A Light Bulb Moment
JULY 23, 2009
Aesthetics, control and environment-friendly innovations split the difference in motivating new ideas in home lighting.
A new energy law—to go into effect in 2012—calls for higher energy efficiency in both fluorescent and incandescent lighting. This switch may not be an easy one, though, due to ongoing debates over the lighting quality of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), among other things. Researchers are working to keep incandescent bulbs around—many consumers prefer the color of their light—by making them significantly more energy efficient. And fluorescent bulbs have been updated so they produce a warmer glow. Since CFLs aren't recycled with regular glass—they contain small amounts of mercury—the New York City recycling program accepts them at Department of Sanitation Special Waste Collection Centers, and several city locations have set up recycling programs as well.
Centrally controlled lighting—along with temperature, blinds and home electronics—has become standard in newer apartment buildings. Companies like Lutron specialize in energy-efficient lighting control sytems. Residences like Pearline Lofts, Barbizon/63 and many others offer the ability to set up your desired lighting configurations from one central spot– even from a remote location so you'll have the perfect balance of illumination and comfort when you arrive home.
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