Background:

Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb nearly 120 years ago, and it still works much as it did then. Inside a glass bulb, electricity heats up a wire filament, causing it to glow and give off light. Of course, electrical heaters work in much the same way, and that's why more than 90 percent of the energy produced by incandescent bulbs is heat, not light. As a result, incandescent bulbs are inefficient light sources.

A new 13-watt compact fluorescent light bulb produces as much light - as many lumens - as a traditional 60-watt incandescent bulb. This means as much light, using only one-quarter of the electrical energy. Plus, fluorescents last 10 to 15 times longer, saving money on both energy bills and money for replacement bulbs. In fact, the average florescent light bulb produces 400% more light per dollar than an incandescent bulb.

Supporting Facts:

• Replacing incandescent light bulbs with more efficient bulbs reduces demand for electricity. In fact, the California Energy Commission reports that completely eliminating inefficient incandescent bulbs will reduce CO2 emissions by 1.82 million metric tons per year.
  
  
• This goal is completely achievable. Wal-Mart has set a goal of selling 100 million compact florescent light bulbs this year, and Phillips has announced it will stop manufacturing incandescent light bulbs by 2016.
  
  
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs are being produced in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes, to fit any standard light socket. Additionally, fluorescents now work with dimmer switches.

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http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/special/index.htm
http://ladpw.org/epd/hhw/local_city_collection.cfm
http://www.cawrecycles.org/living_green/where_to_recycle

Additional documentation regarding this issue.

• Light Bulb Legislation - AB 722 Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Light Bulb Legislation - Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
• Light Bulb Legislation - True and False (PDF)
• Light Bulb Legislation - Timeline (PDF)
• Light Bulb Legislation - Money Saving Tables (PDF)