Incandescent Light Bulbs Are Being Phased Out

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In 2007, then-President George W. Bush signed a law called the Energy Independence and Security Act. Among others, the law sets standards on energy-efficiency for lightbulbs, which will come into full effect in 2012. Essentially, the law requires lightbulbs to use 25% to 30% less power than today’s incandescent technologies.

Some parties have expressed concern that this might mean the banning of all incandescent bulbs. However, the truth is far from that. Proponents of the law argue that the requirements are technology-neutral, meaning the law doesn’t care what kind of bulb technology is used, as long as it’s more efficient than what incandescent can give us today.

Experts predict a savings of $13 billion per year, and will reduce the country’s carbon footprint by 100 million tons. To put it in terms of energy equivalent, using better technologies like CFL and LED will eliminate the need for about 30 large power plants around the country.

Many lighting manufacturers are already retooling their production lines to support more efficient technologies. What this law means for you and me is that we can expect to see fewer incandescent bulbs being sold in stores in the next few years. Energy companies will likely give incentives like rebates for switching to CFLs. In short, the law will help Americans save money on energy in the long run, thereby reducing dependence on fossil fuels and reducing the amount of energy that we waste on a daily (or nightly) basis.

Image credit: flickr