Light Bulbs Will Change Effective January 1

According to a USA Today article, your traditional incandescent light bulbs will be phased out beginning January 1st.  Starting on Sunday, the 100 watt bulb will no longer be able to be imported or manufactured, although stores can sell their inventories until they run out.  This same transition will happen for 75 watt bulbs on January 1, 2013 and for 40 & 60 watt bulbs on January 1, 2014. 

So, what are your options after the 1st?  There are currently 3 choices that meet the guidelines of the new legislation, which states that the bulb must be at least 25% more efficient than the standard incandescent bulb.  According to another article in USA Today, over a third of Americans prefer the traditional bulbs versus the energy-efficient option, so which bulb is best suited to match the old bulbs? Which one is the most affordable?  Here's a comparison of the 3 options.

• The CFL (compact fluorescent lamp): The "squiggly" bulb.

• Cost: $4.65 for a 2-pack 14w (traditional 60w) and will last an estimated 9 years. 
• Color of lighting: varies, so if you prefer the yellowish light that the traditional bulbs had, look for a lower temperature (measured in Kelvin), which will be a warmer color.  
• Drawbacks:
• Contains a trace amount of mercury so they need to be disposed of properly. However, the amount of mercury is not a health hazard--it's about equivalent to the mercury level found on a plate of sushi. 
• Cheaper bulbs are not dimmable, so if that is a priority for you, check the label.
• Doesn't last as long as other alternatives
• Benefits:
• They have the biggest range of color, so more to choose from.
• The cheapest option available, when totaling cost of purchase and cost of use.
• They now come in different shapes, like A-line and globe to offer options to the "squiggly" bulb.
• Halogen Incandescent:

• Cost: $3.50 for a 43w (traditional 60w) 2-pack and lasts almost a year.
• Color of lighting: Most similar to the traditional bulbs with soft white lighting.
• Drawbacks:
• They don't last near as long as the other options.
• They aren't as energy efficient as other options.
• Benefits:
• These bulbs are all mercury free.
• Cheapest to purchase.
• Most similar to the traditional incandescent bulb.
• Plenty of shapes & sizes to choose from.
• Most bulbs are dimmable.
• LED (light-emitting diode):

• Cost: $24 for 13w (traditional 60w) 1 bulb and lasts an estimated 23 years.
• Color of lighting: Most of these bulbs will be in the 3,300 to 5,000 K range, so lighting will be whiter than the traditional bulb.
• Drawbacks:
• The cost to purchase is by far the most.
• The bulb looks different than what we are accustomed to.
• Benefits:
• The most energy efficient--saving about 80% over the life of the bulb.
• Comes in two different shades--soft white and bright light for options.
• The future of lighting, and will hopefully decrease in pricing as it becomes more popular.
• The bulb is dimmable and contains no mercury.
• Offers many shapes & sizes.

Which is best?  That's up to you! If you are planning on staying in your home for 30 years, you might go with the LED's as you could save $200 per bulb over it's life.  If you want to emulate the old-style bulbs, you may choose the halogen.  The choice is yours!

JK

Source: USA Today Article, USA Today Article, Prices from Home Depot