Where can I find lighting terms and technical information?
Our lighting glossary can answer some of your questions about technical lighting terms (like "what's an amp?" and "how many lumens of light do fluorescent bulbs produce?").
Where can I get replacement bulbs for my GE holiday lights?
GE holiday light sets and holiday replacement bulbs are available around the holidays at most home improvement, drug, discount, and grocery stores. They're made by Santa's Best, which has a licensing agreement with GE to make and distribute all GE holiday lights. From their web site, SantasBest.com, you can get instructions on replacing fuses and bulbs, get live online help from a customer service representative, send them e-mail, and more. You can also call Santa's Best toll-free at 1-877-398-7337 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. US Central Time. (Hours may be extended during the holiday season.)
If you think you have a defective holiday light set, please return it to the retailer where it was purchased; your retailer can provide the quickest and most effective service.
Do some bulbs provide better quality light than others?
Ordinary bulbs produce dingy yellow rays that can leave you and your home looking less-than-best. Fortunately, you don't have to settle for inferior light quality. Use our quality of light scale to decide which bulb is right for the different rooms in your home.
- Best light quality: GE Edison™ light bulbs provide the bright, crisp light used by designers to make homes look their best - and some are guaranteed to last 2 years* or longer.
- Great light quality: GE Reveal® light bulbs provide cleaner, whiter-looking light for rooms where pure, true light is important.
- Good light quality: GE Soft White bulbs provide regular, everyday light for the less-traveled areas of your home.
Pick a room. Change the bulbs. See the results. You won't believe the difference redecorating with light can make in how you look and feel.
Why does a halogen light bulb last longer than a regular incandescent bulb?
Both regular incandescent bulbs and halogen bulbs create light by heating a filament (made of tungsten) inside the bulb; the heat makes the filament white-hot, producing the light that you see. Usually, the bulb burns out when the filament wears out.
The filament on a regular incandescent bulb wears out over time because the tungsten on the filament evaporates and is redeposited on the bulb's glass. (This is also why bulbs often appear darker when they burn out; what you're seeing is tungsten deposits on the inside of the glass.) Halogen bulbs last longer because the halogen gas inside the bulbs redeposits the tungsten back onto the filament as it evaporates. A halogen bulb will still eventually burn out, because the tungsten isn't redeposited evenly on the filament, and the filament will eventually develop a weak spot. Even so, halogen bulb technology is a great improvement over regular bulbs — they last around 4 times longer while providing a superior quality of light.
Does GE Lighting make light fixtures?
With the exception of under-cabinet fixtures and night lights, GE Lighting does not make light fixtures for the home. If you're looking for home light fixtures, you might try your local lighting distributors and home improvement centers.
Which light bulb do I use in my specific light fixture (e.g., table lamp, wall sconce, outdoor light post, etc.)?
We've created a special tool to help you figure out which light bulb to use in specific fixtures. To use it, select the information you're looking for from the box on the right.
For outdoor fixtures, it's important to buy a bulb with a package that says it was designed for outdoor use. To see GE bulbs rated for outdoor use, select "Outdoor Lighting" from the "for my" list below.
Of course, be sure you're following the fixture manufacturer's specifications for light bulb wattage, voltage, and bulb shape. If you have a special fixture type and aren't sure which light bulb to use, contact the fixture manufacturer.
Where can I find information about ENERGY STAR energy-efficient light bulbs and lighting products?
We offer a wide range of GE energy-efficient light bulbs, including bulbs that meet the U.S. government's Energy Star performance standards. In fact, we were honored to have once again been named the EPA Energy Star Partner of the Year.
Where can I find information about long-life bulbs?
Some new bulb types have a longer bulb life than regular incandescent light bulbs you're used to. If you want bulbs that last longer, look for our GE Edison light bulbs that are guaranteed to last 2 years* or more — they provide a superior bright, crisp light and make your home look its best. We also offer a line of energy-saving Soft White bulbs guaranteed to last 2-8 years* (depending on bulb type).
For more information about bulb life, read: How long should light bulbs last?
Where can I find information about light bulb rebates?
Light bulb and lighting product rebates are only offered through local stores. To find out if any lighting product rebates are currently available, please check with light bulb retailers in your area.
Where can I find information on using light to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
Seasonal affective disorder (or SAD) is a form of depression caused by the lack of sunlight. It usually occurs in winter when natural light levels decrease. A common treatment for this condition is phototherapy, in which a light box is used to expose the patient to high levels of light for prolonged periods. Because of the high level of light used and the risk of eye damage due to ultraviolet radiation exposure, people who may be suffering from SAD should consult a health professional, who can suggest the most appropriate treatment. If a light box is recommended, your health professional should monitor the light intensity, length of exposure, number of treatments, and time of day that the treatments should be administered.
We do not make a GE light box or light bulbs for use in phototherapy light boxes or visors. Regular light bulbs used in the home and public buildings, whether incandescent, fluorescent, compact fluorescent, or halogen, do not produce the intensity of light needed to treat seasonal affective disorder. If you believe you may suffer from SAD, contact a qualified health professional.
Where can I find lighting disposal policies and contact information for my state or province?
Please refer to our state disposal policies page. In most states, fluorescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs used at home can be disposed of in the same way as regular light bulbs. While all fluorescent bulbs contain a trace amount of mercury, the quantity is so minute that disposal is not regulated by federal standards (established by the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency). You would have to dispose of an incredibly large amount of fluorescent bulbs — around 360 4-foot fluorescent tubes — before you would be subject to federal disposal standards. However, individual states and provinces also have established disposal standards, so you should check the disposal policies in your area.
Does GE make a shatter-resistant bulb?
If you're looking for a shatter resistant bulb, try our Saf-T-Gard™ light bulbs. They have a coating that helps contain shattered particles if the bulb is broken.
Does GE make a bulb that doesn't emit ultraviolet light?
If you're looking for a low-UV bulb for an especially sensitive area (like a photography dark room), try our Saf-T-Gard™ bulbs. They block most ultraviolet light emissions, and they're also shatter-resistant.
What's the difference between a blacklight and a blacklight-blue bulb?
Blacklights are bulbs made with a special glass that filters out most visible light; instead, they emit a specific type of ultraviolet light called UVA. Blacklights are good for making certain substances glow that would normally be invisible. For example, you may have had your hand stamped at an amusement park with an invisible ink that, when viewed under a blacklight, glowed a bright neon color. Blacklights are available in Fluorescent and Incandescent. Fluorescent Blacklights are great to use for a party or blacklight poster; Incandescent Blacklights are an inexpensive way to create a party atmosphere.
Blacklight-blue bulbs are designed with a special deep-blue glass that does a better job of filtering out visible light than regular blacklights, producing the maximum amount of ultraviolet light possible. If you're looking for a blacklight that produces the minimum amount of visible light for an especially sensitive area, blacklight-blue bulbs are an ideal choice.
Where can I get service on my GE light meter?
We're currently unable to find a cost-effective source for light meter repair and calibration. Fortunately, these meters are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased through your local lighting distributor.
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* Based on 4 hours consumer use per day. (See package for limited warranty.)