CFLs: Compact fluorescent lamps, better known as CFLs, are leading the charge for screw-in replacements of incandescent bulbs.

Pros: CFLs use about 75% less energy and last ten times longer than the incandescent bulbs which they replace. Generally, this adds up to $30 in savings over the life of the bulb. Many CFL bulbs are built as screw-in replacements for old bulbs, meaning no modification is necessary to use them.
Cons: All CFLs contain a small, trace amount of mercury. Used and unbroken bulbs should be taken to a qualified recycling center. Broken bulbs should be fully cleaned up and disposed off while the room is well ventilated. For more see http://www.epa.gov/hg/spills/#fluorescent

LEDs: LEDs, or light emitting diode bulbs, are clusters of individual units which are grouped together for bright, clean light. Depending on the wavelength used in the diode they emit a desired tone, ranging from clear bright light to dark blues and purples.

Pros: LED light bulbs operate at a very cool temperature. They last between 50 to 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Further, since there are no fragile filaments or tubes they are very resistant to heat, cold, and shock.
Cons: High start up costs. LED bulbs do sell at a premium compared to CFLs. Of course, this is made up by an increased efficiency and lifespan, but the high cost can be a barrier to entry for business and homeowners.

HPS bulbs: High pressure sodium lamps are primarily used for flood lighting applications such as street lights or in large spaces including parking lots or garages. They are a type of sodium vapor lamp which are used heavily by indoor gardeners due to the color spectrum they emit being favored by plants.

Pros: Less light pollution than mercury-vapor lamps. HPS bulbs are great for locations where color rending is important. They are also very efficient, generating about 100 lumens/Watt. Indoor gardening.
Cons: Price and heat. Also, most HPS bulbs emit a tinted light which is generally not suitable for office or home use.

Traditional incandescent bulbs: Incandescent bulbs are the oldest of the modern wide-spread lighting technology still in use. A filament is heated, which generates both heat and light. These are being outlawed in many states and are being replaced by more energy-efficient technologies.

Pros: Cost of bulbs.
Cons: Most of the energy used is wasted as heat as opposed to light. Incandescent bulbs have a short life and are not energy efficient.

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For guidance on purchasing energy efficient bulbs call the folks at Superior Lighting, Florida’s light bulb experts. They can be reached on the web at http://www.superiorlighting.com/ or by calling (800) 432-7995.

As lovers make their Valentine’s Day preparations they must be sure not to overlook the lighting in their home. Nothing ruins the mood like a bare 80watt incandescent hanging from a string. Lighting technologies have come a long way, and Superior Lighting is here to help ensure a memorable night. Create the perfect ambience for that special time with your loved one. Some great products to help set the mood:

The first step is using inexpensive dimmer switches to control the brightness of your lights. Set the perfect tone by installing them in the dining and bed rooms. Reduce glare and dim your lights to that perfectly level of brightness that just screams romance. Newer energy efficient CFLs even have dimmer varieties.

For a bigger purchase, easy to install chandeliers are a great buy. Blend energy efficient bulbs with old-world ambiance for a new feel to an old room.

LEDs are most known for their long life and energy savings. Did you know they also offer far more options than old incandescent bulbs? Superior Lighting offers a wide range of cool, energy efficient LEDs including colored Christmas lights, creative shapes, and festive patterns. Regular white/clear LEDs can be given new life as inexpensive lenses are offered to give basic lights a new glow.

The big ticket item on our list: iColor tiles. These colored LED light tiles replace your current wall or ceiling tiles. They provide a blank canvas for anything from solid colors which can be changed at the flip of a switch to swirling patterns or even medium resolution video. Call Superior Lighting for more about this innovative product. Just imagine the look on your partner’s face when the bland bedroom walls are replaced by romantic colors or even scenes from your favorite love story.

We hope the above list helps make this Valentine’s Day one to remember. For any questions about them, or lighting in general, it is recommended that you call the experts at Superior Lighting, Florida’s light bulb experts. They can be reached on the web at http://www.superiorlighting.com/ or by calling (800) 432-7995.

     At least two of the World Cup venues are rolling out new LED screens for 2010 World Cup attendees. Spectrum Visual, billed as South Africa’s leading digital signage company, was awarded the contract for the screens, which will be in full use in both Nelson Mandela Bay and Mbombela Stadiums. LED screens are composed of individual LEDs which are directed via a master controller to display video images. These screens are a testament to the rapid strides LED technology has taken because they are fully visible in the daytime light of sunny South Africa. The screens are being billed by Spectrum Visual as the perfect storm of energy efficiency and functionality.

