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December 2, 2008 11:51:31 AM CST

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What's the Next Bright Idea for Light Bulbs?

Posted Dec 22, 07 4:50 PM CST in Business,  Technology 

(Newser) – Retailers will be banned from selling inefficient incandescent bulbs in 2012, but manufacturers say their bright idea about compact fluorescents came years ago and the industry was heading in that direction anyway. In fact, the coming years will see a wave of more efficient light sources—not only flourescents, but LEDs and even high-efficient versions of old-fashioned incandescents, the New York Times reports.

One industry executive called flourescents only a "temporary fix." They contain mercury, making them hard to dispose of and just as environmentally hazardous as conventional bulbs, the Times notes. Manufacturers have begun developing LEDs—white-light versions of the ones that light up Christmas trees—that use non-toxic materials and last more than eight times longer than fluorescents.

Source New York Times

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A $50 LED floodlight from Lighting Science Group Corp. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)   (Associated Press)
SYLVANIA CFLs use 75 percent less energy than standard light bulbs. But the fluorescent bulbs are more expensive and contain mercury, the New York Times reports. (PRNewsFoto/OSRAM SYLVANIA)   (Associated Press)
General Electric and other manufacturers are switching to more energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs and have begun developing LED technology for home use. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, file)   (Associated Press)
A compact florescent bulb.   (Shutter Stock)
  (Shutter Stock)
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Congress • Environmental Protection Agency • General Electric • LEDs • compact fluorescent bulbs • incandescent bulbs • EnergyStar


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