New U.S. Energy Efficiency Legislation for Light Bulbs

Beginning Jan. 1, 2011, in California and British Columbia -- and Jan. 1, 2012, throughout the United States and Canada -- incandescent light bulbs must meet more stringent lumens/watt requirements. The bulbs must produce the same amount of lumens (brightness) for less wattage (energy). The changes begin with the 100 watt everyday incandescent light bulb, which must now use no more than 72 watts to produce a comparable brightness. Additional bulbs will be affected over the next several years (see charts below).

In 2007, then-president George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) into law. The provisions in this law are intended to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions and enable the United States to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. One of the provisions provides for phasing out today's 40W, 60W, 75W and 100W general service incandescent light bulbs in favor of lower-wattage, energy-saving bulbs. Lighting accounts for about 15 percent of the electrical use in homes.

The law provides for a three-year phase-out schedule that will start with today's 100W light bulbs in 2011 in California and in 2012 in the other 49 states and territories. The 75W light bulbs will go away in year two, and the 60W and 40W light bulbs will go away in year three. The law also sets minimum standards for general service incandescent bulbs, making it necessary for consumers to replace the popular incandescent bulbs with more energy-efficient versions. 

Additionally, new packaging requirements in the U.S. will change the way we refer to light bulbs. Instead of buying a "72 watt light bulb," we will now purchase a "1500 lumens light bulb" or "2500 lumens light bulb."

In Canada, similar energy efficiency regulations and packaging requirements have also been proposed.

 

CLEAR, FROSTED AND SOFT WHITE GENERAL SERVICE INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULBS

 

Current Wattage Lumen Range New Max Wattage Minimum Lifetime Effective Dates
100 1490-2600 72 1,000 hours 1/1/2012
75 1050-1489 53 1,000 hours 1/1/2013
60 750-1049 43 1,000 hours 1/1/2014
40 310-749 29 1,000 hours 1/1/2014

  

MODIFIED SPECTRUM GENERAL SERVICE INCANDESCENT BULBS (Like GE Reveal)

 

Current Wattage Lumen Range New Max Wattage Minimum Lifetime Effective Dates
100 1118-1950 72 1,000 hours 1/1/2012
75 758-1117 53 1,000 hours 1/1/2013
60 563-787 43 1,000 hours 1/1/2014
40 232-562 29 1,000 hours 1/1/2014

 

 Click here to see answers to four consumer questions about the new light bulb legislation!