It's lights out for traditional light bulbs

0 Comments | USA TODAY, December, 2007 | by Paul Davidson

Turn out the lights on traditional incandescent bulbs.

A little-noticed provision of the energy bill, which is likely to become law, phases out the 125-year-old bulb in the next four to 12 years in favor of a new generation of energy-efficient lights that will cost consumers more but return their investment in a few months.

The new devices include current products such as compact fluorescents and halogens, as well as emerging products such as light-emitting diodes and energy-saving incandescent bulbs.

"This will get us in line with the rest of the advanced industrial world in moving toward more efficient lighting," says Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., chairman of the Senate energy committee and author of the Senate measure requiring the tougher...