Changing your incandescent and CFL light bulbs to LED

You may have heard that the federal government has started phasing out incandescent light bulbs (filament bulbs) since 2011 and they are supposed to be banned completely this year (2014). The policy to phase these bulbs out is being implementation in two phases:

• Phase 1 (2011) - ban on the sale and import of 100-watt incandescent light bulbs
• Phase 2 (2012 - Dec 2013) - ban the manufacture, import and sale of the 100-watt lights.

No news on smaller wattages yet, but they are also expected to be banned in time to come. What is clear now is that we can still see tonnes of RM1.50 to RM2.00 apiece 60W, 75W and 100W incandescent bulbs at shopping malls.


Learn from others

The following video clip explains similar situation in the US but is very relevant to consumers in Malaysia as well. The Federal Energy Independence and Securities act began in the US in October of 2012, where 40W and 60W incandescent light-bulbs were phased out beginning January this year.

I saw this from Inhabitat and I thought I should share it with you, fellow readers.



Come on, give it a go. Go ahead watch it. It's only 6 minutes and it might give you an idea on how to lower your energy consumption by switching from incandescent light bulbs and CFL to LED. You may also learn a thing or two on how to recycle your old incandescent bulbs.

LED light bulbs are now readily available at local electrical stores and their prices are dropping at a faster rate than CFLs'.

Source: Inhabitat


TheGreenMechanics: The price of a typical 60W equivalent LED light bulb (6W to 8W) is now down to as low as RM25.00 so I may consider this as replacement for the 40W fluorescent tubes in the near term.

LED smartbulb helps regulate circadian rhythm

LED lighting is not just about energy saving, or as greener alternative to incandescent light bulb. There is more to it - LED bulbs can be tailored into smart bulbs that 'nourishes' your circadian rhythm.

If you have trouble falling asleep or wake up groggy, you can now purchase a light-emitting diode (LED) smartbulb that reportedly can be programmed to tweak your circadian rhythms throughout the day.

The Smart Bulb Halcyon system. Photo - Halcyon

First, what's circadian rhythm

A circadian rhythm is a roughly 24 hour cycle in the physiological processes of living beings, including plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria. In a strict sense, circadian rhythms are endogenously generated, although they can be modulated by external cues such as sunlight and temperature.

Circadian rhythms are important in determining the sleeping and feeding patterns of all animals, including human beings.


How can LED smartbulb help

Circadian disruptions, and the anxiety, insomnia and fatigue that they can cause, can decidedly be linked to the modern era, with people working late into the evenings in offices dominated by artificial light or looking at computer screens before bedtime, which research has found can leave people in an almost permanent state of jet lag.

British LED lighting company PhotonStar Technology Ltd. has announced its new consumer Smart Bulb system Halcyon, to be available to the general market in early 2014 but with a small pre-production run to go to Kickstarter backers. Early adopters can purchase three lightbulbs for £94 (about US$150), with delivery expected in April.

That's approximately RM496 at the current exchange rate.

An obvious contender against the Philips Hue sold in Apple stores and the upcoming LIFX Wi-Fi enabled, multi-color LED light bulb, the new Halcyon system is focused more on a multi-user solution for the whole home and family than its rivals, the company says.

The company claims that Halcyon is also the first smart lighting system to provide automatic circadian lighting, similar to the system commissioned by NASA to improve health and well-being by simulating changes in natural light, and preventing jet lag type effects.


How do you use it

To use, set your system to help you wake up in the morning with bright alertness-boosting light. "Design and select a scene to cook, whilst your partner takes a relaxing bath," the website says. "As your guests arrive, change the mood to something more relaxing."

"Any light that you turn on will be at the correct color and spectrum for the time of day, mimicking daylight, nourishing your circadian rhythm," the company says.



Source: TheBorneoPost's Nature & Health section, November 30, 2013, pp.21

Panasonic LED bulbs last 40 years?

Location: Kota Kinabalu city.

Of election campaign signs and advertorial billboards....

Panasonic's LED bulbs can really last 40 years?

That's interesting. Because 40 years is pretty loooong a time; a person's working life is shorter than this.

Put it this way: You started working for an LED bulb manufacturing company at the age of 20. By the time you retire, the batch of bulbs you produced on your first day at office is still functioning, and saving 80% of energy.

Amazing!