With advent of 2014, lights go out on incandescent bulb

TACOMA, Wash. Thomas Edisons first public demonstration of the incandescent light bulb happened 134 years ago Tuesday.

But on Wednesday, the lights dimmed for the incandescent because of federal energy efficiency standards approved in 2007.

As of Jan. 1, companies no longer can import or make 60- and 40-watt incandescent light bulbs the most popular bulb for indoor lighting. Instead, LED (light-emitting diode) and CFL (compact fluorescent) will replace incandescents as the dominant home fixture.

The new light bulbs reduce energy use and save consumers money. Experts say 90 percent of the electricity used by traditional incandescent light bulbs is radiated in the form of heat, rather than light.

While the bulb ban prevents the manufacture or import of incandescents, shoppers still can find the bulbs on the shelves. Since people have known the ban was coming for some time, there were no last-minute crowds shopping for incandescents Tuesday, Fred Meyer spokeswoman Melinda Merrill said.

Traditional 75- and 100-watt incandescent bulbs were to be phased out at the beginning of 2013. Home Depot stores in some areas of the country have a six-month supply of incandescent bulbs. Merrill said Fred Meyer has a two-month supply of various incandescent bulbs.

The CFLs have become more popular and LEDs have become more popular, she said.

Lighting is no minor matter at the Tacoma Art Museum, where three galleries are lit with ceramic metal halide lamps. That has allowed the museum to reduce the number of fixtures it has and save money at the same time.

One gallery, which houses the museums collection of Chihuly glass, still uses incandescent lighting at Dale Chihulys request, said museum director Stephanie Stebich.

He prefers a warmer, hotter light and it makes the vessels glow, she said.

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With advent of 2014, lights go out on incandescent bulb