California Leads the Way with New Efficiency Regulations on Incandescent Bulbs

GREENandSAVE Staff
Posted on Friday 7th January 2011

Effective January 1, 2011, California, a long time energy efficiency leader, became the first state to set new energy standards for incandescent screw-base light bulbs. These new regulations are aimed at making standard incandescent bulbs more efficient.

The new regulations do not mean that incandescent bulbs are banned, however it does require they be more efficient. These regulations do not affect any bulbs currently on the shelves or in stores. Only bulbs manufactured in after the start of 2011 are required to meet these new standards. The traditional 100-W incandescent bulb will now have to use 72 –W or less. Other standards for the 75W, 60W, and 40W bulbs will also be required to meet certain standards (53W, 43W, and 29 W respectively).

The California Energy Commission says that these new regulations will save consumers $35.6 million in electricity bills this year. Also, air pollution from fossil fuels will drop as a result of a reduction in energy consumption.

These new regulations are based on the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which goes into effect at the start of 2012. This groundbreaking legislation targets an initial phase out of incandescent bulbs, leading to the total extinction Edison’s bulb by 2014. With the replacement of the incandescent, the U.S. will cut carbon emissions to the equivalent of 24 new coal plants. The rest of the forty-nine states are set to follow California’s example in 2012. For more information on the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, click here.

For information on alternatives to incandescent lights, click here

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