U.S. Moves Toward More Efficient Lighting

The Biden administration is moving faster toward more efficient lighting that officials say will save billions of dollars a year.

According to rules finalized this week by the Energy Department, now manufacturers will be required to sell only energy-efficient light bulbs, like compact fluorescent and LED bulbs, that last 25 to 50 times longer that incandescent bulbs.

Once the new rules are fully in place next year, all kind of consumers, from households to businesses should save nearly $3 billion per year on energy bills, the Energy Department said. The plan is also to cut carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons over the next 30 years, an amount equivalent to emissions generated by 28 million homes in one year.

“The lighting industry is already embracing more energy efficient products, and this measure will accelerate progress to deliver the best products to American consumers and build a better and brighter future,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.

In 2020, about 30% of light bulbs sold in the U.S. were incandescent or halogen incandescent, according to industry groups. The new rule bars manufacture or importation of incandescent bulbs as of Jan. 1.

The new rules ban sale of bulbs that produce less than 45 lumens per watt.