The Ban on Incandescant Bulbs Explained 2023

Say goodbye to incandescent light bulbs. In the USA the Department of Energy has set two new rules for lighting that will help in the conservation of energy and save customers money on their bills, effective April 26th 2022. These regulations overturn a policy passed during the Trump administration which had extended the lifetime of these bulbs previously.

New Rules on Light Bulbs

The regulations have extended energy-efficiency prerequisites to different kinds of light bulbs and require producers to sell bulbs with at least 45 lumens per watt, forbidding the sale of most incandescent and halogen lamps. As a result, compact fluorescents and LEDs are encouraged as superior alternatives.

Under the new directive, retailers are required to meet minimum efficiency standards in order to sell products.

Retailers are also required to provide information about the products they sell to help customers make informed choices.

All light bulbs must now also come with an Energy Star label, indicating that they meet strict energy efficiency guidelines.

This information includes the expected lifetime of the product, the estimated energy costs associated with its use, and the benefits of investing in an energy efficient product.

The directive also requires retailers to phase out the sale of certain types of incandescent lamps.

When Does the New Light Bulb Law Go Into Effect?

The new lighting directive sees a ban on the retail sales of the lesser efficient tungsten halogen and incandescant bulbs, from July 1, 2023.

What About Existing Incandescent Lamps?

The new lighting directive does not affect existing incandescent lamps. It only applies to lamps sold after the announced date. Customers who already own inefficient incandescent lamps can continue to use them, but are encouraged to consider more energy efficient options.

Can I Buy Any Incandescant Bulbs?

The ancient technology of a burning tungsten filament encapsulated behind glass just does not meet the new energy efficiency standards, regardless of the wattage you may want to still use.

Do not worry, you can still buy bulbs that have the same lumen output as your favourite incandescant bulb, and with the same colour temperature.

Benefits of the Updated Directive

The updated directive is expected to help individuals and businesses save money by reducing their energy costs. It is also expected to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as using more energy-efficient light bulbs will use less energy overall.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy reports that, in 2020, 30% of light bulbs sold in the United States were halogen or incandescent – which are notoriously inefficient. Every month these outdated standards remain in place results in customers spending nearly $300 million on energy bills and creating 800,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The new lighting directive from the Energy Department is a necessary step in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. By setting new efficiency standards on General Service Lamps (GSLs), the United States is on track to becoming a more sustainable nation.

Andrew Orange, the owner of Orange Lighting qualified and worked as an interior designer in 1993 before specialising in lighting working on high profile projects based in London. Since starting Orange Lighting Ltd in 2003 he has been sharing his knowledge and unique teaching style mostly to his designer clients, offering practical real life advice born from running a busy consultancy and lighting supply business. Launching in 2020, his blog has evolved into Quick & Easy Lighting, curating some 25 years design experience into making the lighting choice and design process achievable and easy to understand for all.