If there’s one question surrounding electrical usage that our experts at CMC Service Experts have been prepping for recently, it’s “are incandescent light bulbs banned?” However, the answer to this question actually changes towards the end of last year. It’s true that new energy efficiency standards for light bulbs were set to go into effect on January 1st, 2020. However, thanks to shifts made by our current government, those changes were not put in place after all. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about the proposed incandescent light bulb ban, and make sure to call our experienced electricians for lighting services and more.
About the Proposed Incandescent Light Bulb Ban
All the way back in 2007, President George W. Bush signed off on regulations proposed under the EISA (Energy Independence and Security Act) that would have required common household light bulbs to use 65% less energy than the average incandescent light bulb. As these new standards were first put in place between 2012 and 2014, 60-watt incandescent bulbs were eventually phased out.
This phaseout received a fair amount of press at the time, with many consumers becoming angry they could no longer by their favorite $25 bulbs. However, energy-efficient LED light bulbs also started to become more popular during this period, setting the stage for the EISA’s next proposed phaseout, which would have barred the sale of any light bulbs not producing at least 45 lumens per watt. This would have effectively banned the use of almost all incandescent light bulbs.
Then, in September of last year, the Trump administration rolled back these proposed changes, allowing people in most parts of the country to continue to purchase incandescent light bulbs. Some states, like California, have pushed back on this, suing the Trump administration and siding with environmental groups in their efforts to ban incandescent light bulbs.
However, it is worth noting at this point that even many incandescent light bulbs currently meet energy efficiency standards. In fact, manufacturers basically halted production on any lamp that failed to meet the energy standards outlined by EISA years ago. It is still very much legal in most parts of the country to use incandescent light bulbs, and on top of this, current incandescent light bulbs tend to be twice as efficient now compared to when the EISA was signed into law.
What Type of Light Bulbs Should I Buy?
If you continue to purchase incandescent light bulbs, don’t worry—no one is going to show up and arrest you for using them. However, our electricians at CMC Service Experts do recommend using LED light bulbs whenever possible, as they are simply better for energy efficiency and tend to save the average homeowner more on their electric bill. Thanks for reading, and remember that for all your landscape, recessed, and security lighting needs, CMC Service Experts is the company to call.
To schedule an appointment, dial (919) 246-4798, or click here to request service online.
