The writing is on the wall now.
Electronics giant Phillips has announced the complete elimination of all incandescent lamps and bulbs.
The various types of incandescent bulbs will be phased out over the next few years, beginning with the most inefficient bulbs (tear-drop shaped, halogens) and ending with a complete termination of all incandescent bulbs by 2015.
Energy efficient alternatives such as compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are available now.
CFLs can replace incandescents in every type of application, with the benefit that they consume 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer.
Since estimates are that lighting represents around 15% of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, the elimination of incandescent bulbs will result in a large drop in the amount of energy consumed by lighting.
Although this is purely hypothetical since it cannot happen immediately, a worldwide switch of all incandescent bulbs to CFLs would save energy equivalent to that produced from about 250 coal-fired power plants.
CFLs, and even more efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are coming in the future, are a true win-win.
Consumers will get lower electricity bills and the environment will benefit from reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Another benefit is that the new CFLs can operate and dim on ordinary domestic dimmer switches.
This eliminates a complaint may people had about switching to CFLs.
In addition, the light quality provided from CFLs continues to improve.
Now, CFLs are available in either a 'cool white' or a 'warm white' color, similar to incandescents.
  The warm white color is more suitable for general use around the home including for use in reading lamps The cool white color is better suited to locations where work is done, such as cooking or cleaning.
One final noteworthy comment needs to be made about CFLs.
They do contain small amounts of mercury, but the danger has been over-emphasized.
Incandescents actually contribute to mercury emissions to a greater degree than do CFLs because of the extra energy that must be produced.
Since about 50-60% of this energy is produced from coal, which emits mercury when burned, the incandescent bulbs cause greater mercury emissions per bulb than CFLs.
  According to the EPA, mercury content in CFLs is between 1.
4 - 2.
5 milligrams per bulb.
Standard incandescent bulbs contribute about 5.
8 milligrams per bulb when the energy consumption is figured in.
Adding the energy emission contribution from CFLs of about 1.
6 milligrams per bulb, the total contribution from a CFCFL is about 3-4 milligrams per bulb, considerably lower than that from an incandescent bulb.
There is no point in holding out any longer.
The incandescent light bulb is finished.
And the sooner incandescent bulbs are completely eliminated, the better.