While politicians split filaments and consumers hoard, many are still in the dark about the Federal Regulation which begins phasing out the production of incandescent light bulbs in 2012.
In recent weeks, politicians have spent a great deal of energy arguing about whether or not the energy efficiency standards for light bulbs, passed in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, should be repealed.The failure of a bill before Congress to repeal the Act has triggered even more national dialog and odd behavior. From the White House to neighborhoods across America the buzz about the new standards has both consumers and U.S. lighting manufacturers a bit confused.
Lost in Translation?
The 2007 law requires light bulbs to use 25-30 percent less wattage than current incandescent lighting, which expends 90% of its energy in heat. Consumers and politicians appear to be doing the same thing, in a frenzy of anticipation of next year’s incandescent bulb phase-out.
As soon as media channels tagged the law as “The Bulb Ban”, misinformation spread through the airwaves. Some consumers have reacted by buying and hoarding cases upon cases of these bulbs, which they favor over the cold cast of the energy saving condensed fluorescent lighting (CFLs) or the more expensive LEDs.
The new Federal energy-efficiency standards do not ban incandescent bulbs all together, but the law does prevent manufacturers from making less-efficient bulbs. Political heat has centered on how the law would negatively impact lighting manufacturing, which many U.S. manufacturers say isn’t an issue at all, if you understand the law properly.
In fact, a representative from the National Electrical Manufactures Association, a trade group that represents makers of light bulbs, tried to clarify the law and the industry’s support of it during a Congressional hearing. The rules do not mean the end to U.S. lighting manufacturing (as the debate in Washington implied), but a new challenge for innovation. U.S. companies have risen to the challenge by making substantial investments in their operations to prepare for 2012 distribution. This is contrary to the misinformation that only CFLs (not produced in the U.S.) can be used.
According to a survey by Sylvania, a major lighting manufacturer, while 88% of consumers surveyed rank energy efficiency as a key factor when purchasing a light bulb, a whopping 78% are not aware of the legislation to phase out incandescent light bulbs starting in 2012
In a statement, Sylvania's CEO and president Charlie Jerabek said, “The survey results are a call-to-action for a comprehensive awareness campaign to help consumers make the transition from traditional light bulbs to newer technologies.” Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports, recently estimated that consumers would pay about $1.25 extra for a new incandescent bulb that meets the standard, but estimate that they would make up that cost on electric bills in about six months.
For all of the reaction to misinformation, one thing remains clear in this regulatory debate: getting the right information about these types of EHS regulatory changes keeps the focus where it should be: on the huge impact the legislation will have on reducing energy costs and greenhouse gases. The Energy Department estimates bring to light how the mandate will lower the nation’s carbon footprint and utility bills at the same time. It will protect the environment from the release of 100 million tons of carbon into our atmosphere and save $13 billion in commercial and residential energy costs.
