New Light Bulb Regulations Target Energy Efficiency
Jenny Heinzen York -- Home Accents Today, 3/1/2011 2:00:00 AM
As portions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 begin to go into effect this year, consumers are being bombarded with information about their light bulbs, much of it untrue or misleading. The American Lighting Association 
hosted a recent webinar to address the new regulations and allay some of the concerns, as well as to tell retailers what they need to know, how to talk to consumers about the changes, and to emphasize the long-term energy savings that the new regulations were designed to create. The session was led by Daniel Blitzer of the ALA and The Practical Lighting Workshop.
EISA 2007, THE ENERGY Independence and Security Act of 2007, was put in place because residential electric usage has grown significantly over the past several decades. This is largely what's driving the regulatory environment with regards to light bulbs, Blitzer said, even though computers and home electronics are driving much of the increased electric consumption.
The impact of that increased usage is an unwelcome boost in the world's carbon output, stress on the electric grid and international exposure (because of dependence on fossil fuels to provide the electricity.)
The only options to create more electric capacity - other than through increased use of fossil fuels - are nuclear facilities (which are extremely expensive, unpopular and very slow to come online), or renewables (which can be expensive and are not always reliable), according to Blitzer.
"Energy conservation is an immediate and economical way to make electric capacity available."
The EISA 2007 regulations deal with (for the purposes of the Home Accents Today readership), A lamps (standard incandescent, medium- based light bulbs) and decorative lamps (shaped bulbs, with different-sized bases).
A lamps will, beginning in 2012, be required to carry lower maximum wattage and provide a lifespan of at least 1,000 hours.
"These rules don't ban incandescents," Blitzer said.
"They simply make them more efficient." These new bulbs will use halogen rather than argon, but will be "largely indistinguishable to consumers," Blitzer said, because of their similar shape and lighting quality.
For decorative bulbs, candelabra bulbs will be required to be no more than 60 watts; intermediate-base bulbs will carry a 40-watt maximum; and decorative bulbs less than 40 watts are exempt.
"This means chandeliers will be able to use incandescents that give them their precious sparkle," Blitzer said.
A new label - similar to a nutrition label - is also required on all light bulbs. The label will show the expected life of the bulb and the cost per year of operation, as well as lumen and wattage data. On compact fluorescent bulbs, there will be a mercury content notice, as well as a web link to directions on how to dispose of a broken or burnt-out bulb.
"The emphasis is to show consumers what they are getting from their light bulb, what it will cost them, and how long it will last," he said.
But most importantly, Blitzer said, and despite some media indications otherwise, "We will have the same full range of lighting choices that we have today, except that with some exceptions, they will be more efficient and longer-lasting."
Blitzer said this new regulation provides an opportunity for lamp and lighting retailers to promote themselves as experts on energy efficiency, and also to help guide consumers who are confused now about what the new regulations mean. There are many misperceptions and concerns, especially about the use of CFLs, that retailers can help address with their consumers.
"You will not have empty sockets," he said, once the regulations go into place. "Another concern with using CFL bulbs is that perhaps they don't like the look or performance of them. These regulations do not require the use of CFL or LED. They do allow you to use a more efficient halogen (in an incandescent format).
"Most importantly, you still have all the tools to light a house beautifully."
There has been media coverage about consumers hoarding light bulbs in advance of the regulations going into place. Blitzer said there's no need to do that. "In the media, this is always presented as ‘ban the bulb.' It's very clear that bulbs are not being banned, so consumers do not need to hoard."
Another concern with CFLs, one that has also been propagated by media coverage and the internet, is the mercury content of the bulbs. A CFL contains 1/100th the mercury of a standard glass thermometer. If a bulb breaks, consumers are advised to let the room air out, then to place the pieces into a sealable container and throw it into their regular trash.
"It's pretty clear that less mercury in the atmosphere is better than more, but we've lived very comfortably and safely with fluorescent lighting for some time," Blitzer said. "It's up to (retailers) to provide reassurance that you don't have to have a haz-mat suit if you break a fluorescent."
Finally, the relative costs of CFLs or halogen incandescents vs. traditional incandescent bulbs can be easily addressed by talking about the long-term cost savings in electrical usage, as opposed to the one-time cost savings at the point of purchase. "Even at the higher prices, these new halogen (and CFLs) cost less because of their energy use," he said. "As the cost of electricity goes up, so will the value of halogen go up."
RE
" It's very clear that bulbs are not being banned"
This one keeps coming up...
“This is not a ban, energy efficient incandescents like Halogens allowed!
Sure it is a ban
- any bulb not meeting allowable standards is banned.
Yes, energy efficient halogen incandescent replacements are allowed, but
still have light type etc differences with regular bulbs, apart from
costing much more for the small savings, which is why neither
consumers or governments really like them, since they have been around
for a while now without being sold much.
LEDs are not yet ready as bright omnidirectional lighting at a good
price – which leaves CFLs:
People don’t save that much in switching…
One reason is that the common cheaper CFLs (“energy saving” lights )
draw twice the energy from the
power plant than what your meter suggests – but users of course have to pay
for that eventually too
(look up CFL “power factor” online, or ceolas.net/#li15eux with
more about the lack of savings from the ban)
All light bulbs have their advantages in different rooms and
situations – none should be banned
unless they are unsafe to actually use:
The “switch all your lights and save lots of money” campaigns are like
saying “Eat only bananas and save lots of money!”
peter dublin - 2011-03-18 09:51:31 EDT
Why must the room be aired out when a CFL bulb is broken? That is not explained in the article. It would seem to suggest a health hazard even with that miniscule amount of mercury.
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