![]() The Energy Department also proposed a rule in December to hasten the transition toward LED bulbs, by raising the minimum lightbulb efficiency level from 45 to more than 120 lumens per watt. That’s equivalent to the emissions generated by 28 million homes in one year. consumers to save nearly $3 billion on their annual utility bills resulting from the rules, which it says will also cut planet-warming carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons over 30 years. The rules offer some exceptions, including for microwave lights, allowing some incandescent bulbs to stay on the shelves. A typical 60-watt incandescent bulb produces about 800 lumens, according to the Energy Department, translating into about 13 lumens per watt. One of those rules codified a standard that light bulbs produce at least 45 lumens for every watt - in line with what Congress first mandated in 2007 - and the other rule expanded that standard to more common bulb types.Ī lumen is the measure of brightness for a light bulb, while watts measure the power consumed. The Biden Energy Department completed two efficiency rules last year that effectively phased out most halogen and incandescent light bulbs on the market. practice at advisory firm Albright Stonebridge Group and a former senior policy director at the Alliance to Save Energy. ![]() ![]() “I’m just struck by how different the temperature of the sort of overall atmosphere is around this now that it’s coming into force, whereas 11 years ago this was a really contentious and heated issue,” said Elizabeth Tate, associate partner in the U.S. Others following the debate remarked on the change in furor over light bulbs. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) in a statement to POLITICO. “The light bulb rule going into effect this summer is just another example of the Biden administration’s tidal wave of regulatory burdens crashing down on American families,” said Rep. Advocates say the rule would save consumers money on natural gas and lessen a source of greenhouse gas pollution, but critics point to DOE estimates that only about half of gas stoves now in the market could meet the proposed standards - something they contend amounts to a de-facto ban. Republican lawmakers in recent months have continually derided the Biden administration’s efficiency actions on everything from more efficient stoves to laundry machines and dishwashers.įor example, the Energy Department is proposing new efficiency standards covering gas stoves as well as electric stoves and ovens. That fight may be settled, but the larger fight over energy efficiency standards is still looming. The transition away from the inefficient bulbs has been underway for more than a year, as the department provided flexibility for manufacturers and retailers to comply with the new standard. But DOE pushed the rules to the finish line last year after President Joe Biden came into office with a climate agenda that includes a focus on energy efficiency measures.ĭOE completed the action last April, but full enforcement of the rule is set to begin Aug. The fight zigged, then zagged: The Obama administration took action in its waning days to finalize the bulb efficiency requirements, only for former President Donald Trump - who once proclaimed energy-efficient bulbs made him “look orange” - to halt the move. “But manufacturers’ recognition that there were better products and consumer tastes were changing made this much more complicated than some of the political debates.” “Light bulb efficiency standards became a symbol in some Republicans’ resistance to expansion of the regulatory state,” said Alex Flint, executive director for the conservative Alliance for Market Solutions. Republican lawmakers even succeeded in passing legislation to block the Obama administration from carrying out the new efficiency standards - sometimes to the irritation of large light bulb manufacturers that had spent big bucks preparing for them. ![]() Over a decade ago, though, the light bulb issue shone bright for tea party conservatives and GOP presidential hopefuls, who accused Democrats of trying to limit consumers’ choices. The endgame for old light bulbs came quietly - by early this year, lawmakers had mostly moved on to squabbling over gas stoves and other newer targets of the Energy Department’s efficiency efforts.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |