| The first ever practical, long lasting | | | | Australia, Ontario and California have taken |
| incandescent light bulb was developed by | | | | ground-breaking steps toward elimination of |
| Thomas Edison in 1879. While Edison did not | | | | the use of incandescent lighting altogether. |
| invent the concept of the light bulb, he was | | | | New regulations push consumers to replace |
| the first to create a version of the electric | | | | energy wasting incandescent bulbs with |
| light bulb that was safe, practical and | | | | compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs. With |
| cost-effective for home lighting. To achieve | | | | goals aimed at reducing hundreds of thousands |
| success with the light bulb, Edison played a | | | | of tons of carbon dioxide emissions and |
| critical role in overcoming challenges that | | | | banning incandescent bulbs in just a few |
| were hindering the innovation of the electric | | | | years, other communities are sure to follow |
| light bulb by developing such electrical | | | | in these leaders' environmentally conscious |
| breakthroughs as the parallel circuit, an | | | | footsteps. |
| underground conductor framework and light | | | | |
| sockets with switches. | | | | There is concern about the economic cost that |
| | | | aggressive lighting regulations will pass on |
| Today, electrical lighting is a commodity and | | | | to consumers, as incandescent bulbs are sold |
| is considered an indispensable component of | | | | at a much lower cost than compact fluorescent |
| life and business. Alongside widespread | | | | bulbs. While initially a higher investment, |
| consumer use of incandescent light bulbs has | | | | fluorescent bulbs prove their worth in saved |
| come a realization of the environmental and | | | | energy costs and a much longer useful life |
| economical drawbacks of the once coveted | | | | than incandescent bulbs. Additionally, as |
| technology. As more advanced technology such | | | | more governments institute energy |
| as fluorescent lighting began to provide | | | | conservation legislation favoring fluorescent |
| consumers with an alternative to incandescent | | | | bulbs, their consumption volume will increase |
| bulbs, it became clear that incandescent | | | | and prices are sure to drop as a result. |
| bulbs produce an excessive amount of energy | | | | |
| waste as compared to their more energy | | | | Electric incandescent lighting technology has |
| efficient counterparts. Only about 5 percent | | | | changed little to none in the over 125 years |
| of the energy consumed by an incandescent | | | | since its inception. As the world becomes |
| light bulb is used to produce light, while 95 | | | | more aware and concerned about human effects |
| percent is released as waste in the form of | | | | on the environment, innovative regulations |
| heat. Prevalent awareness and activism | | | | are certain to have an enormous and |
| concerning the environmental repercussions of | | | | increasing impact on lighting use and energy |
| electrical waste, such as greenhouse gas | | | | consumption. While the future does not look |
| emissions into the atmosphere, perpetuate the | | | | bright for incandescent light bulbs, modern |
| urgency of reducing energy consumption and | | | | fluorescent lighting and rapidly progressing |
| thus waste. | | | | LED lighting technology are gaining a |
| | | | stronghold on the lighting industry and |
| Energy conservation leaders such as | | | | consumer preference. |