drawer1

  • LED tape tucked under the lip of these steps make for surer footing.

    tape led stairs

  • LED toekicks make interesting accent lighting and good nightlights.

    toekick kitchen small

    • What cutting-edge uses can you think of for LEDs in your home?

Shedding More Light

Ok, so this whole business about the legislation that will take effect starting next year regarding incandescent bulbs has me more than curious.  If you need to get caught up you can read my previous blog on the subject:

 http://catherineschager.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/indecent-incandescents/

The basic overview is this- beginning next year (and actually many stores are participating now) you will no longer be able to find your favorite 100 watt incandescent bulb.  Why?  Because they’re being phased out by manufacturers in order to comply with the new energy regulations for light bulbs.  Congress figures that we can save billions of energy dollars by replacing our incandescent bulbs with bulbs that use less energy to create the same amount of light. 

I know, I know, this isn’t a sexy “designer” topic.  However, it is a topic that you’re going to have to face up to and very, very soon, and I’d like to at least keep you somewhat up to date on the alternatives that are available. 

My recent readings have introduced me to two interesting possibilities.  The first is GE’s new LED replacement for a standard 40 watt bulb (these and the 60 watt ones are being phased out by 2014).  This new bulb, model # 62180 looks  similar to an incandescent.  According to GE, it uses only 9 watts of electricity to produce the same amount of light as a 40 watt incandescent and it lasts about 13 years based on a 4 hour/day usage.  Wow, that’s a long time!  (But not as long as that incandescent that lasted for around 100 years in a firehouse in New York).  The cost of this baby is reportedly around $50, which sounds like a lot of money, but averages out to about $4/year – as long as you don’t break it!

GE # 62180 LED replacement bulb

The next bulb is called the Plumen and this cool little CFL looks like a piece of funky sculpture! They’re not yet available in the U.S. but are coming soon.  

The Plumen CFL bulb

So, what are your thoughts on the bulb brouhaha?  Have you used any CFL’s in your home?  How about LED’s?  Do you like them?  To read more check out www.led.com and www.plumen.com

2011 Style for Your Kitchen and Bath

 You’ve been asking yourself what the latest kitchen and bath style trends are, right?  Well, the National Kitchen and Bath Association has polled its designers and compared the data with the results from last year’s poll.  Here’s how 2011 will be different:

Kitchens

  • The practice of mixing woods and finishes is growing, with Maple outpacing Cherry as the most popular wood used in cabinetry.
  • Darker finishes are edging out medium natural finishes, glazed finishes and white.  Designers are also seeing fewer requests for distressed finishes.

Shaker door style with slab drawer

  • The Shaker door style has edged out more contemporary looks, although a more traditional door style still leads.
  • Wine storage is a common need, although fewer clients are opting for wine refrigerators and moving towards unchilled wine storage.

Corian countertop with integrated sink

  • Solid surface choices like Corian are gaining on granite and quartz, which are still #1 and 2.
  • French door refrigerators are specified most often, with side-by-side models still popular
  • The use of Induction Cooktops is on the rise, although gas models are still in the lead
  • LED lighting options are being chosen more often in preparation for the phasing out of incandescents and also as an energy-saving measure.
  • Less color!  This was kind of surprising.  The only colors on the increase were beige and grey with all others remaining flat or declining.  Sign of the times, or have people not gotten the memo about pink being the latest “in” color?

Baths

  • Quartz countertops are giving granite a run for its money

Ta-da! A green bathroom!

  • Green bathrooms- literally.  While whites, off whites, and browns are still the most popular, there’s a surge of green bathrooms.
  • Vessel sinks are also edging up, while undermount sinks are still #1
  • Satin Nickel finishes in both the kitchen and bath have edged out brushed nickel.

So now that you have the skinny on the latest style trends for your kitchen and bath- what do you think?  Are any of these appealing to you or giving you food for thought for your next project?

Indecent Incandescents!

Did you know that very soon, your incandescent light bulb will be going the way of the Corvair?  In 2007, Congress passed a bill to phase out incandescent light bulbs by 2014.  In fact, beginning just next year, your beloved 100 watt incandescent bulbs will be axed.  Although if you live in California, this has already begun. 

Surprised?  Congress, in its infinite wisdom has decided that incandescent bulbs are energy wasters and are phasing them out in favor of more energy efficient options.  It’d be nice if we could do that for the politicians in Washington, except replace the words “incandescent bulbs” with politicians and  “energy” with money,  but I digress. 

So, what replaces our light bulbs and are we going to have to throw out all of our current lamps and fixtures and sit in the dark with candle light????  Well, never fear.  Our great nation of entrepreneurs will solve the problem.  Some of them are at it already, working on LED (light-emitting diode) replacements that will be more energy efficient but give the same warm glow you’re used to. 

Cree Inc.'s LED bulb. Looks like an egg sitting on a basket

Cree Inc. says that it has made the industry’s brightest, most efficient LED replacement for 60 watt incandescents.  It’s not yet available in stores, but it’s dimmable and consumes fewer than 10 watts.  Cooper Lighting’s Halo has come up with an LED  that can be retrofitted into recessed can lights.

What about the CFL or compact flourescent?  Truth is, that while they do use less energy than and incandescent, there’s a problem with their disposal.  You see, they contain mercury.  LED’s can be made mercury-free and some are even dimmable. 

LED replacement bulbs

Now if they could only make them good- looking.  I suppose in 10 or 15 years, we won’t even remember what a warm incandescent bulb looked like!  Call me old-fashioned if you like, but I’m going to miss this look:

Those nasty incandescent bulbs!

As with almost all changes, there will be both good and bad aspects and I’m hoping we’ll come to love the look of new bulbs…..I’m just not counting on it yet.