There was one problem: The government never banned incandescents. The new law was enacted to simply phase out inefficient lightbulbs in, as Congress stated, "a technology-neutral way." The new law doesn't ban incandescent lightbulbs, nor does it demand the use of CFLs or any other kind of bulb. It simply sets forth energy efficiency targets that go into effect in two phases: first in 2012, and again in 2020.
By the end of this year, household bulbs?be they incandescents, CFLs, LEDs, or halogens?must use 30 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs. (The law was originally supposed to go into effect at the beginning of 2012, but Congress delayed it.) And while incandescents are not explicitly banned, the older, non-energy-efficient style is going to have an awfully hard time reaching that target.
The problem with an incandescent bulb (besides the fact that it's 134-year-old technology) is that it converts only 5 to 10 percent of the electricity it consumes into light. The rest is given off as heat. That's great if you're using an Easy-Bake Oven or trying to keep your crested gecko warm, but it's a terribly inefficient way to illuminate a room.
Consider that a typical 60-watt incandescent bulb emits about 900 lumens of light, which comes to approximately 15 lumens per watt of electricity. The new standard requires bulbs to produce at least 20 lumens of light per watt; by 2020 that number rises to 45 lumens per watt. A current CFL will do 50 lumens per watt or more, according to the National Resources Defense Council.
These changes in the law are going to demand that we change the way we think about lightbulbs. We're accustomed to a lightbulb being a minor expense, but the upfront cost of an energy-efficient one is much higher. Some might cost $30 or more per bulb.
The important thing is that you'll save money in the long run, through greatly extended bulb life and dramatically lower electricity usage. So don't get psyched out by the higher upfront cost?you'll make it back (and then some) over time. And prices are expected to drop as technology improves and the new bulbs become more popular.
Most energy-efficient bulbs come in various types, including standard A-style, and chandelier and candelabra sizes. Some kinds are dimmable, and some LEDs can be adjusted to emit various colors. And it's important to note that you should recycle burned-out bulbs rather than toss them into the trash.
CFLs represent the best value for consumers, as they use one-fourth the power of a comparable incandescent lightbulb and last up to 10 times longer. As a result, each CFL will save the consumer at least $30 in the form of lower electricity costs over the life of the bulb.
LED bulbs are a rapidly emerging substitute for incandescents. These can last up to 25 years and are at least 75 percent more efficient than current incandescent bulbs. And while these bulbs cost more at the moment than CFLs and high-efficiency incandescents (approximately $10 to $30 per bulb), their price is expected to drop quickly as technology improves and the supply and use of the bulbs increase.
Still, some consumers might prefer to stick with products with which they are most familiar, or they might favor the warm color of an incandescent. And that's fine, because you don't have to buy a CFL?the new law doesn't specify what technology people must use to meet the new standards. There are improved incandescents on the market today; they just won't save you as much money as CFLs will in the end.
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