In Calif., it’s lights out for incandescent bulb

In Calif., it’s lights out for incandescent bulb

LOS ANGELES

The brightest bulb in most homes for more than a century is fading toward darkness this year as California turns out the light on the century-old incandescent.

Beginning Jan. 1, the state began phasing out certain energy-sucking bulbs, federal standards the U.S. will enact next year.

Manufacturers will no longer make the traditional 100-watt bulb and stores will eventually sell out of current supplies. Consumers will have to choose from more efficient bulbs that use no more than 72 watts, including halogen incandescents, compact fluorescents and light-emitting diode, or LED, bulbs.

The change is part of the federal Energy Independence and Security Act that President George Bush signed in 2007, to reduce energy use and greenhouse-gas emissions. California was allowed to adopt the national standard one year earlier.

The act requires new bulbs to use 25 percent to 30 percent less energy beginning in 2012 nationally — starting with the 100-watt bulb.

Associated Press