Biden administration incandescent lightbulb ban takes effect
Breanne Deppisch
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The Biden administration’s new lightbulb efficiency rule takes effect on Tuesday, effectively prohibiting the sale of all new incandescent bulbs in favor of more energy-friendly alternatives.
The new lightbulb efficiency regulations were announced last April by the Department of Energy and require all bulbs sold by retailers to produce a minimum of 45 lumens, the measure of light and brightness, per watt. (There are exceptions for certain appliances that utilize incandescent bulbs, however, such as microwaves.)
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In turn, consumers will be limited to purchasing more efficient sources of lighting, such as LED bulbs, which have a higher upfront cost but last roughly 15 to 20 times as long as incandescent bulbs.
DOE estimates that over the next 30 years, the lightbulb efficiency standard will slash carbon emissions by 222 metric tons, the equivalent of emissions generated by 28 million homes in a year.
Consumers are also expected to save nearly $3 billion per year on their utility bills, officials said.
When DOE announced the rule in 2022, incandescent bulbs still made up around 30% of the retail market. Its announcement of the rule had been met with criticism from some groups, including the American Lighting Association. They had pushed for a slower rollout of the new efficiency standard, arguing that if it was done too quickly, it could result in “major financial losses” for lighting manufacturers and retailers.
Regulators have said the more than one year of notice gives retailers and manufacturers a sufficient runway to comply with the rule and sell out their existing supply of low-watt bulbs.
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“By raising energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs, we’re putting $3 billion back in the pockets of American consumers and substantially reducing domestic carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement after the rule was finalized.
“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,” Granholm added.