CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- While making energy-efficient improvements to the home may qualify homeowners for tax credits, there is a way to cut energy costs on a smaller scale that will eventually be mandatory.

According to materials provided by Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, light bulbs must become more efficient because of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed by President George W. Bush in December 2007.

The bill requires all light bulbs use 30 percent less energy than today's incandescent bulbs by certain deadlines. The phase-out will start with 100-watt bulbs in January 2012 and end with 40-watt bulbs in January 2014. By 2020, a Tier 2 would go into effect, requiring all bulbs to be at least 70 percent more efficient (effectively equal to today's CFLs).

It's not entirely correct to say "CFLs will be required" or "incandescents will be phased out" because the standards set by the bill are technology-neutral. And by 2012, a next generation of incandescent bulbs could satisfy the 30 percent increased efficiency. There also are other lighting technologies, such as halogen and LED, that will be able to meet the new requirements and are expected to both increase in performance and drop in cost over the next few years.

The law applies to the sale of bulbs, not the use of existing stock of bulbs.

Lighting is about 20 percent of the average household's energy bill. It is estimated that this law could cut our nation's electricity bill by more than $10 billion a year.

There are many types of incandescent bulbs that are exempt from this law:

• Any kind of specialty light (e.g., bulb in refrigerator)
• Reflector bulbs
• Three-way bulbs
• Candelabras
• Globes
• Shatter-resistant
• Vibration service
• Rough service
• Colored bulbs (i.e., "party bulbs")
• Bug lights
• Plant lights

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- While making energy-efficient improvements to the home may qualify homeowners for tax credits, there is a way to cut energy costs on a smaller scale that will eventually be mandatory.

According to materials provided by Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, light bulbs must become more efficient because of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed by President George W. Bush in December 2007.

The bill requires all light bulbs use 30 percent less energy than today's incandescent bulbs by certain deadlines. The phase-out will start with 100-watt bulbs in January 2012 and end with 40-watt bulbs in January 2014. By 2020, a Tier 2 would go into effect, requiring all bulbs to be at least 70 percent more efficient (effectively equal to today's CFLs).

It's not entirely correct to say "CFLs will be required" or "incandescents will be phased out" because the standards set by the bill are technology-neutral. And by 2012, a next generation of incandescent bulbs could satisfy the 30 percent increased efficiency. There also are other lighting technologies, such as halogen and LED, that will be able to meet the new requirements and are expected to both increase in performance and drop in cost over the next few years.

The law applies to the sale of bulbs, not the use of existing stock of bulbs.

Lighting is about 20 percent of the average household's energy bill. It is estimated that this law could cut our nation's electricity bill by more than $10 billion a year.

There are many types of incandescent bulbs that are exempt from this law:

• Any kind of specialty light (e.g., bulb in refrigerator)
• Reflector bulbs
• Three-way bulbs
• Candelabras
• Globes
• Shatter-resistant
• Vibration service
• Rough service
• Colored bulbs (i.e., "party bulbs")
• Bug lights
• Plant lights