Get ready, folks.
Under an energy bill passed by Congress in late 2007, the incandescent light bulb will start being phased out in the US in 2012 and totally phased out by 2014. 100 watt bulbs will be the first to go, and by 2014 the 40 watt bulb will be the last.
But, why?
In short, the incandescent light bulb wastes energy. A lot of energy. According to an article by US News and World Report, 90% percent of the energy that an incandescent light bulb burns is wasted as heat.
Currently, the most widely available alternative to incandescent bulbs is the CFL (Compact Flourescent) bulb. While CFL lights seem to cost more at checkout–about $3.00 per bulb compared to .50 cents per incandescent bulb–the overall energy and cost savings to households is significant. In fact, most reports agree that CFLs last up to 5 years longer and use 75% less energy, which means a 12% decrease in your electric bill per year.
Many complain that CFL bulbs don’t have the same color effect as incandescent bulbs; however, in recent years manufacturers of CFL bulbs have started to offer a wider range of options. Besides, isn’t the energy savings enough to override those concerns?
Energy Star has offered these tips to choosing the right CFL:
- Light color is measured on a temperature scale referred to as Kelvin (K).
- Lower Kelvin numbers mean the light appears more yellow; higher Kelvin numbers mean the light is whiter or bluer.
- For a whiter light, look for bulbs marked 3500-4100K.
- For bluer white light, look for bulbs marked 5000-6500K.
So, what are you waiting for? Jump in and beat the ban while saving yourself some money.
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