Incandescent light bulbs have served as our primary source of light for decades.  However, that is soon to come to an end.  The U.S department of Energy is imposing tough new efficiency standards for lighting .  Edison's light bulb will be banned by 2014. 

The curly fluorescent is the replacement for the incandescent bulb, but it is not perfect itself.  The more energy efficient curly bulbs contain mercury, which is a health risk, and people associate them with an unpleasant light.  To find a solution to get quality and quantity of light the U.S government is offering a $10 million prize called the L prize, to the company that builds the most efficient bulb with the most desirable light. 

Phillips was the first company to submit the first design to the L Prize.  The bulb features light emitting diodes also known as LEDs, which used 80 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb and half as much as compact fluorescent. "We've spent 15 years trying to perfect LED lighitng, trying to make it replicate the incandescent light bulb, and we are now on the verge o doing that,: DenBaars said.

However the Led bulb cost about 40 dollars per bulb.  On the up side it will last up to 10 or even 20 years, saving homeowners 300-600 dollars a year on energy bills.