I am still interested in knowing the rough figure of how many incandescent bulbs are in use in the US. Also, I have started to collect other data (found below).
I found this data (not dated---I presume the Q&A was posted in 2006, but have no way to be certain):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How many light bulbs are there in the world?
Answer: According to fastcompany.com: "Last year, U.S. consumers spent about $1 billion to buy about 2 billion lightbulbs--5.5 million every day."
According to wsj.com: "The U.S., which has four billion electric lights using [incandescent] bulbs, represents about a third of the world market."
Below are two articles bearing same title with different contents:
How Many Lightbulbs Does it Take to Change the World? One. And You're Looking At It. [Sept 2006]
How Many Lightbulbs Does it Take to Change the World? One. And You're Looking At It. [Dec 2007]
Also of possible interest:
South Carolina Taking Light Bulb Ban into Its Own Hands [May 2011]
QUESTION: Have you experimented with LED bulbs? Have an opinion?
> QUESTION: Have you experimented with LED bulbs? Have an opinion?
I've had two groups of experiences with LED bulbs, handheld (flashlights/lanterns), and installed in the ceiling and fixtures at my workplace. Both good, with a caveat about color.
They certainly live up to their reputation for energy savings and efficiency. I could see LED lighting being use in a large percentage of the applications where CFLs and incandescents are now. I believe they are the near future of lighting for the small and medium scale. Highways and stadiums, not so much now, but eventually it's possible, and certainly worthwhile. Moreover, since they are a rapidly developing technology, there is much more room for improvement. They are not yet a "mature" technology like incandescents or fluorescents.
The caveat: temp/color spectrum is really white. For reading, relaxing, websurfing, conversing, I like a color balance that's gentler, more like an incandescent. Which, BTW, I believe is pleasing because it is reminiscent of a fireplace, which had deep roots in the human psyche for "comfort" and "safety". Fire was warmth and kept the wolves away. I would opine that somewhere in there, an incandescent color spectrum touches those same deep nerves.
Anyway, for whatever reason, I find LED lights a little too stark white for reading and relaxing. But that's something that can be tuned with the balance. After all, some "white" LEDs are in fact THREE LEDs in one case -- RGB -- (red, green, and blue, surprise). So perhaps the marketplace will demand some that are tilted to the RED.