New Year Means New Light Bulb Regulations

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Get ready to say goodbye to the light bulbs we all grew up with.

Starting Jan. 1, the U.S. will no longer make or import incandescent light bulbs.

The 60-watt and 40-watt bulbs will go away -- 75-watt and 100-watt already were phased out in recent years.

But some people are finding ways around the phase out.

For instance, at Rollier's Hardware in Mount Lebanon, they've had some people come in who are apparently hoarding them.

"Yes, we've had people come in and clean off the shelves," said owner Doug Satterfield.

But he says you don't necessarily have to stockpile to stick with incandescents a little longer.

For instance, Satterfield says regular three-way bulbs are not going away, so you can have a lamp outfitted to use three-way bulbs to stick with incandescents.

"Any regular lamp, you can change it from an on-and-off to a three-way, and we do it for our customers here," said Satterfield.

Likewise, while some incandescent chandelier bulbs are going extinct, the type called "candelabra" with a skinnier bottom is not. So there's a gadget you put in a light fixture's socket to make it so the skinnier bulbs can be used.

Finally, he says people should know that if you have a light where they're safe to use, 150 and 200 watt incandescents will not be going away.

Also, stores are allowed to sell whatever incandescents they still have in stock after the first of the year.

With all that said, Satterfield says the new, energy efficient bulbs have a lot to offer.

While CFLs, halogens and LEDs may be more expensive, he says they last longer, in some cases much longer. And he says you'll make up the initial cost in energy savings.

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