2012 Light Bulb Rule Dimmed Until October
A bright idea toward better energy efficiency has been put on hold. Legislation that would have begun the initial stages of the phase-out of incandescent bulbs this month has been delayed until September 30. Part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the legislation was originally signed by then-president George W. Bush in an effort to make the U.S. more energy independent and better use its natural resources.
So what does this all mean to you? If the reprieve ends September 30, you'll begin to notice some subtle changes over the next two years that will change how you shop for light bulbs. You'll still have a variety of choices - it's a myth that incandescent bulbs will be banned; instead, they'll be subject to better energy efficiency standards.
Assuming the rules take effect in October, first stage of the phase-out will involve the 100-watt traditional incandescent bulb. If there are no other changes, all incandescent bulbs - the 100, 75, 60 and 40 - will be phased out by 2014. The law applies to the manufacture date. That means it's not illegal to possess an old incandescent bulb, rather, manufacturers will no long produce this technology as it exists today.
The change will not only impact energy usage in the U.S., but also how consumers shop for light bulbs. The biggest change will be shifting consumers' focus from watts to lumens. Lumens tell you how much light a bulb will provide; watts only tell you how much power it uses (see chart below).
To help consumers make informed decisions amid the changing lighting environment, the Federal Trade Commission has designed a new label that will appear on all light bulb packaging. The label outlines the bulb's brightness, energy cost, life expectancy and more. And of course, we'll be doing our part at Yale Lighting Concepts & Design to help you get up-to-speed on these important changes.
We're happy to answer any questions you may have about selecting the right bulbs for your lighting needs. Stop by one of our nine showrooms in Central and Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.