The federal government’s long-awaited ban on incandescent light bulbs has finally been implemented as of Tuesday. This rule was initially proposed more than fifteen years ago with the aim of promoting energy efficiency.
In 2007, a federal regulation to ban incandescent light bulbs was issued after the Energy Independence and Security Act was enacted during the Bush administration. However, the implementation of the ban faced several delays, and during the Obama administration, the rule was expanded. Subsequently, the Trump administration reversed the ban.
In April 2022, the Biden administration moved forward with a new rule from the Department of Energy (DOE), officially prohibiting the use of incandescent light bulbs starting from August 1, 2023. According to the rule, light bulbs must emit at least 45 lumens per watt (lumen being a measure of brightness). The manufacture and sale of non-conforming bulbs have been banned under this rule, but it does not restrict their use, allowing consumers to continue using the bulbs they already possess.
The rule essentially bans most incandescent light bulbs, as they typically produce only about 15 lumens per watt, as stated by Philips, a prominent light bulb manufacturer. Nevertheless, the rule includes exceptions that permit the continued manufacturing and sale of incandescent bulbs for specific applications, such as household appliances or certain types of lamps used for bugs, plants, or marine signals, among others.
In the enforcement memo issued by the DOE shortly after announcing the rule last year, it was stated that the agency would pursue civil penalties against manufacturers and private labelers who knowingly violate the ban. However, the specifics of these penalties were not clarified in the document.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm emphasized the lighting industry’s commitment to adopting more energy-efficient products, and she believes that this measure will further accelerate progress in delivering the best products to American consumers and contribute to a better and brighter future.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has made public its incandescent bulb regulation, projecting substantial benefits for American consumers. The DOE expects annual utility bill savings of nearly $3 billion due to the rule, and it foresees a reduction of 222 million metric tons of carbon emissions over the next 30 years, equivalent to emissions produced by 28 million homes in a year.
However, the Biden administration’s rule has faced opposition from a coalition of free market and consumer groups. In a comment letter to the DOE, they argued against further regulatory intervention in the marketplace, emphasizing that energy-efficient alternatives, such as light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, are already available for consumers who prefer them over incandescent bulbs. The coalition questioned the climate benefits estimation, suggesting it relies on speculation, assumptions, and potential bias stemming from agencies with regulatory agendas.
Despite opposition, the ban on most incandescent bulbs is expected to lead to increased adoption of LED light bulbs, known for their energy efficiency and rising popularity while the incandescent ban remained uncertain.
According to the DOE’s most recent Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), nearly half of all U.S. households used LED bulbs for all or most indoor lighting by 2020, marking a significant rise from 4% in 2015. Concurrently, the share of incandescent or halogen bulbs declined from 31% to 15%, and compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs experienced a drop from 32% to 12%. The number of households without a predominant bulb type also decreased from 33% to 26% during the same period.
Moreover, the Biden administration plans to further enhance energy efficiency in light bulbs. In December 2022, the DOE announced a rule aimed at doubling the minimum light bulb efficiency to more than 120 lumens per watt for commonly used bulbs, effectively leading to a ban on CFL bulbs. This rule is anticipated to take effect before the end of 2024.