TRENTON, NJ – You might think, ‘What did Phil Murphy do now?’ But, surprisingly, a new law takes effect tomorrow, and it has nothing to do with Governor Phil Murphy.
A federal ban on the sale of incandescent lightbulbs takes effect on August 1st.
Last year, the Department of Energy made a significant decision to approve new light bulb rules, set to take effect on August 1. These rules include a higher minimum standard for light bulbs, requiring them to emit a brightness of 45 lumens per watt. This is a notable increase compared to the average 12 to 18 lumens per watt found in traditional incandescent bulbs.
Under the new regulations, retailers will be prohibited from selling any bulbs that do not meet the new standard, including incandescent bulbs. However, households that currently use light bulbs that fall short of the new requirement will not be required to discontinue their use.
The primary aim of this decision is to conserve energy and provide cost-saving benefits to consumers. Energy-efficient bulbs, such as LEDs, consume at least 75% less energy and have a significantly longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs. These factors contribute to reduced energy bills and a positive environmental impact.
The move towards phasing out less efficient bulbs began with former President George W. Bush, who introduced the Energy Independence and Security Act in 2007. The act sought to improve household light bulb efficiency by approximately 25%, although it did not outright ban incandescent bulbs.
Subsequent efforts were made by former President Obama in 2017, who added two new regulations to the act to phase out incandescent bulbs and other specialty bulbs by January 2020.
However, during President Trump’s tenure, the Department of Energy halted the implementation of these regulations in 2019. President Trump opposed using energy-efficient bulbs and other environmental regulations, citing his appearance when using such lighting as a concern.
As of August 1, the new rules will be in effect, promoting energy conservation and using more efficient lighting options to benefit both consumers and the environment.