Light-Years Ahead

Moen - Woodmere single handle pullout kitchen faucet.

Lighting technology may be poised for a huge change. Though halogens and compact fluorescents have been stealing incandescent market share for some time, LEDs (light-emitting diodes), which already light some commercial buildings, have been retooled for residential use and are now headed toward homes.

An LED is a semiconductor; when energy passes through two electron-charged materials, electrons jump from one material to the other, emitting light — but not heat — in the process. "LEDs are all the rage," says James Benya, principal of Benya Lighting Design in West Lynn, Ore. "Over the next 15 years, they will change how the industry lights homes."

An early sign of that change appeared in June when Progress Lighting launched one of the first comprehensive residential LED lines. A few months earlier, Cyberlux launched a line of LED task and accent lights they say will last more than 25 years. (They're guaranteed for 15 years.)

Manufacturers are banking on rising energy prices to spark interest in their products. Cyberlux says its LEDs use 92 percent less energy than conventional lights. Progress makes similar claims. "Replacing a common incandescent 60-watt light bulb with a 15-watt LED light [of equivalent light output] can save 45 watts and 157 kilowatt hours," says Progress's Paula Powers.

At $50.00 per 1000 lumens, compared to $0.60 for incandescents, LEDs are still out of the price range for all but the most expensive homes. But Progress expects them to drop to $10.00 per lumen in three to five years. However, Powers claims that testing has proved LEDs pay for themselves quickly, and homeowners with only LEDs could see a $40 to $50 reduction in their monthly energy bills.

How to See the Light
In addition to staying on top of technology, here are a few other lighting tips:

• Go online. Bellacor Lighting's new online service lets you use its online catalog of lighting products. It will customize a Web page to match your corporate branding — you simply direct your customers to "your" lighting site; it'll even let you set your own pricing. "The prices I set through Bellacor are the prices that are shown on the Web site," says Marina Shlomov, principal at Atlanta-based Metropolitan Homes.
  BellacorPro.


• Think fluorescent. Though LEDs hold great promise, the new energy-efficient compact fluorescent options have beautiful light quality and no flicker. They are especially useful in under-cabinet mount applications.


• Rethink bathrooms. The rule of thumb is to light the face, then the space, says Bellacor's A.J. Paron-Wildes. She recommends bathroom sconces and wall lights with etched glass to reduce glare. "There are mirrors and medicine cabinets on the market that have light built into the background area," she says. Paron-Wildes suggests builders look at the overhead light and fan combos: "They look like a decorative ceiling mount with the vents strategically hidden in the trim."


• Consider counters. Xenon lighting is a great solution for kitchen backsplashes, because it stays cool. The high-quality light makes other kitchen finishes glow. Low-voltage xenon under-cabinet lighting comes in enclosed units or strip-track lighting where bulbs can be popped anywhere into the track.


• Go pro. If you think your lighting lacks drama and oomph, consider using a lighting designer. International Association of Lighting Designers.