Varied governments have handed laws to phase out manufacturing or EcoLight energy importation of incandescent mild bulbs for general lighting in favor of more vitality-environment friendly options. The laws are usually based on efficiency, reasonably than use of incandescent know-how. Objections to replacement of incandescent lamps for general lighting include the upper purchasing expense of other lamps and their hazardous materials content material. To mitigate the associated fee results of these concerns the associated fee of other lamps may be diminished by subsidies. Manufacturers developed fluorescent lamps with diminished mercury content in comparison with unique designs, and recycling applications are meant to stop mercury release. New lamp varieties offer improved starting traits, and dimmable varieties are available. The light from an incandescent source is comparable in character to that from a Planckian "black physique" in spectral distribution, that is, the bulb, because the filament heats up, produces mild at wavelengths throughout the visible spectrum. Various mild sources use phosphors or combos of mono-chromatic LEDs (purple, blue, and green) to supply "white" light, giving significantly irregular spectral distributions that may create color casts in pictures and variations of coloration matching when compared to incandescent light or daylight.

Halogen lamps are a type of incandescent lamp with improved efficiency over common incandescent lamps. Although not as vitality efficient as different alternate options, they're up to 40 % more efficient than standard incandescent lamps designed for a 2000-hour life. Depending on size, voltage, and designed life, small, low-voltage halogen lamps can have 70% increased efficacy than large, line-voltage lamps. They operate at a excessive temperature, which may be a safety hazard in some purposes. A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) uses a fluorescent lamp tube which is curved or folded to suit into the space of an incandescent bulb and contains a compact electronic ballast in the bottom of the lamp. Compared to basic-service incandescent lamps giving the identical amount of seen mild, CFLs use one-fifth to 1-third the electric power and may last eight to fifteen occasions longer. Newer phosphor formulations have improved the perceived coloration, with "comfortable white" CFLs judged subjectively comparable to straightforward incandescent lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps start poorly when chilly, energy-saving LED bulbs and most sorts can't be dimmed.

Just a few specialist functions are unsuitable for CFLs. Gentle emitting diode (energy-saving LED bulbs) lamps are used for each general and special-objective lighting. UV rays that fade coloured materials. LED lamps radiate a lot less heat than other applied sciences, and may be both multi-directional or unidirectional, eliminating the necessity for a mirrored reflector in the bulb or fixture. LED lamps can emit saturated colored light. Disadvantages embody spectrum limitations on account of discrete emission colors. Their purchase cost was much increased than different bulbs, however has decreased steadily over time. Botswana has an exchange program distributing CFL bulbs. Of the members of ECOWAS, Cape Verde, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Benin and Togo have had change applications to replace incandescent bulbs with vitality efficient versions. Ghana banned incandescent bulbs in 2008 and Senegal has banned the manufacture and import. Egypt is reported to have a partial ban on incandescent mild bulbs. Kenya has a programme to trade numerous gentle bulbs with more efficient varieties.

Morocco has a programme to trade quite a few gentle bulbs with extra environment friendly types. Rwanda has an alternate program, distributing CFL bulbs. Tanzania has an change program to change incandescent bulbs. Tunisia is reported to have a partial ban on incandescent mild bulbs. Since January 2016, the importation of incandescent light bulbs has been banned in Zambia. Zimbabwe has banned incandescent mild bulbs. Bahrain has banned incandescent gentle bulbs. Bangladesh has an trade program. Another source, however, has indicated that by 1 October 2016, all incandescent light bulbs will be banned. In response to this supply, 1 November 2011 to 30 September 2012 can be a transitional interval and as of 1 October 2012, imports and sales of abnormal incandescent bulbs of a hundred watts or more will likely be prohibited. The first part shall be followed by a ban on 60-watt-and-greater incandescent mild bulbs beginning in October 2014. By October 2016, all incandescent gentle bulbs will be banned in China.

Whereas not a whole ban, the UJALA plan in India sought to exchange 770 million incandescent mild bulbs with LED bulbs by 2019. This was anticipated to cut back power consumption by over one hundred billion kWh yearly and cut back annual electricity payments by ₹400 billion (US$4.7 billion). As of April 2017, 229 million LED bulbs had been distributed throughout the nation. The states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka in India have banned the usage of incandescent bulbs in government departments, numerous boards, cooperative institutions, native bodies, and institutions working on authorities support. As of 1 August 2017, Kuwait has banned the import of incandescent light bulbs, including halogen bulbs. It was reported in 2012 that Malaysia would ban production, import and sales incandescent bulbs by 2014 as a part of efforts to save lots of power and to help minimize greenhouse fuel emissions. Nepal has banned incandescent gentle bulbs. North Korea reportedly made LED bulbs obligatory in 2014 to alleviate its energy crisis. The Philippines was among the first Asian countries to phase-out incandescent mild bulbs.