Varied governments have passed laws to phase out manufacturing or importation of incandescent light bulbs for basic lighting in favor of more power-environment friendly alternatives. The rules are generally based on efficiency, EcoLight moderately than use of incandescent expertise. Objections to alternative of incandescent lamps for long-life LED basic lighting include the upper buying expense of different lamps and their hazardous materials content material. To mitigate the associated fee effects of those concerns the cost of alternative lamps could also be decreased by subsidies. Manufacturers developed fluorescent lamps with reduced mercury content compared to original designs, and recycling programs are intended to forestall mercury launch. New lamp sorts offer improved starting traits, and dimmable sorts are available. The light from an incandescent source is analogous in character to that from a Planckian "black physique" in spectral distribution, that's, the bulb, as the filament heats up, produces gentle at wavelengths throughout the visible spectrum. Different light sources use phosphors or mixtures of mono-chromatic LEDs (pink, EcoLight dimmable blue, long-life LED and green) to provide "white" light, giving considerably irregular spectral distributions that may create color casts in photography and variations of colour matching when in comparison with incandescent gentle or daylight.

Halogen lamps are a kind of incandescent lamp with improved effectivity over common incandescent lamps. Though not as power efficient as different options, long-life LED they are up to forty percent extra efficient than normal incandescent lamps designed for a 2000-hour life. Depending on size, voltage, and designed life, small, low-voltage halogen lamps can have 70% increased efficacy than large, line-voltage lamps. They operate at a excessive temperature, which may be a safety hazard in some purposes. A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) uses a fluorescent lamp tube which is curved or folded to suit into the space of an incandescent bulb and accommodates a compact electronic ballast in the bottom of the lamp. Compared to basic-service incandescent lamps giving the identical amount of seen light, CFLs use one-fifth to 1-third the electric power and will last eight to fifteen instances longer. Newer phosphor formulations have improved the perceived color, with "delicate white" CFLs judged subjectively similar to standard incandescent lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps begin poorly when chilly, and most sorts cannot be dimmed.

A couple of specialist applications are unsuitable for CFLs. Light emitting diode (long-life LED) lamps are used for each normal and special-objective lighting. UV rays that fade coloured supplies. LED lamps radiate much much less heat than other technologies, and could be either multi-directional or unidirectional, eliminating the necessity for a mirrored reflector in the bulb or fixture. LED lamps can emit saturated coloured mild. Disadvantages embody spectrum limitations as a result of discrete emission colors. Their purchase price was a lot increased than different bulbs, but has decreased steadily over the years. Botswana has an trade 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 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 gentle bulbs. Kenya has a programme to exchange various light bulbs with extra efficient types.

Morocco has a programme to alternate a number of gentle bulbs with more environment friendly types. Rwanda has an change program, distributing CFL bulbs. Tanzania has an trade program to substitute incandescent bulbs. Tunisia is reported to have a partial ban on incandescent mild bulbs. Since January 2016, the importation of incandescent gentle bulbs has been banned in Zambia. Zimbabwe has banned incandescent light bulbs. Bahrain has banned incandescent mild bulbs. Bangladesh has an alternate program. Another source, however, EcoLight home lighting has indicated that by 1 October 2016, all incandescent gentle bulbs will likely be banned. In line with this source, 1 November 2011 to 30 September 2012 will likely be a transitional period and as of 1 October 2012, imports and sales of atypical incandescent bulbs of 100 watts or EcoLight more will likely be prohibited. The primary part will probably be followed by a ban on 60-watt-and-greater incandescent light bulbs starting in October 2014. By October 2016, all incandescent mild bulbs will likely be banned in China.

While not an entire ban, EcoLight LED bulbs the UJALA plan in India sought to exchange 770 million incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs by 2019. This was anticipated to cut back energy consumption by over 100 billion kWh annually and cut back annual electricity payments by ₹400 billion (US$4.7 billion). As of April 2017, long-life LED 229 million LED bulbs had been distributed throughout the nation. The states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka in India have banned the use of incandescent bulbs in government departments, varied boards, cooperative institutions, native bodies, and establishments running 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, long-life LED import and sales incandescent bulbs by 2014 as part of efforts to save power and to assist reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Nepal has banned incandescent gentle bulbs. North Korea reportedly made LED bulbs necessary in 2014 to alleviate its power crisis. The Philippines was among the first Asian international locations to phase-out incandescent light bulbs.