Incandescent Lightbulb Are Now Banned In The United States

After 16 years of discussion, the incandescent lightbulb ban is now in effect. The efforts to phase out these bulbs began in 2007 with President George W. Bush and have been modified by subsequent administrations. Initially, the Energy Independence and Security Act called for lightbulbs to be 25 percent more efficient but did not outright ban incandescent bulbs. President Barack Obama added regulations in 2017 to phase out incandescent and specialty bulbs by January 2020, but the Trump administration withdrew these regulations in 2019.

Under the new rule, lightbulbs must emit a minimum of 45 lumens per watt to be allowed on the market. Traditional incandescent bulbs, which typically provide 15 lumens per watt, are banned. However, various other types of specialty bulbs, such as appliance lamps, colored lamps, and reflector lamps, are not banned.

The government is banning incandescent lightbulbs to promote energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. LED lightbulbs are much more energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan compared to incandescent bulbs, leading to significant savings on utility bills.

Consumers do not need to throw out their old lightbulbs as the ban applies to their manufacture and sale, not their use. However, the Energy Department has proposed a rule to increase the minimum efficiency level further, which would effectively phase out compact fluorescent light bulbs by the end of 2024, providing more savings and environmental benefits.

Source: USA Today

Photo: Getty Images


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content