DOE moves toward ensuring light bulbs save energy, but hurdles remain

(ACEEE blog, 6 Dec 2021) Washington, DC—The Biden administration took a major step late Friday toward ensuring most new light bulbs do not waste the bulk of the energy they use, but it is unclear how long inefficient bulbs will remain on the market. The Department of Energy (DOE) proposed to require that everyday light bulbs meet an efficiency standard—easily achieved by today’s LEDs—that had been set to take effect last year before the Trump administration prevented it from doing so.

Each additional month that light bulb standards are delayed costs consumers nearly $300 million in needless energy bills and causes 800,000 tons of preventable carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of the inefficient bulbs sold in that month. 

DOE is now certain to miss a year-end deadline for finalizing the rule; it hasn’t yet begun a 45-day comment period on the proposal. In an inauguration day executive order, President Biden directed DOE to consider “suspending, revising, or rescinding” Trump-era rules that conflict with his climate objectives. DOE in February identified rules it would review and take final action on by a year-end deadline in the order, including President Trump’s two major light bulb efficiency rollbacks. 

Bulb manufacturers requested earlier this year that DOE allow for potentially years of continued sales even after the rule is finalized. The new proposal calls for unspecified “enforcement discretion” and floats a “staggered implementation” approach. 

“This progress is welcome news for consumers and for the planet, but the administration is not acting here with the urgency needed to address the climate crisis,” said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). “The department needs to get this finalized and ensure compliance rapidly because every day manufacturers are making more energy-wasting bulbs for sale.” 

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ACEEE blog, 6 Dec 2021: DOE moves toward ensuring light bulbs save energy, but hurdles remain