The Biden Administration is finally putting a stop to energy-hungry incandescent bulbs, a climate-friendly move that might help families save money on their energy bills. Manufacturers must now offer energy-efficient lightbulbs that generate a minimum of 45 lumens per watt, according to new standards issued by the US Energy Department.
This will basically put an end to wasteful incandescent bulbs (the pear-shaped bulbs with blazing wire cores that require a lot of electricity) and speed up the transition to LED bulbs, which last 25 to 50 times longer and use a lot less energy. Companies will be able to import non-compliant bulbs until January 2023, and retailers will be able to sell them until July 2023.
According to the agency, not only is this wonderful news for the environment, but energy-efficient lightbulbs might also save people money on their power bills. In a statement, US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M Granholm stated, “By improving energy efficiency requirements for lightbulbs, we’re putting $3 billion back in the pockets of American consumers every year and dramatically decreasing domestic carbon emissions.” “The lighting sector is already adopting more energy-efficient products, and this step will hasten progress in delivering the finest goods to American customers and laying the foundation for a better and brighter future.”
This move has been in the works for a long time, having been initially announced as part of President George W Bush’s Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. In 2019, however, the Trump administration reduced the standards. The Energy Department’s new amendment puts the plan back on track and closes some of the loopholes that existed in prior versions of the legislation.
Many other countries, like the European Union, Canada, and Australia, have also declared their plans to phase out incandescent bulbs. Over the next 30 years, the new US laws are expected to save up to 222 million metric tons of carbon emissions from entering the environment. Although others argue that the initiative is long overdue, environmentalists have applauded the plan to replace energy-guzzling bulbs.
“Today’s announcement is fantastic for both customers and the environment. Implementing these long-overdue and common-sense light bulb efficiency standards will save consumers $3 billion annually in utility bills and prevent 222 million tons of dangerous, climate-warming carbon pollution over the next 30 years, which is equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of over 48 million vehicles, according to Joe Vukovich, energy efficiency advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “We are long overdue to phase out inefficient old-fashioned light bulbs, which the Trump administration has illegally postponed for more than two years. LED bulbs, which will eventually replace incandescent lights, require one-sixth the energy to produce the same amount of light and last at least ten times longer.”
