Today, incandescent light bulbs, one of America's greatest inventions, are all but gone, driven out of production by a 2007 law (the Energy Independence and Security Act) that requires all light bulbs to meet energy efficiency standards largely unobtainable by incandescent
light-bulb technology.
Yielding to constituent pressure, Congress later reversed itself and ordered the Energy Department not to enforce the ban, but by then the tide had begun to turn and
light-bulb manufacturers began phasing out the inefficient bulbs in favor of more-expensive compact fluorescent bulbs.
Phil Bosua of Ferny Creek in Melbourne, is the creator of LIFX, a Wi-Fi enabled, multi-colour, energy efficient LED light-bulb that you can control with your iPhone or Android smartphone.
Bosua, 38, said that the idea to re-invent the light-bulb came to him about six months ago, when a friend relayed a frustration to him concerning renovating.
He said that LIFX light-bulbs can last up to 25 years and used up to 50 to 80 percent less energy than light-bulbs, currently used by many households.
As you read about the outrageous savings to be had from LED streetlights, the strength of walls made of foam and concrete sandwiches, and the large and small initiatives adopted by the country's largest retailer, you might have your own
light-bulb moment.
SCOTLAND'S only full-time
light-bulb changer is aiming to replace the 48,000th globe of his career this Christmas.
[But] what's happening now is that a lot of markets, Australia for example, have deemed that by the end of 2012, your incandescent light-bulbs are going to be replaced by fluorescent," he said.
"All this stuff is going into landfills, so you've got over a billion incandescent light-bulbs out there and you're replacing them with time-bombs.
Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust said: "We fully support the idea of phasing out inefficient
light-bulbs.
"The importance of having someone like Derek whose sole job is to take care of the
light-bulbs cannot be underestimated.