The future
Laws will soon be in force to restrict and even eliminate the use of current energy-wasting bulbs. Incandescent bulbs will be prohibited in Canada as of 2012. All countries are appealing to the collective consciousness to save energy resources and minimize the effects of pollution. European Directive 2005/32/EC aims to gradually ban inefficient and energy-wasting light sources in all European Union countries between September 2009 and December 2012.
Canada
The traffic light conversion program in the City of Moncton was a great success. Replacing incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs provided a considerable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the city will save 82% in electricity consumption compared to the former traffic lights, for an $87,000 annual reduction in energy costs. Learn more.
USA
By gradually replacing 140,000 urban light bulbs with LED between 2009 and 2014, Los Angeles becomes the first major city to reduce its annual carbon dioxide greenhouse CO2 emissions by about 40,500 tons (equal to the emissions from 6,700 cars) while saving more than $45 million in the city’s electricity bill. Learn more.
The L Prize competition is going full tilt under the auspices of the Department of Energy to find the best LED solution for replacing the obsolete, energy-wasting 60-watt bulbs found in 50% of North American homes. Proposals for radically reducing energy bills have been received by the U.S. Government, and there is already talk of a 21st-century LED lamp that will help save as much electricity as is needed to light 17.4 million homes each year. Learn more.