In a few years, incandescent bulbs will not be available, so it's a good idea to start replacing the bulbs with more energy efficient ones, like fluorescents and LEDs. Over time, they could save you money.
Bill Potter is all about cutting energy and costs. He has a number of LED lights in his kitchen and hallway. For his family, making the switch to energy-efficient bulbs was a no brainer.
"We definitely have seen an energy savings of between $100 and $150 a month," said Potter.
While Potter chose to install LED lights, under new rules, consumers may not have a choice but to switch to LED lighting. 100 watt incandescent can no longer be made in the United States, and this year, 75-watt bulbs will get the ax. Next year, it will be 40 and 60-watt incandescent bulbs.
They will all still be available in stores, though, for probably the next decade.
Light bulb experts say that now you can still use the bulbs, you can still buy them, and stores can still sell them, but they are just not allowed to be manufactured anymore.
The people at Light Bulbs Unlimited suggest that you switch to more energy efficient bulbs now.
The average CFL can save you about $30 to $40 over four years. The savings for LEDs can be double that, but check out the cost. Right now, the average price for an incandescent is just 55 cents, while a CFL is $3. LEDs are $25 and those bulbs can last 10 to 15 years.
Experts say that you do not have to switch your bulbs in every room. If nothing else, change to LED in the kitchen, because that's where most families keep their lights on the most.