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Re-activateI know compact fluorescent light bulbs save energy, but I still prefer incandescent bulbs. How long before they're banned?
There's no actual ban on incandescent bulbs themselves. But at present, none of the standard incandescents comply with the new federal law that requires a 30 percent cut in energy use starting in 2012, effectively pulling them off the shelves. Barring a major breakthrough, the phase-out will be gradual, beginning with 100-watt incandescent bulbs. The 60-watt incandescents (the most common bulb) and 40-watt bulbs can be made until 2014, and retailers can sell existing supplies until they run out.
Better incandescent light bulbs could change that scenario, according to the Energy Star website. The folks running this government program say manufacturers may introduce incandescent bulbs that use 30 percent less energy. What's more, halogen bulbs are widely available, and more LED bulbs, which promise even greater efficiency, are arriving at Home Depot and other retailers. Both types of bulbs meet the new federal light bulb rules, and prices are dropping for each.
Consumer Reports' tests of the 40-watt Philips Halogena Energy Saver T60, a dimmable halogen bulb that is marketed to replace a 60-watt incandescent, found it used 30 percent less energy, but it also proved some 10 percent dimmer than comparable incandescents and CFLs. The Halogena used more energy than a CFL and, at $9 for two bulbs, is much more expensive than most spiral CFLs we tested.
As for LEDs, we are testing the Cree CR6, a replacement for a 65-watt recessed incandescent bulb that sells for roughly $50 to $60—substantially less than earlier versions. Look for our initial take on the Cree in our October report on light bulbs, available on newsstands and online in early September.
—Kimberly Janeway
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