Factsheet: New Energy Efficiency Standards for Light Bulbs

Energy efficiency standards for light bulbs started taking effect on Jan. 1, 2012, under the bipartisan Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, which was signed into law by then-President George W. Bush. The new standards require light bulbs to use at least 25% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. As the standards are phased in between now and 2014, bulbs as bright as the current 100, 75, 60 and 40-watt bulbs will gradually use less energy.

The standards are technology-neutral, meaning that they do NOT ban any type of light bulb. Advanced incandescents, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) all meet the new standards. Although a funding limitation passed in late 2011 currently prohibits the Department of Energy (DOE) from enforcing the lighting efficiency standards, the law remains in effect. In fact, American lighting manufacturers are in full compliance with the law despite the lack of federal enforcement.

Helping Consumers

The lighting efficiency standards have spurred innovation in the marketplace and given consumers more lighting choices. Those choices include advanced incandescent bulbs, which:

• Provide light that is indistinguishable from that of old incandescents
• Are fully dimmable
• Are the same shape as old incandescents
• Contain no mercury
• Cost as little as $1.50 each
• Cost one dollar less to operate per year than traditional incandescents

Energy-efficient lighting options save money in the long run from reduced energy costs. Compared to traditional incandescents, the energy costs are 25% less for advanced incandescents, 75% less for CFLs, and 75-80% for LEDs. Whereas a traditional 60 W incandescent bulb costs approximately $4.80 to operate per year, the annual operating cost is $3.50 for a similar advanced incandescent, $1.20 for a CFL, and $1 for an LED (DOE).

Creating Jobs

The lighting efficiency standards are creating domestic jobs, because much of the research and development and high-tech manufacturing for the new bulbs are conducted in the United States, while most of the manufacturing of cheap incandescent bulbs moved overseas years ago. As such, American light bulb manufacturers have contributed greatly to our economy.

• CREE has added more than 800 new jobs since 2009 in LED lighting in North Carolina.
• Philips employs approximately 800 in its LED facility in San Jose, California. More broadly, Philips Lighting employs 7,500 in the United States (including the largest linear flourecent tube factory in the world in Salina, Kan.).
• TCP now assembles some CFLs and LED bulbs in Ohio. GE invested $60 million in an Ohio plant to manufacture linear florescent tubes, doubling the workforce at that site.
• Sylvania has been hiring people in Pennsylvania, Philips in New York, and GE in Illinois, to make the new incandescent bulbs.

Not Banned, Just Better

• Less energy waste: Under the new standards, a bulb as bright as an old 100-watt incandescent bulb will now use no more than 72 watts.
• More choice: Manufacturers have developed new incandescent and LED bulbs that meet the standard.
• Smaller bills: New bulbs will save a typical family $100 a year on household energy bills, and save the United States $10 billion a year.
• New jobs: Lighting companies are hiring people to design and make the new bulbs.

Supported by Lighting Manufacturers

Manufacturers strongly support the new lighting standards, which were jointly proposed by manufacturers and efficiency and environmental advocates, and supported by consumer groups and states. The lighting manufacturers’ lead trade association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), has fully endorsed the standards.

Repealing the standards would undermine manufacturers who have already invested millions of dollars to develop, manufacture and sell more efficient lighting technologies, and would pose additional problems for manufacturers and distributors by allowing a patchwork of different state standards. The current enforcement ban may allow illegal imports to undercut U.S. manufacturers and workers who are abiding by the law.

FAQs

1. Why should inefficient light bulbs be phased out?
   Roughly 90% of the energy used by traditional incandescent bulbs is wasted as heat (or 97% if you include energy losses at the power plant), requiring more electric plants and power lines and causing air pollution. Standards encourage manufacturers to innovate and drive down the price of more efficient lighting.
2. Will I be required to purchase a CFL?
   No. CFLs are one of several options available to consumers. Though CFLs do contain very small amounts of mercury (1-4 milligrams depending on the manufacturer), one actually consumes more mercury by eating a can of albacore tuna than from typical exposure to a broken CFL bulb.
3. What do the new advanced incandescent bulbs look like?
   Advanced incandescents are nearly indistinguishable from old incandescents but consume at least 25% less energy. For example, a new bulb needs only 72 watts of electricity to produce the light of an old 100-watt bulb.

Alliance Policy Intern Jen Richmond contributed greatly to this factsheet.