Lights Out For Incandescent Light Bulb
More than 130 years after Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb, it will be fading off store shelves.
In 2007, Congress came up with a “bright” idea, the Energy Independence and Security Act, which will take effect in January, slowly phasing out production of energy-draining light bulbs.
In January 2012, production of 100-watt bulbs will come to a halt. In 2013, say goodbye to 75-watt bulbs. And in 2014, 60- and 40-watt bulbs will be hard to come by.
Why the change?
“The energy efficiency is the big reason,” said Home Depot electrical department sales associate Zach Shore.
The new compact fluorescent bulbs may cost a little more at the store, but manufacturers claim they last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and save you green on your energy bill in the process.
Most Home Depot customers we spoke with said they actually prefer the energy-efficient bulbs.
“We’ve been using the new ones for several years now and we like them, so we won’t be missing the incandescent ones at all,? customer Don Wilson said.
However, some say they want to have the choice.
“I don’t like the new ones as much,? Hiram Ivie said. ?They say they are good for seven years on some of them, but I don’t have very good luck with them. I prefer the old ones; I wish they wouldn’t take them away.”
You do have choices when it comes to the compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Compact fluorescent bulbs come in different shades of brightness, from day light to soft white.
One of the disadvantages is they contain mercury inside.
“The only thing you have to worry about with disposing the bulbs with the compact fluorescents, they needed to be recycled, and you can do that here at Home Depot,” Shore said.
When it comes to specialty bulbs you will still be able to buy incandescent, but when it comes to your standard incandescent bulbs, you better stock up now.
“I’ve seen some people come in and it says on the box, stock up now, and some people do; they want to make sure long after they are phased out,” Shore said.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Energy said that currently, one-quarter of the nation’s electricity is used for lighting, at a cost of $37 billion a year.
