30% of Consumers Plan to Hoard Incandescent Lights

The days of incandescent light bulbs are numbered. Under a federal government mandate, traditional 60-watt and 40-watt bulbs have begun being phased out at the beginning of 2014.

The U.S. government is urging consumers to switch to more energy-efficient lighting like halogen, LED and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. But many consumers prefer the warm, bright light of cheaper, though energy-wasting, incandescent light bulbs. The government phased out 100-watt incandescent bulbs in 2012 and 75-watt bulbs early this year.

But some Americans are putting off the inevitable. A survey by lighting maker Osram Sylvania finds that 30% of U.S. consumers plan to stockpile 60- and 40-watt incandescent bulbs ahead of the ban.

Asked about which more efficient lighting technologies they're likely to buy, 46% of consumers polled plan to switch to CFLs, 24% to LEDs and 13% to halogen.

When making lighting choices, respondents say brightness is most important (92%), followed by lifespan (87%), energy usage (82%) and price (82%), Osram Sylvania reported Thursday .

Osram Sylvania surveyed 300 consumers by phone in November for the study. The Danvers, Mass.-based company makes CFL, LED and halogen lighting.

Source: Investors.com