    Energy efficient LED light bulbs, whatever the usage, do bring a lot to the table. LEDs draw up to 90% less amperage in comparison to incandescent bulbs. This mean the higher initial costs are quickly off-set by lower electricity bills. Additionally, LEDs are rated for 100,000 hours compared to 3,000 hours for incandescent bulbs. The only concern is start-up price, with LED lights running at a premium to incandescent bulbs. This should be a thing of the past in the coming years, or perhaps months, as manufacturers refine their process and volume increases. While old-style bulbs may need to be replaces annually or even more frequently, energy efficient LED lamps have an expected usable life of up to twenty years.

    Related to long-lasting bulbs comes the next bit of news. At the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Station Number 6 in Northern California they celebrated a birthday. First screwed in in 1991, their hand-blown glass with carbon filament bulb turned 109 today. Residing in its second home, the bulb was moved, with full police and fire escort, in 1975 when the fire station was relocated. Interestingly enough, the bulb follows the design of Adolphe A. Chaillet, a fierce competitor to Thomas Edison. While Edison’s bulbs of course won out, the Chaillet model was shown to have a longer live and survive much higher voltages. Clearly energy efficiency is a much more important, and measured, factor now than it was at the turn of the 20th century.The more things change, the more they stay the same…

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Superior Lighting’s mission is to help our customers choose the most energy efficient lighting. We will lead the lighting industry by providing the best value in products and services to all of our customers and we will differentiate ourselves on the basis of our honesty and expertise.
Superior Lighting
3530 NW 53rd St
Fort lauderdale, FL
33309
800-432-7995
Hours: 8:30-5:30 EST

The brown-outs are primarily being caused by the electric grid being overwhelmed by the use of electric heaters, which is typically unheard of in the Sunshine State. According to Reuters, electric consumption levels in Florida have reached all-time record levels. FPL set their all-time hourly record Monday with a stunning 24,354 megawatts, which is about 2,000 MW higher than the previous record demand. For reference, 1 megawatt can power ten thousand 100 watt bulbs. This is truly a startling surge in electrical consumption for the state.

While this raises larger Al Gore-esque questions of what resources should be used to create energy, ordinary people can do their part on a day-to-day basis by reducing their power consumption. It isn’t hard, and usually saves you money. Some great methods to do so include:

1. Switching to energy efficient light bulbs
The two main types of energy efficient light bulbs and lamps are LEDs and CFLs. Both have slightly higher purchase prices than traditional incandescent bulbs, which is handedly off-set by their increases life and reduced power consumption. The case of every American home switching just one light bulb to an ENERGY STAR rated CFL shows how all stakeholders would gain. Homeowners save $600 million in annual energy costs. Greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions produced by 800,000 cars are not be sent into the atmosphere, and we have enough “extra” energy to light 3 million homes for a year. Seems like a win all the way around. New LED lights show similar gains, with tremendously longer usable lives compared to incandescent bulbs.

2. Going the solar route.
Reducing energy consumption is easy and shows immediate results, but equally vital is where this energy comes from. Solar and wind generated power are energy sources that are both plentiful and renewable. Switching to them not only makes fiscal and environmental sense, but gives home and business owners a (legitimate) feeling of independence. In speaking with Solaxiom International, Miami’s solar and wind energy experts, it came to this author’s attention just how important these technologies are. Further, they are much easier to install and operate then I originally thought. From partial applications, such as heating the pool, to full-fledged energy independence for business from warehouses to resorts look to see solar and wind energy generation become commonplace in the (very) near future.

3. Transportation
In 2007 transportation accounted for 28.5% of U.S. energy consumption. Granted, much of this is used by industrial vehicles (e.g. trucking or construction), but ordinary people can make a major dent into this figure. Switching to energy-efficient vehicles, using public transportation, and not minding putting the good ‘ol fashioned shoe leather to use are all ways to reduce your personal energy consumption.

While this cold snap is sure to pass (I hope!), we must remember the lessons learned. Our energy usage has a tremendous impact on ourselves, those around us, and our children. Easy methods of reducing energy consumption, such as switching to energy efficient CFLs for your Florida business should become second nature to us. Everyone doing their small part will make the overall picture much prettier.
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Superior Lighting, Fort Lauderdale’s leader in energy efficient lighting is always happy to talk. They can be reached online at http://www.superiorlighting.com or via telephone at (800) 432-7995.

