House to Vote on Repeal of Light Bulb Efficiency Standards

Light bulb energy efficiency standards could be repealed by the House of Representatives on Monday, July 11. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) has proposed the BULB Act (H.R. 2417) to repeal the standards enacted by Congress with strong bipartisan support and signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007.

The standards were enacted to improve the efficiency of the original incandescent bulb that has been in use for more than 100 years. It loses about 90 percent of its energy in the form of waste heat. Contrary to a common misperception, the 2007 law does not ban incandescent bulbs – it simply makes them more efficient.

New incandescent bulbs, which use 25-30 percent less energy, can save consumer households about $100 per year – and the energy equivalent of 30 large coal-fired power plants. Several manufacturers, including Philips, GE, and Osram Sylvania, are already producing incandescent bulbs which meet the new 2012 standard. Some of the new bulbs are being manufactured in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and Virginia, creating more than 2,000 jobs at lighting factories. Lighting manufacturers strongly oppose the pending legislation.