Varied governments have passed laws to part out manufacturing or importation of incandescent mild energy-efficient bulbs for normal lighting in favor of extra vitality-efficient alternatives. The regulations are usually based on efficiency, energy-efficient bulbs fairly than use of incandescent know-how. Objections to substitute of incandescent lamps for common lighting embrace the higher purchasing expense of other lamps and their hazardous material content material. To mitigate the fee results of those concerns the fee of other lamps may be lowered by subsidies. Manufacturers developed fluorescent lamps with decreased mercury content material compared to unique designs, and recycling packages are supposed to forestall mercury release. New lamp sorts offer improved starting traits, and dimmable sorts are available. The light from an incandescent source is similar in character to that from a Planckian "black physique" in spectral distribution, that is, the bulb, as the filament heats up, produces gentle at wavelengths all through the visible spectrum. Various gentle sources use phosphors or combinations of mono-chromatic LEDs (crimson, blue, and green) to produce "white" mild, EcoLight giving significantly irregular spectral distributions that may create colour casts in pictures and differences of coloration matching when in comparison with incandescent gentle or daylight.

Halogen lamps are a type of incandescent lamp with improved efficiency over common incandescent lamps. Although not as vitality efficient as different options, they're as much as forty % more environment friendly than normal incandescent lamps designed for a 2000-hour life. Relying on dimension, 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 security hazard in some functions. A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) uses a fluorescent lamp tube which is curved or energy-efficient bulbs folded to suit into the house of an incandescent bulb and contains a compact digital ballast in the bottom of the lamp. Compared to general-service incandescent lamps giving the identical quantity of visible mild, CFLs use one-fifth to at least one-third the electric power and should final eight to fifteen occasions longer. Newer phosphor formulations have improved the perceived coloration, with "comfortable white" CFLs judged subjectively related to standard incandescent lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps start poorly when cold, and most types can't be dimmed.

A number of specialist functions are unsuitable for CFLs. Light emitting diode (LED) lamps are used for each common and energy-efficient bulbs particular-objective lighting. UV rays that fade coloured materials. LED lamps radiate much much less heat than other technologies, and EcoLight may be both multi-directional or unidirectional, eliminating the necessity for a mirrored reflector within the bulb or fixture. LED lamps can emit saturated colored light. Disadvantages include spectrum limitations as a result of discrete emission colors. Their buy price was a lot greater than different bulbs, but has decreased steadily over the years. Botswana has an exchange program distributing CFL bulbs. Of the members of ECOWAS, Cape Verde, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Benin and Togo have had change programs to change incandescent bulbs with energy efficient versions. Ghana banned incandescent bulbs in 2008 and energy-efficient bulbs Senegal has banned the manufacture and EcoLight smart bulbs import. Egypt is reported to have a partial ban on incandescent light bulbs. Kenya has a programme to change a lot of mild bulbs with extra efficient sorts.

Morocco has a programme to alternate a variety of gentle bulbs with more environment friendly types. Rwanda has an alternate program, distributing CFL bulbs. Tanzania has an alternate program to change incandescent bulbs. Tunisia is reported to have a partial ban on incandescent gentle 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 exchange program. Another source, nevertheless, has indicated that by 1 October 2016, all incandescent light bulbs will probably be banned. According to this supply, energy-efficient bulbs 1 November 2011 to 30 September 2012 will be a transitional period and as of 1 October 2012, imports and sales of ordinary incandescent bulbs of 100 watts or extra will likely be prohibited. The first phase will probably be adopted by a ban on 60-watt-and-higher incandescent gentle bulbs starting in October 2014. By October 2016, energy-saving LED bulbs all incandescent light bulbs can be banned in China.

Whereas not an entire ban, the UJALA plan in India sought to replace 770 million incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs by 2019. This was expected to reduce vitality 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 across the country. The states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka in India have banned the usage of incandescent bulbs in authorities departments, EcoLight solar bulbs varied boards, cooperative institutions, native bodies, and institutions operating on government help. As of 1 August 2017, Kuwait has banned the import of incandescent gentle bulbs, including halogen bulbs. It was reported in 2012 that Malaysia would ban manufacturing, import and gross sales incandescent bulbs by 2014 as part of efforts to save lots of energy and to help lower greenhouse fuel emissions. Nepal has banned incandescent gentle bulbs. North Korea reportedly made LED bulbs necessary in 2014 to alleviate its vitality crisis. The Philippines was among the first Asian countries to section-out incandescent mild bulbs.