It has taken 7 years but we are now here. On January 1, 2014 both the 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent light bulb will no longer be produced as a result of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) signed by President George W. Bush. In years past we have lost the 100-watt and 75-watt. However, this next phase will probably have the biggest impact. Why? Simple. The 60 and 40-watt light bulbs are the most popular. According to Residential Lighting, they represent over 50% of all light bulbs used today.
We have been covering the incandescent phase out on this blog for the last couple of years. However, as a reminder, a primary goal of this law is to raise appliance and lighting efficiency standards.
The 60 and 40-watt light bulbs will not just vanish into thin air on January 1, 2014. You will probably still see them in stores for a couple of months. The key is that as of 1/1/14 they can no longer be imported into or manufactured in the United States.
So, what does happen when your trusted A19 incandescent light bulb ultimately disappears from both physical and online store shelves? You will have new choices of halogen, compact fluorescent, or LED light bulbs that meet the following minimum requirements:
- For a 60-watt A19 replacement the new lamp will have a lumen range of 750 to 1049 lumens, a maximum wattage of 43 watts, and a minimum rated life of 1000 hours.
- For a 40-watt A19 replacement the new lamp will have a lumen range of 310-749 lumens, a maximum wattage of 29 watts, and a minimum rated life of 1000 hours.
While it will no doubt be a transition to get used to our post-January 1, 2014 life, light bulb packages have changed in recent years to help. Packages now include lumen information, wattage, and a brightness scale to help you choose your next bulb.
As Bob Dylan has said, “the times they are a-changin’.”