Important Takeaways:

• While everyone was yelling about gas stoves, the incandescent light bulb went away
• The quiet phaseout of household incandescents showcases the power of government regulations to push changes in the marketplace.
• The modern descendant of Thomas Edison’s most famous legacy is set to formally meet its demise in the U.S. at the end of this month
• As of Aug. 1, the Energy Department will fully enforce new efficiency regulations that the old bulbs can’t meet, effectively prohibiting their retail sale.
• The rules offer some exceptions, including for microwave lights, allowing some incandescent bulbs to stay on the shelves.
• DOE said it intends to seek the maximum civil penalty against manufacturers that knowingly distribute products that violate the standards.
• The department has previously issued civil penalties worth tens of thousands of dollars for companies violating its energy conservation standards.
• “These debates over lightbulbs or stoves are going to continue as change to the energy economy”

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