Community Corner

Lights Out for Incandescent Bulbs

Congress passed a law in 2007 that has incandescent light bulbs going the way of the dinosaur.

What do a Tyrannosaurus rex and an incandescent light bulb have in common? Both are dinosaurs and while one is already extinct, in a few years, the incandescent light bulb, which has been used for nearly 200 years, will be history.

The incandescent light bulb, is on its way out. The bulbs are going to be phased out over the next few years. ComEd is encouraging consumers to begin the phase out and to recycle their old incandescent light bulbs, replacing them with more energy efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs).

In January, the phase out of the bulbs began, starting with 100-watt bulbs, according to ComEd. In 2013, the next phase begins with 75-watt bulbs no longer produced and then in 2014, the remaining 60-watt and 40-watt bulbs will stop being produced.

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“With all the recent federal changes in lighting standards, it’s more important than ever for customers to stay informed on lighting to make the right choice,” said ComEd Energy Doctor Timothy Melloch in a news release. “There are so many new lighting options for our customers to choose from and understanding those options is extremely important.”

The Energy Independence and Security Act, which Congress passed in 2007 sets new efficiency standards for appliances and lighting, including light bulbs. The law requires that new light bulbs consume 25 percent less electricity, according to ComEd. 

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The changes also require that labels on light bulb packaging provide easy to understand information to help educate consumers and allow them to choose the most energy-efficient light bulbs for their needs, ComEd said. Labels include energy costs per year, indicate the bulb’s life expectancy, and provide information on wattage and “lumens,” the measurement of a bulb’s brightness.

Find a local recycling center where you can recycle incandescent light bulbs.  

ComEd customers can learn more about energy-efficient lighting options, such as CFLs and LED bulbs, by visiting the “home savings” section of the ComEd.com home page, which also includes information on how to obtain discounts for select ENERGY STAR-qualified lighting products. ComEd lighting experts also offer customers tips during visits to home improvement stores across northern Illinois (click here to see a schedule).

 


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