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QUINCY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The next time you're at the store buying a light bulb, there shouldn't be any incandescent bulbs for sale.
That's because as of today, the country's ban on incandescent light bulbs has taken effect.
It's been 16 years in the making, and there are at least a dozen exemptions to the ban, but for the most part, consumers are no longer able to buy incandescent bulbs.
Stores that violate the ban face fines.
New Department of Energy rules require that light bulbs must emit a minimum of 45 lumens per watt and traditional incandescent bulbs provide just 15 lumens per watt.
Lumens is a measure of brightness.
New technology, including LED lights, provides a more energy-efficient way to light homes and businesses and is better for the environment.
Shoppers on the South Shore had mixed feelings over the ban. "LED lights save energy and will be cheaper in the long run," said one shopper. Another questioned banning incandescent bulbs, a product in his mind that works just fine. "They might be a thing of the past," he said. "But they work, so why change?"
WBZ's Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.
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