WASHINGTON (Michigan News Source) – After many years of debate, the American people will be limited to only purchasing certain types of lightbulbs after a new ban on certain ones will go into effect on Tuesday, preventing vendors from selling lights that do not meet new requirements, including incandescent bulbs. 

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As the forerunner in lightbulb technology since the 19th century, Thomas Edison’s original design has inspired developments and modern technology for incandescent bulbs which have shed light in homes, cities, and states for several centuries. 

Some advocates of transitioning to a newer type of lightbulb cite costs and the environment among the chief factors in moving towards only Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. 

“By raising energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs, we’re putting $3 billion back in the pockets of American consumers every year and substantially reducing domestic carbon emissions,” Former Michigan Governor and current U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said previously. “The lighting industry is already embracing more energy efficient products, and this measure will accelerate progress to deliver the best products to American consumers and build a better and brighter future.”

In April, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the adoption of two new rules for lightbulbs which would go into effect which would allegedly “conserve energy and help consumers save on their energy bills.”  

One of the new rules would enforce a “backstop”, or an efficacy level of 45 lumens per watt, which would rule out halogen and incandescent lights, also commonly known as “lamps.” 

For comparison, LED lights have been measured to produce 70 to 100 lumens per watt, as opposed to incandescent lights which generally provide 15 lumens per watt according to the lightbulb manufacturer Phillips. 

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Additionally, advocates argue that LED lightbulbs last 25 to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs and therefore can save families on average at least $100 every year in energy costs. 

However, there will remain some carve outs for particular incandescent lights according to the DOE, including: appliance lamps such as fridge and oven lights, black lights, bug lamp, colored lamps, infrared lamps, plant lights, and several others. 

One resource, the Regency Supply, helps customers find what is and is not available in their states and neighboring ones.  According to their data, most states that have additional lighting legislation are on the east and west coasts, with a few exceptions including Colorado and Hawaii.