Varied governments have passed laws to phase out manufacturing or importation of incandescent mild bulbs for general lighting in favor of extra energy-environment friendly options. The laws are generally based mostly on effectivity, somewhat than use of incandescent technology. Objections to replacement of incandescent lamps for general lighting embody the higher purchasing expense of other lamps and their hazardous material content. To mitigate the cost effects of these issues the fee of other lamps could also be decreased by subsidies. Manufacturers developed fluorescent lamps with decreased mercury content in comparison with authentic designs, and recycling applications are intended to prevent mercury release. New lamp varieties supply improved beginning characteristics, and dimmable types can be found. The sunshine from an incandescent source is similar in character to that from a Planckian "black body" in spectral distribution, that's, the bulb, because the filament heats up, EcoLight produces mild at wavelengths all through the seen spectrum. Alternative light sources use phosphors or mixtures of mono-chromatic LEDs (crimson, blue, and green) to provide "white" mild, giving significantly irregular spectral distributions that may create coloration casts in photography and differences of color EcoLight matching when in comparison with incandescent gentle or daylight.

Halogen lamps are a sort of incandescent lamp with improved efficiency over common incandescent lamps. Though not as vitality efficient as other alternatives, they're up to 40 percent more environment friendly than customary incandescent lamps designed for a 2000-hour life. Relying on size, EcoLight dimmable voltage, and designed life, small, EcoLight LED low-voltage halogen lamps can have 70% increased efficacy than giant, line-voltage lamps. They function at a excessive temperature, which may 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 contains a compact digital ballast in the bottom of the lamp. Compared to basic-service incandescent lamps giving the same quantity of visible mild, CFLs use one-fifth to one-third the electric energy and will last eight to fifteen occasions longer. Newer phosphor formulations have improved the perceived color, with "smooth white" CFLs judged subjectively related to standard incandescent lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps begin poorly when chilly, and most types can't be dimmed.

Just a few specialist purposes are unsuitable for CFLs. Mild emitting diode (EcoLight LED) lamps are used for each basic and special-function lighting. UV rays that fade colored materials. LED lamps radiate a lot less heat than different applied sciences, and will be both multi-directional or unidirectional, eliminating the necessity for a mirrored reflector in the bulb or fixture. LED lamps can emit saturated coloured mild. Disadvantages include spectrum limitations due to discrete emission colors. Their buy value was a lot greater than different bulbs, but has decreased steadily over the years. Botswana has an change program distributing CFL bulbs. Of the members of ECOWAS, Cape Verde, EcoLight LED Guinea, EcoLight Mali, Nigeria, Benin and Togo have had exchange packages to substitute incandescent bulbs with power environment friendly variations. 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 trade a variety of gentle bulbs with extra environment friendly varieties.

Morocco has a programme to alternate quite a lot of light bulbs with extra environment friendly types. Rwanda has an exchange program, distributing CFL bulbs. Tanzania has an exchange program to exchange incandescent bulbs. Tunisia is reported to have a partial ban on incandescent mild bulbs. Since January 2016, the importation of incandescent light bulbs has been banned in Zambia. Zimbabwe has banned incandescent light bulbs. Bahrain has banned incandescent light bulbs. Bangladesh has an exchange program. One other supply, however, EcoLight LED has indicated that by 1 October 2016, all incandescent mild bulbs can be banned. Based on this supply, 1 November 2011 to 30 September 2012 will be a transitional period and as of 1 October 2012, imports and EcoLight sales of bizarre incandescent bulbs of a hundred watts or more will likely be prohibited. The primary phase will probably be followed by a ban on 60-watt-and-greater incandescent light bulbs starting in October 2014. By October 2016, all incandescent gentle bulbs can be banned in China.

While not a complete ban, the UJALA plan in India sought to replace 770 million incandescent gentle bulbs with LED bulbs by 2019. This was anticipated to reduce energy consumption by over 100 billion kWh yearly and reduce annual electricity bills by ₹400 billion (US$4.7 billion). As of April 2017, EcoLight LED 229 million LED bulbs had been distributed across the nation. The states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka in India have banned the usage of incandescent bulbs in government departments, EcoLight LED varied boards, cooperative institutions, native bodies, and institutions operating on government assist. As of 1 August 2017, Kuwait has banned the import of incandescent gentle bulbs, together with halogen bulbs. It was reported in 2012 that Malaysia would ban production, import and sales incandescent bulbs by 2014 as part of efforts to save lots of energy and to assist lower greenhouse gas emissions. Nepal has banned incandescent gentle bulbs. North Korea reportedly made LED bulbs necessary in 2014 to alleviate its vitality disaster. The Philippines was among the primary Asian nations to section-out incandescent light bulbs.