July 27, 2023
Lights Out: The U.S. Says Goodbye to Incandescent Light Bulbs
Above: A recently purchased 3-way incandescent A19 lamp delivers an unimpressive 9 - 13 lumens per watt.
Paying homage to the important contributions and pesky annoyances of the incandescent A19 lamp
Effective next week, August 1 to be exact, it will be unlawful for distributors and retailers in the United States to sell traditional incandescent light bulbs or any other general service lamp that produces less than 45 lumens per watt. Manufacturers and private labelers have been prohibited from producing such sources since 2022.
An iconic invention
The invention of the incandescent light bulb was a landmark moment that fundamentally changed human lives. It turned electric light from a novelty into a practical tool for everyday use, extending the productive day and transforming our homes, workplaces, and cities. The development of the bulb set the stage for the modern electric utility industry and sparked countless innovations in other technologies. Its impact on society cannot be overstated, as it played a key role in shaping our modern, interconnected world.
The fundamental design of the incandescent light bulb, with its glowing filament inside a glass vacuum, has remained a constant visual and technological icon in our society -- with a remarkable decades-long staying power.
And now, we bid adieu to an era of ingenuity and warmth (quite literally, mind you) as we flick off the incandescent light bulb for the last time. An invention that has illuminated our lives for over a century, the incandescent bulb and its tumultuous history have been the bedrock of our beloved lighting industry.
It was Edison, in 1879, who lit up our world with an incandescent bulb that could blaze away for over 1200 glorious hours. Then, as if summoned by a divine scriptwriter, enter William D. Coolidge in 1906 with the revolutionary tungsten filaments, which substantially improved the bulb's efficiency and longevity. Thus, the modern light bulb was born and adopted globally.
The Big Three
For years, the industry was dominated by the likes of General Electric, Philips, and OSRAM Sylvania, the Big 3 of light bulb manufacturing. Yet, some historians contend that there was a shady chapter in their collective history – the formation of the Phoebus Cartel. This international syndicate allegedly controlled the manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs across Europe and North America from 1925 to 1939, allegedly creating a planned obsolescence by capping life expectancy of light bulbs at 1,000 hours. Some experts dispute certain details of the Phoebus Cartel.
And while we're on the topic of burning out, it's worth noting the immense energy these little bulbs consumed. In fact, about 90% of the power an incandescent light bulb guzzled was emitted as heat, not light, a quality that gave them the same energy efficiency as a toaster in a sauna.
Pop culture
The light bulb has long been a symbol for a sudden realization or a novel idea. It's believed to have originated from early comic strips and cartoons in the early 20th century, where it was used as a visual metaphor to signal the "lighting up" of an idea in a character's mind, a metaphorical representation of the phrase "shedding light on a problem".
The light bulb produced a few classic anecdotes and pop culture moments, like Elliott from E.T. faking a fever by placing a thermometer next to a light bulb. Or the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing guitar amidst dozens of table lamps with incandescent bulbs in their "Can't Stop" music video. Or, the ever-glowing Uncle Fester from "The Addams Family," who had the uncanny ability to light a bulb just by sticking it in his mouth.
Annoyances
But what about the common homeowners who used these energy-guzzling, heat-emitting bulbs? Well, we had our share of "bright" moments. Remember the surprise of seeing our energy bills skyrocket, all thanks to that 75-watt bulb shining for hours every night? Or the frustration of 3-way bulbs prematurely failing, throwing shade on our evening stay-at-home plans? Or the delightful wrestling match with a stubborn bulb that refused to unscrew? And let's not forget the yelps of surprise when someone unsuspectingly tried to unscrew a hot bulb, providing comic relief in the midst of an otherwise dull task. It's as if the bulbs were humming a chuckling tune all the while (or was that just the tungsten filaments buzzing?).
Then, there were the infamous wallbox dimmers, heat-dissipating devices that, if mis-sized, sometimes got hotter than a summer day in Arizona. They were just another "charming" aspect of the incandescent era. Not to mention, the cost of shipping these fragile bulbs often translated into broken products, leading to frequent freight claims and occasional fits of despair.
In an ironic twist of fate, these bulbs were most likely to blow at the very moment they're called upon to shine, providing a sudden, spark-filled performance that was as dramatic as it was inconvenient – which often left us in the dark. Their shorter lifespan and frequent replacements were the stuff of legends, not to mention countless trips to the hardware store.
We recently bought a 3-way light bulb mainly because, well, we still can
We recently purchased a GE Lighting 97493 3-Way 30 70 100 Incandescent Light Bulb (Soft White) for the pure sake of nostalgia—there's a charm to it that we cannot help but appreciate. In the face of the impending light bulb ban, due to take effect from August 1st, such a move can be seen as a symbolic nod to an era that, despite its faults, brought warmth (literally) and light to our homes. This humble bulb, purchased not for use, but as a memento of the past, serves as a reminder of the incandescent era in its most quintessential form.
Farewell, old friend
When we think of the incandescent bulb, we're transported back in time to the simpler days of reading under the soft, warm light, of drowsy summer afternoons disrupted by a bulb burning out, of the tales of inventions, and of inventors who dared to dream and transform the world.
So, as we now embrace more efficient lighting technologies, let us remember the incandescent bulb for what it was: a quirky, inefficient, yet undeniably impactful invention that lit up our world in more ways than one. Here's to you, old friend. Your warm glow and your inconvenient burnouts will be remembered. Or, in the words of Uncle Fester, "You light up my life."
