Reflecting On The Past & Shining A Light On The Future Of LEDs

Typically, when a light bulb went out in a home in the past, it was replaced with another incandescent light bulb — the most popular and familiar lighting option. Now, consumers are switching out these bulbs with more energy-efficient options, which is due in large part to Congress mandating legislation in 2007 to phase out the incandescent. It’s not that these bulbs weren’t a viable technology, they simply weren’t efficient. They didn’t last as long and much of the energy they used to light up a room was lost as heat. As a result of federal legislation known as EISA — The Energy Independence and Security Act — the lighting industry began promoting better alternatives, including LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes), which use 80% less energy and last about 25 times as long as incandescent light bulbs.