Get ready for life without traditional home lighting: As of Jan. 1, even 40- and 60-watt incandescent bulbs will no longer be produced for U.S. consumers, owing to a 2007 law. Below, the three main alternatives:
Halogens: It’s expected that most customers will first turn to halogen bulbs, which deliver the same warm light as incandescents but are 28 percent more efficient. A 72-watt halogen costs roughly $1.50.
CFLs: Compact fluorescent bulbs are 75 percent more efficient than incandescents, and new versions are dimmable and produce relatively warm light. They cost about $5 each and easily outlast halogens.
LEDs: The newest LED options look a lot like traditional bulbs and emit warm-colored light. They cost about $15 a bulb, but last the longest, and are often about 5 percent more efficient than CFLs.
Source: Popular Mechanics
