2010 marks a new era of lighting efficiency for the European Union   Thursday, December 31, 2009 CFL bulbs are predicted to take the lead in the EU lighting market this year. As millions of Americans ring in the new year under the glow of the LED ball in Times Square, all of the European Union will mark the stroke of midnight as the death toll for the incandescent bulb. In accordance with legislation passed in October, the European Union's ban on filament bulbs will take effect at the start of 2010. Even if Americans will use LED bulbs to ring in a new decade of eco-efficiency - the American incandescent ban takes effect in 2012 - LEDs are not expected to become the leaders in the EU residential lighting market. The more cost-efficient CFL bulbs are predicted to become the leading lighting technology, according to ecogeek.org. While LEDs are the most energy-saving light bulbscurrently on the market, the switch to CFLs will still offer significant environmental benefits. According to the conservation group WWF, when the EU switches to CFLs, it will decrease energy consumption for lighting by 60 percent. Moreover, it will reduce CO2 emissions by 30 million tons (out of the 4 billion tons emitted by the EU each year). Even with the official start of the U.S. ban on incandescent bulbs years away, Americans are expected to increase their use of energy-conserving bulbs this year. Efforts to go green with energy efficient light bulbs are one of Americans' top 10 eco-friendly resolutions for 2010.