After 16 years of bipartisan effort, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has placeda ban on inefficient light bulbs. This new ruling will eliminate most incandescent and halogen bulbs from store shelves, setting LED as the absolute standard for home lighting.
The new rule is fairly simple; light bulbs must emit a minimum of 45 lumens per watt. Bulbs that do not meet this specification cannot be manufactured or sold in the United States—though there are some exceptions. You can still use inefficient bulbs in appliances, floodlights, and display cases, for example. Road lighting is also omitted, as are some oddly-sized or left-handed bulbs.
And, of course, consumers may continue using whatever bulbs they own. But because incandescent bulbs have a very short lifespan, you will soon find yourself living the LED lifestyle.
These new efficiency standards have been a long time coming. Back in 2007, the Bush administration signed itsEnergy Independence and Security Act(EISA), which demanded several regulations, including 28% greater light bulb efficiency by the year 2012. (The act was fairly controversial, as many people felt that energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs were ugly.)
Energy efficiency was a sticking point for the Obama campaign during the 2008 election. And, in 2014, the Obama administration scheduled a 2020 due date for the remaining EISA regulations. By the time Obama exited office, LED bulbs were cheap and readily available, providing Americans a pleasant-looking (and more efficient) alternative to fluorescent lighting.
But the 2020 regulations were intercepted by the Trump administration’s DOE in 2019. According to former President Trump, old-fashioned incandescent bulbs are “cheaper and better” than LED alternatives. While it’s true that incandescent bulbs are cheaper to manufacture, they have a much shorter lifespan than LED and use 75% more electricity. President Biden rescinded this deregulation upon entering office, and previously-outlined EISA regulations are now taking effect.
Related:The 6 Best Smart Lights of 2023
At the time of writing, EISA regulations have saved U.S. householdsapproximately $500 a year(remember that these regulations expand far beyond light bulbs). The new lightbulb rules are expected to provide $3 billion in utility bill savings across the country, and may save enough energy to power over 40 million homes each year.
More notably, the U.S. is struggling to keep up with its power grids, and this regulation will provide a tiny amount of relief. Experts aredeeply concernedwith our energy usage and warn that grid operators cannot keep up with increasing energy demands. EvenElon Muskis sounding the alarm, but to be fair, Musk owns a renewable energy company.
DORESshop Vintage LED Edison Bulbs
These Edison-styled LED bulbs give you an old-fashioned vibe with new-fangled efficiency and longevity.
