Incandescent light bulbs get makeover

WASHINGTON, July 6 (UPI) -- U.S. manufacturers say they are making incandescent light bulbs more energy efficient as tough new government standards approach in 2012.

Rather than fading away in favor of compact fluorescent bulbs as many predicted would be the case when the new standards were approved by Congress two years ago, incandescents are being re-engineered to meet the new law, The New York Times reported Monday.

The newspaper said Philips Lighting's Halogena Energy Savers are the first incandescents introduced to meet new energy standards. They are reportedly expensive compared with older incandescents, selling for $5 apiece compared with as little as 25 cents for traditional bulbs, but also 30 percent more efficient, give off more light and last three times longer.

Manufacturers are trying to match the energy savings of fluorescent bulbs while keeping features of incandescents that consumers like, Noah Horowitz, senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council, told the Times.

"Due to the 2007 federal energy bill that phases out inefficient incandescent light bulbs beginning in 2012, we are finally seeing a race" to develop more efficient ones, he said.