Lights out for the incandescent bulb
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is imposing new restrictions on energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The law provides for phasing out today’s general service incandescent light bulbs in favor of lower-wattage, energy-saving bulbs. Lighting accounts for about 15 percent of the electrical use in homes.
Phase-out dates | (effective Jan. 1) | 2012 | 2013 | —2014— | |
ENERGY USED | (watts) | 100W | 75W | 60W | 40W |
LIGHT PRODUCED | (lumens) | 1,690 | 1,170 | 850 | 475 |
Replacement options
These bulbs use less energy to emit the same levels of light as the incandescent bulbs.
 | CFLs | 20-25W | 18-20W | 13-15W | 11W |
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are expected to be the leading replacements for standard incandescent light bulbs, at least at first. In CFLs, electric current energizes argon and mercury vapor, which in turn causes a phosphor coating inside the bulb to emit light. | |||||
 | Halogen | 70-72W | 53W | 43W | 28-29W |
New halogen bulbs look like the incandescent bulbs people are used to buying. Halogens are a more energy efficient form of incandescent, but they are the least efficient of the incandescent replacement technologies. The filament is encased in a bulb made of fused quartz or high silica glass containing a halogen gas. | |||||
 | LEDs in light bulbs |
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| 12W | 8W |
LEDs are the gizmos that have been around for years lighting up digital clocks and calculators. They use semiconductors that emit light when electrons move around. Recent innovation has allowed engineers to make them bright enough for light bulbs. | |||||
