Incandescent light bulbs, known for converting most energy to heat, are being phased out globally, including in the U.S. under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and updated 2023 rules, due to their inefficiency, replaced by energy-saving LEDs to cut energy waste and costs. The ban targets standard household bulbs (General Service Lamps) requiring a minimum of 45 lumens per watt, a benchmark traditional incandescents (around 15 lumens/watt) can't meet, though some specialty or high-wattage bulbs remain available.

Why they were discontinued:

Energy Inefficiency: Incandescents waste up to 90% of energy as heat, not light.

Environmental Impact: Higher energy use increases carbon emissions.

Government Regulations: The U.S. DOE mandated efficiency standards (45 lumens/watt) in 2023, making most incandescents obsolete.

What replaced them:

LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes): The primary replacement, offering high efficiency (75+ lumens/watt), longer life, and lower energy bills.

CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps): An earlier alternative, but LEDs are now preferred due to CFLs containing mercury.