PHOENIX - On Jan. 1, 2012, the federal government started phasing out incandescent light bulbs – that’s the kind you’ve been using your entire life. And they’re usually the cheapest bulbs on the shelf at any story.

So, why would Home Depot lighting expert Abel Candelaria say the phase-out is such a good thing?

“It’s a great thing, actually,” he said.

While you might be paying a little bit more up front for the new bulbs, Candelaria says that, in the long run, “they pay for themselves.”

With the phase-put underway, you’ll eventually have to buy more energy-efficient CFL or LED light bulbs. Candelaria says those cost about 25-percent more than incandescent, 100-watt light bulbs.

But they also last a lot longer, he said. And, you’re saving a lot of energy by using them – especially with LED lights.

“For a 40 watt bulbs, you’re burning 9 watts,” Candelaria said. “And these can last up to, believe it or not, 46 years.”

A regular incandescent light bulb burns 100 watts of energy and lasts on average 3 or 4 months, Candelaria said.

“Incandescent lighting puts out a lot of heat,” he said.

Candelaria also said he’s had a lot of people coming in and bulk-buying incandescent bulbs, worried they’ll be gone soon. But he says they have thousands of them stocked up.