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Ontario will ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs in 2014 to be consistent with the federal government. (Photos.com)
Over 125 years old, the incandescent light bulb is getting an extension on life in Ontario for at least another 2 years.
The Ontario Ministry of Energy has decided to delay the ban on inefficient incandescent light bulbs to 2014 to be consistent with the federal government. The province had announced back in 2007 that it would ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs in 2012.
“The province proposes to harmonize compliance dates for incandescent light bulbs with the federal government,” the provincial government said in a statement on its website.
The federal government will be enacting energy efficiency standards for light bulbs on Jan. 1, 2014, when it will become illegal to import incandescent lights across the country.
Energy efficiency levels for 100 and 75 watt light bulbs will also increase by that time, and by the end of 2014 efficiency levels for 60 and 40 watt light bulbs will go up as well.
The incandescent light bulb is the cheapest yet least energy efficient light bulb, with most of the energy being dispersed in the form of heat.
Compact florescent light bulbs are much more energy efficient and also have a longer lifetime. However, these types of bulbs require proper disposal since they contain mercury.LED light bulbs also have a better efficiency and longer lifetime but have the most expensive up-front cost.
