Curious About Future Of Incandescent Light Bulbs

HUDSON (CBS) -- Thomas Edison must be rolling over in his grave.

In just about a year, it's the beginning of the end for the incandescent light bulb. The phase out is part of the "Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007."

Mark from Hudson Declared his Curiosity asking: "Hundred watt bulbs will be obsolete in 2012? We all have to buy those curly fry looking bulbs? Can you shed some light on this?"

Sure we can.

WBZ-TV's David Wade reports

Good old fashioned incandescent bulbs are soon to be dinosaurs, and soon to be extinct, and John Codman isn't happy about it.

"I will have a stock of incandescent light bulbs," he says. John's stocking up because a 3-year-old federal law most people don't know about raises efficiency standards for light bulbs, and the old energy inefficient incandescents won't pass.

Codman has collected about 400 bulbs so far.

Here's how the Energy Independence and Security Act will phase out these bulbs. At the beginning of 2012, 100 watt incandescents will phase out. The next year, it's 75 watts and in 2014, say goodbye to the 40 watt bulb.

"I'm not going to have a basement full of them, but I'm going to have a few cases," says Codman.

What about the rest of us? Well, CFL's, compact fluorescent bulbs, are available, but a lot of people aren't crazy about them. They don't get to full brightness instantly, and they contain tiny amounts of mercury, so if you break one, you have mercury to contend with.

So what's next?

A company that has its headquarters here in Massachusetts is leading the way to the future of the light bulb.

At Osram Sylvania's research facility in Beverly, the future means LEDs, light emitting diodes. LEDs are just now coming on the market for home use, though they've been available for commercial use for a while.

"The LED equivalent is 80 percent more efficient and will last 25 times longer," says Dr. Makarand Chipalkatti from Osram Sylvania.

A 40 watt equivalent went on sale earlier this year, and a 60 watt will be on store shelves next month. There's no mercury, they're instant on and dimmable. They're also very expensive, just under $20.

But not for long.

"The same 40 watt bulb was once $40," says Chipalkatti.

As we've seen with other electronic products, prices are expected to keep dropping. Consumers will save electricity and so will the country.

"We will actually make a big dent in our energy consumption," says Sylvania's Chipalkatti.

Remember John? Well, he's no light bulb snob. He has a couple of CFLs and is even trying out an LED. He just doesn't like the government telling him how to light up his life.

"Hopefully this law will be repealed anyway," he says.

As for inventor Thomas Edison, let's just say "good job" and "thank you."