How to Shop for a 60 Watt Bulb

Do you remember the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007? Provisions began taking effect the first part of this year, with many popular incandescent reflector lamps being outlawed.

If you used to buy 100 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 1600 lumens
If you used to buy 75 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 1100 lumens
If you used to buy 60 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 800 lumens
If you used to buy 40 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 450 lumens

Watts are a better predictor of how hot a light bulb will be than how bright it is. Lumens tell you how much light a bulb will provide.

To make it easier to compare light bulbs, the Federal Trade Commission has designed a new label which you have probably already seen. It was required to be on all packages starting this year.

It is important to look for the ENERGY STAR on light bulb packaging, which means that they meet strict criteria set by EPA for both energy efficiency and quality. Other bulbs may be cheaper, but the tests that ENERGY STAR requires are important, and necessary for consumers to get the performance they expect.

Update: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ended the ENERGY STAR specifications for lamps and luminaires December 31, 2024.

In absence of the ENERGY STAR mark, the Federal Trade Commission’s Lighting Facts labels will continue to communicate lamp performance to consumers, including brightness, estimated yearly energy cost, life, light appearance as the expression of the correlated color temperature,
and energy used.

August 20, 2009

Next Generation Shower Drain Systems

The shower is no longer conceived of as a wet cell, but has become an inherent part of a whole room approach to bathroom design – showering is thus defined more and more by curb-less designs that do without shower trays. This style of showers require a new generation of floor drains to help maintain the boundary between wet and dry zones in your bathroom.

There are many advantages to using a linear slot drain in your bathroom shower. The most obvious is the sleek continuous look your shower floor will have. Removing the shower curb and letting your floor tile cover the the whole area will make your bathroom appear larger.

Quick Drain USA’s high-quality, stainless steel linear slot drains come in various sizes from 32″ to 60″ making it an easy choice for your next project. These 1 1/2″ wide drains have the lowest profile in the industry and are available with both side and bottom drain outlets. This linear channel drain is also very easy to clean. Everything is removable (including the shower linear drain cover and strainer).

For curved shower applications ACO Haustechnik has linked up with Glamu to create a free-standing shower enclosure. The shower drain system holds the curved glass element firmly in place with only one side fixed to a wall. ACO offers designer grates for their drains with 5 pattern choices that can optionally be lit with colored LEDs.

The Poresta Slot Floor Drain by Illbruck is well suited for the most minimalist bathrooms. The grateless 7mm drain positioned directly against the wall gives the shower the appearance of having no drain. Water disappears into a barely noticeable shadow gap.

June 1, 2009

ioDIGITAL

The ioDIGITAL electronic thermostatic valve from Moen may be convenient with four presets for the Shower and Vertical Spa (body sprays) and three presets for the Roman tub; an LED temperature change indicator and a remote control that will operate the shower from 30 feet away…unless the power is out.

I don’t care how intuitive or simple the controls are; if you have a power failure and the shower won’t start you are not going to have the extraordinary experience that Moen promises.

Installing the digital valve will require an electrician in addition to a plumber making installation costs higher than average.

March 7, 2009

Bright Things Happening at Trendir

About this time last year LED shower heads were all the talk. This year the new buzz is about converting a larger portion of your bathroom to chromotherapy. I discovered this new application while visiting Trendir.

Antonio Lupi’s Cromobox shower kit incorporates LED lights with fixed decorative shower panels. The Cromobox offers a full range of color to so you can add the color you are missing into your chromotherapy.

Chromotherapy is an ancient form of healing which relies on the use of light waves; light waves have the ability to safely penetrate the body without harm or injury. Different colored light waves are believed to rebalance a body’s energy centers, otherwise understood as chi. Through exposure to specific colored lights, such energy centers, also called chakras are rebalanced, replenished, and the natural and optimum functioning of the body is restored.

An Orange shower in the morning is stimulating. Orange is warm, cheering, non-constricting. Orange has a freeing action upon the body and mind, relieving repressions. Orange shows new possibilities and other options in life. Stimulates creative thinking and enthusiasm, and helps assimilate new ideas.

A Violet shower in the evening is soothing. Violet and purple heal melancholy, hysteria, delusions and bring spiritual insights and renewal. These colors slow down an over-active heart; bring sleep and boost immunity. Soothe mental and emotional stress, decrease sensitivity to pain.

Look for the new Chicago Antonio Lupi Showroom to open in April.