Federal Budget Bill Will Not Enforce Light Bulb Efficiency Standards
The current version of the bill (H.R.3547 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014) will not allocating funds to implement or enforce the law that is going into effect. Led by the Republicans in Congress, this is the same provision as has been in every US Federal budget since 2011. Even though the law will take effect, Congress will not allocate any funds for the “implement or enforce” the light bulb efficiency standards created by the The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007.
BACKGROUND
The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 was set to be implemented in 2 phases, phase one: 2012-2014, and phase two: 2014-2020. A third phase may begin in 2020. The Aim of EISA is to reduce the allowed wattage for incandescent bulbs by 28 percent starting in 2012 and becoming a 67 percent reduction by 2020 at the latest, in accordance with the defined annual review procedures.
The part of the EISA law that effects 100W light bulbs went into effect on 01 January 2012. For 75W bulbs went into effect on 01 January 2013. And for 60W and 40W bulbs on 01 January 2015. The following charts shows an overview of the standards being applied:
| Lumens | today Watts | allowed Watts | min Lifetime | min CRI | Date Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1490-2600 | 100 | 72 | 1,000 hrs | 80 | 1/1/2012 |
| 1050-1489 | 75 | 53 | 1,000 hrs | 80 | 1/1/2013 |
| 750-1049 | 60 | 43 | 1,000 hrs | 80 | 1/1/2014 |
| 310-749 | 40 | 29 | 1,000 hrs | 80 | 1/1/2014 |
The Wording in H.R.3547 that Applies To Light Bulb Efficiency Standards
Reference: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/3547
H.R.3547 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, 113th Congress (2013-2014)
(Sec. 322) Prohibits funds made available in this Act from being used to implement or enforce: (1) specified federal energy conservation standards for general service incandescent lamps, intermediate base incandescent lamps, candelabra base incandescent lamps; and (2) specified energy conservation standards governing BPAR incandescent reflector lamps, BR incandescent reflector lamps, and ER incandescent lamps.