The most common type of sodium vapor lamp (gas discharge) is the high pressure sodium bulb and fixture combo. They typically emit a yellow light well suited to commercial applications. Due to its wavelength in the light spectrum this light doesn’t glare, making it particularly useful for parking lot lighting, streetlamps, flood lighting of buildings or garage, or illuminating an entire warehouse with only a few fixtures. Municipalities enjoy the cost savings of HPS lamps for lighting roadways because it is by far the most efficient light source when compared to mercury vapor and metal halide lamps.

When these lamps are first turned on they emit a red light to warm the sodium metal, which transitions to the familiar bright yellow within a few minutes as the sodium metal vaporizes. High pressure sodium lamps produce light that makes it much easier to distinguish objects in as opposed to low pressure lights. These lamps are extremely useful in areas where a large space must be illuminated but good color rendering is still important. The White SON is a type of HPS lamp which, operating at a higher pressure, produce light closer to that of incandescent bulbs. Primarily used for restaurant applications they are useful for creating a particular atmosphere within a large space. However, White SONs are only good for specialty applications because users lose much of the energy and efficiency savings of regular HPS lamps.

High pressure sodium lamps and bulbs are a favorite of indoor growers and gardeners because they emit a wide color temperature spectrum which is loved by plants. Another plus is the relatively efficient cost of running the lights. The average high pressure sodium lamp outputs 100 lm/W, an impressive number.

In summary, high pressure sodium bulbs and fixtures are useful in application where a large amount of light is needed at a low-cost. Generally this includes street, lot, and warehouse lighting. As always, a lighting expert should be consulted with before making any large bulb or fixture purchase. Superior Lighting, Fort Lauderdale’s leader in energy efficient lighting is always happy to talk. They can be reached online at http://www.superiorlighting.com or via telephone at (800) 432-7995.

3-D technology is rather old, dating back to at least 1890. The technology and results have progressed greatly since then, but many of the principles remain the same. 3-D films use creative lighting to provide the illusion of depth perception on a flat picture. A special motion picture camera, projection hardware, and usually stylish 3-D glasses are used to accomplish this. Anaglyph images were the earliest theatrical 3-D technique. Two images are superimposed in an additive or subtractive setting. While lower quality than stereogram, anaglyphs are very easy to view.

The eclipse method uses a mechanical shutter to block light to each eye when the image is projected on the screen. This was the backbone of the Teleview system, which was used briefly in 1922. A new application to this technique involves LCD shutter glasses. These “smart” glasses are synchronized with the image, using alternative-frame sequencing, to give both depth and motion effects. Yet another new application for energy efficient LEDs. Other systems include lenticular screens, which do not require glasses, use of the Pulfrich effect, and polarization systems.

Interference filter technology is a current method for blockbusters. Dolby 3D uses specific wavelengths of red, green, and blue for each eye, and then the glasses are responsible for filtering, allowing the user to see the image in 3-D without the use of the expensive polarized silver screen. RealD, the most common current method, does require a silver screen, a projector filter, and expensive glasses, but is widely used, and the technology behind “Avatar.”

3-D films are a great example of what a dose of creativity can bring to lighting. Energy efficient CFLs are the most widely used replacement for old incandescent bulbs, but look to creative LED lights such as iCOLOR tubes and LED color tiles to make headway in entertainment applications.
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Superior Lighting’s, Ft. Lauderdale’s (South Florida) energy efficient lighting expert, mission is to help our customers choose the most energy efficient lighting. We lead the lighting industry by providing the best value in products and services to all of our customers, and we differentiate ourselves on the basis of our honesty and expertise. Superior Lighting can be contacted via web at http://www.superiorlighting.com/ or by calling 800-432-7995.

Business decision makers should all now be well aware of the energy savings that switching to energy efficient light bulbs provides. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. This saves about $30 over the lifetime of each bulb. Light emitting diode (LED) bulbs last 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting, use 75% less energy, and are much more durable. Clearly, energy efficient light bulbs make fiscal sense.
There is more. Lighting vendors offer large savings for businesses and government agencies to help them make the switch. Zev Herman of Superior Lighting, a Ft. Lauderdale energy efficient bulb supplier, notes, “We are thrilled to see more and more business owners interested in energy efficient lighting solutions. I love working with new customers, showing them that their financial interests and the health of the environment are one and the same. We pride ourselves on understanding their industry, allowing us to offer a cost-effective solution that benefits their business with regards to their office atmosphere, the environment, and their bottom line.”
Incentives that Superior Lighting offers businesses include: a satisfaction guarantee “gets it right or we make it right”, a low price guarantee for volume purchases, fast and free shipping, and no sales tax outside of Florida. Businesses should make the switch to energy efficient light bulbs today and Superior Lighting will help show them the way.

