The New Year is just around the corner, and with it comes new laws. One hundred-fifty new state laws will take effect in Illinois alone.
But there will also be a change in federal law that you should know about, phasing out 75-watt incandescent light bulbs.
"We can sell out of inventory we currently have or whatever the warehouse has currently got in stock," explained Mark Hayman, owner of the Westside ACE Hardware store in Davenport, Iowa.
When that inventory is gone, the 75-watt incandescent light bulb will be gone for good.
Under part of a federal law going into effect January 1, they can no longer be manufactured or imported into the United States.
Under the same law, the 100-watt incandescents are already on their way out.
"They're trying to get everybody to change over to energy-efficient LEDs, halogens, or the compact florescent bulbs," Hayman said.
Hayman pointed out that the energy-efficient bulbs do make a big difference:
"For homeowners, it's a large savings," he said. "Electrical lighting accounts for about 20 percent of the energy usage on your bill."
There is another big difference with the energy-efficient light bulbs, though - the up front cost:
A four-pack of your basic incandescent bulbs runs about $2.50 or so; A two-pack of halogen lights costs about twice that. The compact florescent bulbs, known as CFLs, cost even more. For some of the LEDs, you could pay upwards of 50 bucks!
But keep in mind, those same LEDs should last you a couple of decades.
"Even though it's more pricey now, in the future it'd be a deal," said Megan Bradley, who was shopping for a CFL light bulb at the Westside ACE Hardware store Thursday. Bradley said she supports the move away from incandescent bulbs because it is meant to have a beneficial impact on the environment.
Still, not everyone is happy with the new rules:
"I don't like them telling me I have to do anything. So I mean, it's crazy!" Nathan Pierce, another hardware store customer, said.
Whether you like it or not, everyone should be ready to make the switch. Forty-watt and 60-watt incandescent light bulbs are also set to fade away.
That part of the law goes into effect in 2014.
