During this dark time of year, we need to do everything we can to brighten our lives. A number of new lighting products are waiting to help us out. Some are designed to spotlight do-it-yourself projects. Others light up the night, and still others focus on saving energy and money.
Work lights created to make repairs and home improvements easier are now being fashioned for specific uses. “In the past, you just had two choices for work lights: the flashlight, which is something that I would consider a toy not a tool because it only uses 7 watts, and the halogen work light that is typically 500 watts, which in many cases is too much light says David Springstroh, director of marketing for Regent Lighting Corp.
Do-it-yourselfers have sometimes resorted to makeshift solution, he added. “Some people would take the lampshade off a lamp to paint a room.”
Today, however, more and more tasks have lights that are made-to-order. “Now we have lights with specific applications,” Springstroh says, “and they are becoming much cooler and safer to use.”
Lights are also essential at night when the power fails, so manufacturers have designed some lights that stay on without AC electricity.
With the dual goal of cutting electricity bills and saving energy resources, fluorescent lights have been redesigned to eliminate their old annoyances.
“Up until 15 years ago, fluorescent lights flickered and buzzed and hummed, and they had a cooler, less attractive light color than incandescent lights,” says Brian Halliwell, national sales manager of Lights of America. “Now there have been technical improvements that have eliminated the problems and permitted a better light quality, and the fluorescent bulbs are 80 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs.”
Improvements in lighting are ongoing. “We will continue to identify problems,” says Springstroh, “and try to find new lighting solutions.”
A variety of new lighting products are described below. The prices listed are suggested retail prices. Contact the listed manufacturers for help in finding a retailer in your area that carries a specific item.
– Versatile lighting. It’s easy enough to find the right tools for do-it-yourself projects, but without the right lighting, simple jobs can turn into frustrating chores. Regent Lighting has developed two products to solve this problem. The Clamp Light can be attached to all sorts of surfaces and, for extra versatility, it also can be hung from its own vinyl-coated hook. This light is ideal for brightening dark places and nooks and crannies. It has a 50-watt halogen bulb, providing a good amount of light but not too much. Regent also has introduced The Painter’s Worklight, which uses a 300-watt halogen bulb rather than the traditional 500-watt bulb–often too bright for the task at hand. The Painter’s Worklight also has a dimmer switch to reduce the light to 150 watts for smaller jobs. The halogen light makes it possible to see the true colors of paint and wallpaper. A special feature of this light is its tempered, frosted lens, which, according to the manufacturer, eliminates glare and shadows as well. It’s protected by a grill for safety and offers a folding stand for easy storage. Prices: $16.99 for the Clamp Light; $29.99 for the Painter’s Worklight. Regent Lighting Corp., P.O. Box 2658, Burlington, N.C. 27216. Phone: 800-334-6871.
– Coiled body. The Heavy Duty Flexible Flashlight from Sears Craftsman has a coiled body that can be bent and draped to grasp onto objects so that it doesn’t have to be held in the hand. Its head is equipped with two lights: a tight spotlight, which can be focused on a small area, and a flood light. Both beams are produced by Xenon bulbs, which create bright light. Sears Craftsman also has developed the Dual Bulb Quartz Halogen Portable Light, which can provide 500 or 300 watts of light and offers the option of dimming the beam to 150 watts. Prices: $19.99 for the Flexible Flashlight or the Dual Bulb Quartz Halogen Portable Light. Available at Sears stores.
– Safety features. Black & Decker’s StormLight Home Emergency Light was designed with safety in mind. This flashlight fits into a base that remains plugged into an electrical outlet so that the battery is always charged. (A second battery can be purchased that fits into the base for charging.) When a power failure turns out a household’s electricity, the StormLight automatically turns on and provides light for about two hours. StormLight, which is pale gray with darker gray trim, is made out of molded rubber for an easy grip. It has a krypton bulb and adjustable focus. Price: $36 for StormLight; $9.99 for additional battery. Black & Decker, Consumer Services, P.O. Box 618, Hampstead, Md. 21074. Phone: 800-54-HOW-TO.
– In the limelight. The Power-Fail LimeLite, from Austin Innovations, is a night light with a battery that automatically goes to work for 72 hours when there is a power failure. Using a special technology that does not require a light bulb, it produces a pale green glow and stays cool to the touch. According to the manufacturer, it uses only 2 cents worth of electricity per year. The PathLite LimeLite, a night light that replaces the faceplate over a wall switch, features a dimmer to adjust its brightness. The SideLite LimeLite is built into the side of a wall plate that covers an electrical outlet. Both of these night lights are slim and energy efficient. They never produce enough heat to cause burns. Prices: $19.95 for the Power-Fail LimeLite, $15.99 for the PathLite, and $12.99 for the SideLite (purchase through mail order or web site only). Austin Innovations, P.O. Box 2222, W. Rundberg Lane, Suite 400, Austin, Texas 78758. Web site: www.limelite.com. Phone: 512-339-6765.
– Energy efficient. “The Bulb,” from Lights of America, encases fluorescent light in the traditional shape of an incandescent bulb so that it can fit standard lamps and light fixtures. While The Bulb costs more than the conventional light bulb, it is more energy efficient and lasts 16 times longer, according to the manufacturer. It also remains cool. Lights of America has also introduced the Fluorescent Torchiere, which does not present the heat problems or potential for fires of halogen torchieres. The Fluorescent Torchiere is also energy efficient and long-lasting. Prices: $12.99 for “The Bulb,” $39.99 for the Fluorescent Torchiere. Lights of America, 611 Reyes Dr., Walnut, Calif. 91789. Phone: 800-321-8100.
– Dimmable bulb. The 23-watt Earth Light Dimmable from Philips Lighting Co. is touted as the only integrated compact fluorescent with dimming capabilities for use with photocells, motion detectors and standard wall dimmers. These advantages will be helpful to consumers who have been unable to use compact fluorescent lamps in their existing dimming circuits. The dimmable bulb has an electronic circuit in its base, which controls the bulb and allows it to be compatible with dimmers and other controls. The lamp features an average life of 10,000 hours (an estimated five to seven years of normal residential use) compared to 750 hours for an incandescent lamp. Price: $25. Philips Customer Information Network, 800-555-0050.
