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(NaturalNews) Fluorescent light bulbs and LED lights are rapidly coming to replace the incandescent bulbs perfected by Thomas Edison in the late 1800s, as state governments encourage a switch for the sake of energy conservation. In California and New Jersey, laws have been proposed that would actually ban the use of incandescents in some contexts. Australia has already begun a three-year phase-out of incandescent bulbs.

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What you need to know - Conventional View

• LED light bulbs are ten times more efficient than incandescent lights, lasting up to one hundred times as long and producing far lower CO2 emissions due to power consumption. They are, however, far more expensive in the initial purchase.

• Many states encourage consumers to switch to fluorescents, in cooperation with the federal Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency.

• Fluorescent light bulbs, however, contain mercury. There is enough mercury in one fluorescent light bulb to contaminate 2,000 gallons of water. LED lights, in contrast, contain no mercury and are more environmentally friendly.

• In 2005, Thomas Edison's home state of New Jersey distributed more than 1.2 million fluorescent lamps and fixtures as part of its Clean Energy Program.

• Approximately 22 percent of electricity usage in the United States is consumed by lighting, most of which remains extremely inefficient incandescent lights.

• New Jersey Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis has introduced a bill calling for the phasing out of incandescent bulbs from state buildings over the next three years. California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine has announced plans to introduce a bill that would ban the bulbs his state altogether.

• Quote: "The light bulb was invented a long time ago and a lot of things have changed since then. I obviously respect the memory of Thomas Edison, but what we're looking at here is using less energy." - New Jersey Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis

What you need to know - Alternative View

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Related Articles: • Why light bulbs are accelerating global warming and mercury contamination • Australia bans incandescent light bulbs with three-year phase-out • Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs May Be Hazardous to Your Health	Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com Email this article to a friend Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/021888_incandescent_lighting_light_bulbs_LED_lights.html Reprinting this article: Non-commercial use OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link. Embed article link: (copy HTML code below): <a href = "http://www.NaturalNews.com/021888_incandescent_lighting_light_bulbs_LED_lights.html">Incandescent lighting fast becoming history as states push for more energy efficient technology</a>