BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The European Union will start making the transition from power-draining light bulbs to more energy efficient ones today, the European Commission said.

Several nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Philippines, have already announced they will phase out or restrict sales of traditional bulbs. In 2007, President George W. Bush signed a bill that calls for the bulb to be phased out in the United States beginning in 2012.

The new European Union rules follow an agreement reached by the 27 E.U. governments last year to phase out the traditional incandescent light bulb over three years starting this year to help European countries lower greenhouse gas emissions. This aims to curb climate change and to reduce energy bills.

As of today, old standard frosted light bulbs and clear bulbs of 100 watts and more will no longer be manufactured or imported into the E.U.

The traditional incandescent bulb, which is little changed since Thomas Edison invented it in the 19th century, is being replaced by long-life fluorescent or halogen lamps.

Consumers will still be able to buy the older bulbs until supplies run out. The E.U. says the switch from incandescent bulbs to more efficient ones will bring energy savings of 25 to 75 percent.

The E.U.'s executive has said the measure will save households up to $71 a year and pump up to $14 billion into the economy.

Energy-strapped Tajikistan announced Monday that it will ban the import of incandescent light bulbs in an effort to conserve power. The move by the impoverished Central Asian country is meant to lessen Tajikistan's reliance on imported electricity.

Severe power shortages hit Tajikistan last winter after an import deal broke down. At the peak of the shortages, power was limited to 11 hours a day in the capital, Dushanbe, and about four hours a day elsewhere.

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