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Consumers may not all be aglow with the idea, but the government-mandated phaseout of incandescent light bulbs has reached all the way to the winter home of Thomas Edison.
Under a 2007 federal energy law, manufacturers must phase out incandescent bulbs in favor of more efficient bulbs such as compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs, LED bulbs or new styles of halogen lights.

The law phases out 100-watt incandescent bulbs in January 2012, followed by the 75-watt version in 2013 and the 60- and 45-watt bulbs in 2014.

At the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, the incandescent garden lights have been replaced, even though Edison is credited with making the first practical incandescent light.

“Edison would have been all for this, because he was always looking for a better way to do something,” said Chris Pendleton, CEO of the estates.

While CFLs use at least 75 percent less energy, some consumers complain the lighting is dimmer, doesn’t look as warm and takes a while to reach full brightness. Some also worry about disposal requirements, because the bulbs contain a few milligrams of mercury.

“Every time I go to the store, I pick up a few (incandescent) light bulbs,” said Kay Horn, 62, of Fort Myers. “I probably have enough light bulbs for the next 15 years.”
Jack Lurie, owner of Tropical Hardware in Fort Myers, said he hears customers complain about the phasing out of incandescent bulbs and he said their sales have increased.

“There is plenty of stock now,” he said, “but that will change.”

The American Lighting Association’s Larry Lauck hasn’t seen statistical signs of stockpiling but has heard anecdotal reports.

Such reports are common whenever a new standard is introduced, says the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Noah Horowitz. He says consumers will be able to buy incandescent, but new ones will have more efficient halogen capsules.

“Unless you prefer paying higher electricity bills, there’s no reason to hoard old incandescent bulbs,” Horowitz says.

Richard Downing, 81, of Fort Myers has been using CFL bulbs in his home for almost 10 years. He has been a fan of fluorescent bulbs for 30 years, since he installed them on a 40-foot ketch.

“They drew the battery down a heck of lot less,” he said.

He said he is concerned about the bulbs’ mercury content, mainly because he worries consumers will just toss them in their garbage.

“You aren’t supposed to do that, but you know people will,” Downing said.

Lee County’s recycling program won’t collect the CFL bulbs, but homeowners can drop them off at the Household Chemical Waste Collection facility, 6441 Topaz Court in Fort Myers.

While that sounds inconvenient, Downing said he can’t say whether it is.
“In 10 years of using those lights, I’ve never had to replace one,” he said. “They might cost just a little more, but you make up what you spend very quickly in the energy savings and longevity.”

Western Massachusetts Electric Co. has launched several lighting improvement projects in Springfield, including efforts to brighten up key intersections below Interstate 91 and at Stearns Square in the downtown entertainment district.

The improvements were announced recently by representatives of WMECO and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.

Some of the specific initiatives include: improved underpass lighting along the I-91 corridor in the South End and downtown; a research project to test the feasibility of new street light photocell monitors that detect malfunctioning and burned-out lamps; and a test of energy-efficient light emitting diode, or LED, bulbs.

“Springfield identified a number of lighting issues and we are pleased to work with them to find creative and cost-effective solutions,” said Peter J. Clarke, WMECO’s president and chief operating officer. “We have committed to this test to understand these new technologies and the economic viability of them.”

Sarno said he is pleased that WMECO is pursuing improvements deemed priorities by the city. The improvements are “important in improving public safety, quality of life and budgetary concerns,” he said.

Stearns Square, which has a concentration of restaurants and bars, will be provided with the photocell monitors and the LED bulbs that provide greater illumination, said Sandra Ahearn, a spokeswoman for WMECO.

A total of 53 photocell monitors are being placed in test locations throughout Springfield, she said.

There are approximately 13,500 street lights in Springfield.

The city has a billing dispute with WMECO, saying it has been overcharged by millions of dollars the past 25 years, including charges for repeated billing for burned-out lamps and nonexistent lights. The city claims it is owed between $12 million and $20 million for overcharges during that period, which is disputed by the utility.

Ahearn said the monitor pilot program is not connected to the city’s legal action, but rather part of an effort to work with all of its communities “to try to develop solutions to issues they identify.” The utility company invests in new technology and determines if it is cost-effective, she said.

The city has installed improved lighting at the State Street intersection under I-91, and will soon install similar lighting at the other major downtown-South End underpass intersections including Broad Street and Union Street, officials said.

Ahearn said she did not have a cost estimate for the various projects now being undertaken. The utility does cover a portion of the costs, and the city covers some costs related to the lighting improvements, she said.

WMECO is part of the Northeast Utilities system, and serves approximately 200,000 customers in 59 communities throughout Western Massachusetts.