- The compact fluorescent light bulb, once the undisputed energy-efficient alternative, is being overtaken by LEDs and will not be made or sold in the U.S. by General Electric (NYSE:GE) by year’s end.
- Prices for LEDs, once ~$30/bulb, have been dropping steadily, falling well below $5 for a basic bulb last year, in part because of government regulations making it easier for them to qualify for generous discounts; as a result, LEDs reached 15% of bulb shipments in Q3 of last year, a 237% Y/Y jump.
- Retailers including Walmart, Sam's Club and Ikea have been moving away from CFLs, which will have a harder time qualifying for the Energy Star rating under regulations proposed for next year, GE says.