A knowledgeable staff is important, and Superior Lighting is a testament to what a qualified supplier can provide. From simple replacement bulbs to retrofits or full-scale lighting plans for new businesses such as restaurants or nightclubs, they have the qualified team in place with the know-how to offer an effective solution. Expertise, low-prices, and an Earth-friendly product, the only thing missing is your phone call.

Superior Lighting’s, Ft. Lauderdale’s (South Florida) energy efficient lighting expert, mission is to help our customers choose the most energy efficient lighting. We lead the lighting industry by providing the best value in products and services to all of our customers, and we differentiate ourselves on the basis of our honesty and expertise. Superior Lighting can be contacted via web at http://www.superiorlighting.com/ or by calling 800-432-7995.

Much of this expense is unnecessary. Lamp and ballast manufacturers have, over the past decade, brought products to market that can help cut lighting costs by 30% to 60% while enhancing lighting quality, maintaining appropriate light levels in the workplace, and reducing environmental impacts. 

In this series of articles we will continue to highlight some of the easier and more cost effective lighting retrofits that business and facilities managers can implement. We feel very strongly about the fact that installing energy efficient lighting is one of the best things a building owner can do for the environment, and for their business. Energy efficient lighting reduces not only energy consumption – it reduces emissions from power plants and it improves the business owner’s bottom line.  

Fluorescent lighting is the most common technology for lighting spaces such as offices and classrooms, and is up to four times more efficient than the incandescent lamp. However, older, obsolete fluorescent lighting systems can result in poor light quality and flicker. Advancements in fluorescent lighting systems have resulted in the introduction of new systems that provide improved energy efficiency, lighting quality, and design flexibility. These technological advances have improved the energy efficiency of fluorescent lighting systems by 28-48% compared to older T12 lamps on magnetic ballasts and these often overlooked improvements can have a major positive impact on operating expenses.

The economic advantages of switching from T12 Lamp systems to T8 Lamps or T5 Lamp Systems have long been touted by the EPA, Energy Star and every lighting manufacturer on the planet. I will not review these figures in detail but generally one can expect energy savings of as much as 48% with 2-yr to 3-yr simple paybacks, longer lamp life and reduced maintenance costs. Further benefits are now available if the lighting upgrades qualify for the federal tax incentives available through the Commercial Building Tax Deduction (CBTD) established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. In addition, some states offer incentive programs and, in many areas of the nation, utility incentive programs are also available.

However, amazingly enough industry sales data reveal that the less-efficient T12s still account for three out of every 10 4-ft fluorescent lamps sold in the United States! At Superior Lighting we have also found that many of our smaller customers are reluctant to make the switch to more efficient systems. The most common explanation given besides the upfront cost is the time, cost and headache associated with hiring an electrician to do the retrofit work.  

Retrofitting a T12 fixture usually includes changing the ballast, sockets and lamps. We recommend this be done by a licensed electrician of course and seeing as how most small business do not have one on staff the retrofits do not get done. Most people do not want to deal with the hassle of finding a qualified electrician and prefer to live by the old adage that “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”  

The problem with that mindset is that thankfully the Government does not share it. Magnetic ballasts commonly used for the T12 lamps‘ operation will start becoming part of the past on July 1, 2010, when their continued manufacture for commercial and industrial applications becomes prohibited by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ballast efficiency regulations. This means that literally millions of existing T12 fluorescent lighting sockets will have to be upgraded sooner rather than later, because the lack of these replacement ballasts will make T12 lighting harder to maintain.  

The good news for these customers is that Superior Lighting is now carrying a T5 retrofit kit for T8 and T12 light bulbs that is virtually “plug n play”. This new kit uses a reflected T5 light bulb and slim ballast that can be plugged into an existing T12 or T8 Light Bulb fixture without the need for complex rewiring. T5 light bulbs are the most efficient and long lasting of the fluorescent tubes and at 28 watts emit the same amount of light as a 40 watt T12 light bulb.

The old ballast is removed and the new kit is installed just like a regular light bulb with the ballast already wired into the kit. The kit also includes a reflector to emit the most amount of light and allow for the de-lamping of fixtures. We have found a 4 light T12 fixtures can now be replaced with just 2 of these T5 retrofit kits. Light output is maintained while system wattage is reduced from approximately 184 watts to 56 watts. Please click our energy savings calculator to see how the savings add up to $56 a year and the simple payback can be reduced to only 12 months!

