On January 1, 2014, it will be lights out for standard incandescent 60 and 40 watt light bulbs in USA. In order to comply with efficiency standards outlined in the Energy Independence and Security Act, which was signed into law by President George Bush in 2007, it will be illegal to manufacture or import them after Dec. 31. But retailers will still be able to sell off any remaining stock. In 2012, all 100 watt bulbs were phased out, and 75 watt bulbs disappeared the following year.
The old incandescent bulbs are highly inefficient. Only about 10 percent of their energy output is converted into light; the rest is lost to heat. "Once all of our nation's 4 billion screw-based sockets have an efficient bulb in them, U.S. consumers will save $13 billion and 30 large coal-burning power plants-worth of electricity a year. The savings really add up," Noah Horowitz, senior scientist for the US Natural Resources Defense Council says. He adds that if you replace an incandescent bulb with a CFL (compact fluorescent light), you'll save about $50 over the course of the bulb's lifetime. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are pricey up front. They run about $10 per 60-watt equivalent, but over time they offer a savings of $100 to $150 in energy costs.
The numbers are compelling, but that doesn't mean that some people in USA won't mourn the loss of the mellow light emitted by old-fashioned bulbs, especially the 60 watt version, which accounts for about 50 percent of household lighting in the United States.
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| Toshiba 6W LED light |
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| Incandescent bulb |
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| Compact Fluorescent Lamp |
The numbers are compelling, but that doesn't mean that some people in USA won't mourn the loss of the mellow light emitted by old-fashioned bulbs, especially the 60 watt version, which accounts for about 50 percent of household lighting in the United States.
Lighting artist and designer Bentley Meeker, who runs a successful lighting design company in New York City, isn't a fan of all of the new, more efficient bulbs. "The soul doesn't connect to LED, it's a visceral reaction," he says. "Until the mid-1850s, the only light that humans were exposed to was daylight and firelight. Incandescent bulbs have a color that is similar to firelight." He believes that LEDs and fluorescent can be fatiguing on the eyes and unpleasant to live and work with for long periods of time.
higher purchase cost of efficient replacements, the different quality of light produced by phosphor-based lamps compared to incandescent lamps and that compact fluorescent light bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, a potent neurotoxin, which is especially dangerous to children and pregnant women. Compact fluorescent lamps start poorly when very cold, and most types cannot be dimmed. A few specialist applications are unsuitable for CFLs.
To mitigate the effects of these concerns, various programs have been put in place ranging from subsidies for lamps to improved standards for measurement of performance and for labeling products. Manufacturers develop fluorescent lamps with reduced mercury content compared to original designs, and recycling programs are intended to prevent mercury release. New lamp types offer improved starting characteristics, and dimmable types are available.
Horowitz argues that the transition to energy efficient bulbs has been smooth and successful and that the technology and choices are continually improving. He says the main reason people aren't happy with some of the new bulbs is that they are choosing the wrong brightness level and/or "flavor" (the color of light the bulb emits).
Considering the fact that we (Tanzania) have big losses in our generating stations and that the present generated capacity does not satisfy the ever rising power demand, should we also consider banning usage of incandescent bulbs?
Courtesy of Wikipedia and Yahoo
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