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.
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.
