This Popular Light Bulb Is Now Banned in the US

A new Department of Energy rule means most bulbs sold in the U.S. must be energy-efficient LED bulbs.

The time has come to say goodbye to (most) incandescent light bulbs.

A Biden administration’s ban on the manufacturing and sale of the common bulbs went into effect on Aug. 1. The rule was originally established in 2007 but later rolled back by the Trump administration. Then in April of last year, the Department of Energy flipped the switch, implementing new efficiency standards to phase out the older, high-energy bulbs.

The rule effectively prohibits the manufacture and sale of most incandescent bubs, which were used in about 30% of U.S. homes in 2020. New requirements mean most bulbs sold in the U.S. must be energy-efficient LED bulbs.

While more expensive, LED — or light emitting diode — bulbs last roughly 25-50 times longer and use less energy. Traditional incandescent bulbs provide just 15 lumens per watt, while most LED bulbs can produce about 75 lumens per watt, or more.