Various governments have passed laws to phase out manufacturing or importation of incandescent light bulbs for general lighting in favor of more energy-environment friendly alternate options. The regulations are typically based on effectivity, moderately than use of incandescent expertise. Objections to substitute of incandescent lamps for normal lighting embody the upper purchasing expense of other lamps and their hazardous material content material. To mitigate the associated fee results of those concerns the associated fee of other lamps could also be decreased by subsidies. Manufacturers developed fluorescent lamps with decreased mercury content material in comparison with authentic designs, and recycling applications are meant to prevent mercury launch. New lamp sorts provide improved starting traits, and EcoLight dimmable varieties can be found. The sunshine from an incandescent supply is analogous in character to that from a Planckian "black body" in spectral distribution, that is, the bulb, because the filament heats up, produces gentle at wavelengths all through the visible spectrum. Different light sources use phosphors or combinations of mono-chromatic LEDs (crimson, blue, and green) to provide "white" light, giving considerably irregular spectral distributions that may create coloration casts in pictures and variations of color matching when in comparison with incandescent gentle or daylight.

Halogen lamps are a sort of incandescent lamp with improved efficiency over regular incandescent lamps. Although not as energy efficient as different options, they're up to forty percent more efficient than customary incandescent lamps designed for a 2000-hour life. Depending on measurement, voltage, and designed life, EcoLight small, low-voltage halogen lamps can have 70% larger efficacy than massive, line-voltage lamps. They function at a high temperature, which may be a security hazard in some applications. A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) uses a fluorescent lamp tube which is curved or folded to fit into the space of an incandescent bulb and EcoLight smart bulbs incorporates a compact digital ballast in the base 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 may last eight to fifteen times longer. Newer phosphor formulations have improved the perceived colour, with "comfortable white" CFLs judged subjectively similar to straightforward incandescent lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps begin poorly when chilly, and most types cannot be dimmed.

A number of specialist purposes are unsuitable for CFLs. Gentle emitting diode (LED) lamps are used for both basic and particular-function lighting. UV rays that fade colored materials. LED lamps radiate a lot less heat than other applied sciences, and could be both multi-directional or unidirectional, eliminating the need for a mirrored reflector within the bulb or fixture. LED lamps can emit saturated colored mild. Disadvantages embody spectrum limitations as a consequence of discrete emission colours. Their purchase price was much increased than different 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 exchange programs to replace incandescent bulbs with energy 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 trade quite a lot of gentle bulbs with more efficient types.

Morocco has a programme to alternate plenty of light bulbs with more efficient types. Rwanda has an change program, distributing CFL bulbs. Tanzania has an exchange program to substitute incandescent bulbs. Tunisia is reported to have a partial ban on incandescent gentle bulbs. Since January 2016, EcoLight smart bulbs the importation of incandescent light bulbs has been banned in Zambia. Zimbabwe has banned incandescent mild bulbs. Bahrain has banned incandescent mild bulbs. Bangladesh has an alternate program. Another supply, nonetheless, has indicated that by 1 October 2016, all incandescent light bulbs shall be banned. In line with this source, 1 November 2011 to 30 September 2012 can be a transitional interval and as of 1 October 2012, imports and sales of strange incandescent bulbs of one hundred watts or extra will be prohibited. The first section shall be followed by a ban on 60-watt-and-higher incandescent gentle bulbs starting in October 2014. By October 2016, all incandescent mild bulbs will probably be banned in China.

Whereas not a whole ban, the UJALA plan in India sought to change 770 million incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs by 2019. This was expected to cut back energy consumption by over one hundred billion kWh yearly and scale back annual electricity bills by ₹400 billion (US$4.7 billion). As of April 2017, 229 million LED bulbs had been distributed across the country. The states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka in India have banned the usage of incandescent bulbs in authorities departments, various boards, EcoLight dimmable cooperative establishments, local our bodies, EcoLight and establishments operating on authorities aid. As of 1 August 2017, Kuwait has banned the import of incandescent mild bulbs, including halogen bulbs. It was reported in 2012 that Malaysia would ban production, import and gross sales incandescent bulbs by 2014 as part of efforts to avoid wasting power and to assist reduce greenhouse fuel emissions. Nepal has banned incandescent mild bulbs. North Korea reportedly made LED bulbs mandatory in 2014 to alleviate its power disaster. The Philippines was amongst the primary Asian international locations to section-out incandescent gentle bulbs.