Changing the Light Bulb, Changing the World

Most of us have them in our homes. They still innocently line the shelves of grocery and home improvement stores by the thousands. But all that will change by the year 2012. As reported by NBC Nightly News recently, Europe is in the process of phasing out incandescent light bulbs and America will soon follow. Last year the European Union reached an agreement that included 27 countries across Europe to ban the manufacturing and importation of the good ol' incandescent light bulbs first invented by Thomas Edison. Over the next three years the old bulbs will be phased out completely.

The traditional bulbs, whose design is largely unchanged in the last 130 years, is being replaced by longer lasting fluorescent and halogen bulbs. The Earth Day Network lists changing light bulbs as the number one thing people can do to help the earth. Longer lasting fluorescent and halogen bulbs are far more energy efficient than traditional bulbs. According to the Earth Day Network, "If every household in the U.S. replaced a burned-out bulb with an energy-efficient, ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent bulb...it would prevent more than 13 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere--which is like taking more than a million cars off the road for an entire year."

The plan is also supposed to save consumers 25 to 75 percent on their energy bills. But as NBC's Donna Friesen reported, not all Europeans are happy about the change. The complaints include not liking being forced into green habits and the inferior lighting of the newer bulbs. In fact, hoarding of the still available incandescent bulbs has been reported across Europe.

But the new rules are here to stay. According to Friesen, the British government estimates that if every household across England switched just three bulbs to the newer energy-efficient bulbs, it would save enough energy to power the whole nation's streets for a year. Most homes use a lot more than three light bulbs.

The EU has touted the positive impact this plan will have on the environment and the economy. The switch to the newer bulbs is projected to pump 14 billion into the European economy, according to the Associated Press. Even countries outside of Europe are hopping on the light bulb bandwagon, like Australia and Canada. Cash and energy strapped Tajikistan in Central Asia is banning the bulbs in an effort to loosen its reliance on imported electricity. According to the AP, last winter Tajikistan experienced devastating power shortages.

Get ready Americans. In 2007 President George W. Bush signed a bill that will have the U.S. begin phasing out the incandescent bulbs in 2012. But with the impact this simple change can have on both the environment and the wallet, why wait?

Ki graduated from UT, and stayed in Austin to work in the Austin real estate market. He has a buyer focused website with a searchable database of the Austin MLS. His site also has information on Austin real estate and Pflugerville.