Lighting Expert Talks About Eco-Friendly Bulbs
By: Matt Turner
Updated: October 28, 2011
There's a lot to learn about the government phase-out of incandescent light bulbs, so we decided to ask an expert.
Ron Milam, President and Owner of "Lighting Emporium" in Springdale, has worked with light bulbs for the past 23 years.
He's well aware of the government phase-out and continues to tell his customers what to expect. Once the older bulbs are phased-out starting in 2012, people will have the option to buy CFLs, Halogens and LEDs.
According to Milam, making the switch to eco-friendly bulbs can make a big difference when it comes to your monthly electric bill.
"In the United States, seven percent of our power is consumed by light bulbs," Milam said. "So it's the goal of the government to change this to a much lower figure."
However, there is a drawback because a lot of the new eco-friendly bulbs cost more than what most people are used to.
"Like anything new that comes on the consumer market, you have the research and all that they're trying to pay for," said Milam. "These bulbs now run anywhere from 90 dollars down to 12 dollars."
But you can save more cash in the long-run because the new bulbs last longer and conserve energy.
As for your specific needs, Milam offered some advice about choosing the right bulb for your home or business.
"If they want a lot of light for a short period of time, and by that, I mean it's not going to be on all day long -- I'd go with halogen," Milam explained. "If they want cool light, which runs cooler, I'd go with an LED or CFL."
Ron Milam, President and Owner of "Lighting Emporium" in Springdale, has worked with light bulbs for the past 23 years.
He's well aware of the government phase-out and continues to tell his customers what to expect. Once the older bulbs are phased-out starting in 2012, people will have the option to buy CFLs, Halogens and LEDs.
According to Milam, making the switch to eco-friendly bulbs can make a big difference when it comes to your monthly electric bill.
"In the United States, seven percent of our power is consumed by light bulbs," Milam said. "So it's the goal of the government to change this to a much lower figure."
However, there is a drawback because a lot of the new eco-friendly bulbs cost more than what most people are used to.
"Like anything new that comes on the consumer market, you have the research and all that they're trying to pay for," said Milam. "These bulbs now run anywhere from 90 dollars down to 12 dollars."
But you can save more cash in the long-run because the new bulbs last longer and conserve energy.
As for your specific needs, Milam offered some advice about choosing the right bulb for your home or business.
"If they want a lot of light for a short period of time, and by that, I mean it's not going to be on all day long -- I'd go with halogen," Milam explained. "If they want cool light, which runs cooler, I'd go with an LED or CFL."