For more information about how your facility can take advantage of the new T12 Retrofit kit please see the product specifications at superiorlighting.com or call 1800-432-7995

Salt Lake City’s Temple Square will be using energy efficient light bulbs this holiday season to illuminate their tree. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issues a statement saying that all of the square’s trees will use LED bulbs within three to five years. LED light strings are a great fit for this application. Beyond saving energy they run much cooler than traditional bulbs, which reduce, if not completely eliminate, damage to the trees due to heat. Buy LED light strings to replace your old strands.

Our neighbors across the pond in the Philippines are getting in on the action as well. A 67-foot Christmas tree was lit at San Miguel by the Bay at SM Mall of Asia. The tree is being illuminated by a mix of over 20,000 CFLs and 47,000 LEDs. This is the second year Felco has raised its green Christmas tree.

As part of Nevada’s larger energy saving plan the Reno Arch has gone green. 2,076 incandescent, 11-watt light bulbs are being swapped out for 2.5-watt LED bulbs. The move should save about 70% on energy costs for lighting the arch, which translates into a surprising $10,000 a year. Switching to LED bulbs is a great way to save on your commercial or home lighting expenses. Purchase replacement LED bulbs at Superior Lighting, your energy-efficient lighting supplier.

The New York Times fired back at LED naysayers with the release of a new study. LED critics have often said that the manufacturing of LEDs takes away from their efficiency, a claim that that Osram study refutes fully. The “Life Cycle Assessment of Illuminants” report shows that from manufacturing to disposal over the entire life cycle of an incandescent bulb, the energy it uses is almost five times that used for compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and LED lamps. These saving are worthwhile, and just another reason why the use of LEDs is increasing at an ever quickening pace.

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Superior Lighting is a leader in the distribution of energy efficient lighting and light bulbs for commercial applications. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. the company markets a variety of energy efficient lighting products through their warehouse location, mail order catalog and online storefront. Superior Lighting carries bulbs from several brands including TCP, Sylvania, Polybrite, Lighting Sciences and Satco. Superior Lighting’s extensive product line includes compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), LED lamps and fixtures, cold cathode lamps, exit and emergency lighting, HID bulbs, decorative and outdoor fixtures as well as the first T5 retrofit kit offering. Superior Lighting is a privately held company. For more information, visit us at www.superiorlighting.com

Whether you get your holiday fix by unwrapping presents under the Christmas tree or by lighting the Chanukah candles, light is a central theme to both holidays. From the bright Christmas displays of Chicago’s Sauganash neighborhood to the giant Brooklyn Borough Hall menorah, the luminosity of the season remains the same across faiths.

This year, however, things can be done a bit differently. How about including Mother Earth in the gift-giving? A great way to do this is by using energy efficient lights in your holiday display. Newer LEDs and CFLs even provide cleaner light, giving the Nativity scene a whole new glow.

For the Christmas tree:

Superior Lighting offers energy efficient holiday LED light strings that are perfect for the occasion. These strands product extraordinary effects including expanded color options and timings. The possibilities are endless with 50 individually controllable nodes per strand. LED light strings provide the same eco-friendly energy savings as all LEDs, including a life of 25 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting and energy usage that is 75% less. Buy your energy efficient holiday LED string lights from Superior Lighting.

The envy of the neighbors:

Many people’s most memorable part of the holiday season is cruising around looking at the lawn displays of their neighbors. This year, blow them all away (and use less energy doing so) with LED lights from Superior Lighting. Take a look at some of their outdoor lighting LED fixtures for more info. Coupling some LED light strands, rope lights, and outdoor LED fixtures together will lead to a flexible, scalable holiday arrangement that is sure to please.

For the Chanukiah:

This Chanukah honor the Festival of Lights with energy efficient lights in your electronic Chanukah menorah. Electric menorahs are a much safer alternative to traditional wax or oil models. The Maccabees’ light lasted eight times longer than expected, and with energy efficient LEDs or CFLs yours can too. Superior Lighting offers bulbs in all sizes, give them a call with your electric menorah on hand for a walkthrough of your options.

Happy Holidays from Superior Lighting!

Superior Lighting is a leader in the distribution of energy efficient lighting and light bulbs for commercial applications. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. the company markets a variety of energy efficient lighting products through their warehouse location, mail order catalog and online storefront. Superior Lighting carries bulbs from several brands including TCP, Sylvania, Polybrite, Lighting Sciences and Satco. Superior Lighting’s extensive product line includes compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), LED lamps and fixtures, cold cathode lamps, exit and emergency lighting, HID bulbs, decorative and outdoor fixtures as well as the first T5 retrofit kit offering. Superior Lighting is a privately held company. For more information, visit us at www.superiorlighting.com