Numerous governments have handed legislation to phase out manufacturing or importation of incandescent light bulbs for common lighting in favor of extra energy-efficient options. The rules are typically based mostly on efficiency, somewhat than use of incandescent know-how. Objections to replacement of incandescent lamps for basic lighting embrace the upper buying expense of alternative lamps and their hazardous material content material. To mitigate the associated fee results of those issues the fee of other lamps may be decreased by subsidies. Manufacturers developed fluorescent lamps with lowered mercury content compared to unique designs, and recycling packages are meant to forestall mercury release. New lamp sorts offer improved starting characteristics, and EcoLight dimmable varieties can be found. The light from an incandescent source is analogous in character to that from a Planckian "black body" in spectral distribution, that is, the bulb, as the filament heats up, produces light at wavelengths all through the visible spectrum. Various light sources use phosphors or combos of mono-chromatic LEDs (crimson, blue, and green) to produce "white" mild, giving significantly irregular spectral distributions that can create colour casts in pictures and variations of color matching when in comparison with incandescent mild or daylight.

Halogen lamps are a sort of incandescent lamp with improved efficiency over regular incandescent lamps. Although not as power environment friendly as different options, they are up to 40 % extra efficient than customary incandescent lamps designed for a 2000-hour life. Relying on size, voltage, and designed life, small, low-voltage halogen lamps can have 70% higher efficacy than giant, line-voltage lamps. They operate at a excessive temperature, which could also be a safety hazard in some applications. A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) makes use of a fluorescent lamp tube which is curved or folded to fit into the area of an incandescent bulb and accommodates a compact digital ballast in the bottom of the lamp. Compared to general-service incandescent lamps giving the same amount of seen mild, CFLs use one-fifth to at least one-third the electric power and may final eight to fifteen times longer. Newer phosphor formulations have improved the perceived colour, with "tender white" CFLs judged subjectively comparable to plain incandescent lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps begin poorly when chilly, and most sorts can't be dimmed.

Just a few specialist purposes are unsuitable for EcoLight dimmable CFLs. Light emitting diode (LED) lamps are used for energy-efficient bulbs each basic and particular-goal lighting. UV rays that fade coloured supplies. LED lamps radiate a lot less heat than other technologies, and will be either multi-directional or unidirectional, eliminating the necessity for a mirrored reflector in the bulb or fixture. LED lamps can emit saturated coloured gentle. Disadvantages embody spectrum limitations resulting from discrete emission colors. Their buy price was a lot greater than other bulbs, but 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 trade packages to replace incandescent bulbs with power 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 alternate plenty of mild bulbs with more efficient sorts.

Morocco has a programme to trade plenty of gentle bulbs with extra environment friendly types. Rwanda has an exchange program, distributing CFL bulbs. Tanzania has an change program to exchange incandescent bulbs. Tunisia is reported to have a partial ban on incandescent gentle bulbs. Since January 2016, the importation of incandescent gentle bulbs has been banned in Zambia. Zimbabwe has banned incandescent gentle bulbs. Bahrain has banned incandescent light bulbs. Bangladesh has an change program. One other source, nevertheless, has indicated that by 1 October 2016, all incandescent gentle bulbs will likely be banned. In response to this source, 1 November 2011 to 30 September 2012 will be a transitional interval and as of 1 October 2012, imports and sales of unusual incandescent bulbs of 100 watts or more might be prohibited. The primary phase will probably be followed by a ban on 60-watt-and-increased incandescent mild bulbs beginning in October 2014. By October 2016, all incandescent mild bulbs might be banned in China.

While not a complete ban, the UJALA plan in India sought to exchange 770 million incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs by 2019. This was expected to scale back power consumption by over one hundred billion kWh annually and reduce annual electricity bills 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 authorities departments, varied boards, cooperative establishments, local our bodies, and establishments working on government support. As of 1 August 2017, Kuwait has banned the import of incandescent light bulbs, together with halogen bulbs. It was reported in 2012 that Malaysia would ban manufacturing, import and sales incandescent bulbs by 2014 as a part of efforts to save power and to help cut greenhouse fuel emissions. Nepal has banned incandescent mild bulbs. North Korea reportedly made LED bulbs mandatory in 2014 to alleviate its power crisis. The Philippines was among the primary Asian international locations to section-out incandescent gentle bulbs.