U.S. DOE Finalizes Efficiency Standards for Lightbulbs

These standards— which will go into effect in July of 2028 for newly produced bulbs—are expected to save American families $1.6 billion annually on household energy costs, significantly cut energy waste, and slash harmful greenhouse gas pollution. 

The DOE claims that these updated standards will save Americans more than $27 billion on their utility bills and cut 70 million metric tons of dangerous carbon dioxide emissions—equivalent to the combined annual emissions of over 9 million homes. 

General Service Lamps

This final rule will raise the efficiency level from 45 lumens per watt to more than 120 lumens per watt for the most common lightbulbs, in line with the ongoing transition toward more efficient and long-lasting LED bulbs that the lighting industry and consumers are already embracing. Since some LED lights are already able to achieve 200 lumens per watt, meeting the new standards should not be a problem. 

Manufacturer compliance with the efficiency standards will be required from July 25, 2028, and will apply to newly produced or imported general service lamps—not affecting continued consumer use and purchase of bulbs already manufactured. The energy savings from these standards over 30 years of shipments is approximately 4 quadrillion British thermal units, which represents a savings of 17% relative to the status quo of lightbulb energy use. 

DOE already implemented minimum lightbulb efficiency levels that were specifically directed by Congress in the bipartisan Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which set levels that cannot be met by energy-inefficient incandescent bulbs. This standards—which reflect Congressional direction for DOE to regularly review efficiency standards to ensure consumers benefit from technological advances that provide savings—set efficiency levels that can be met by a broad variety of widely available LED bulbs but not by compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), which the market is already transitioning away from. LEDs provide longer lifespans and lower electricity usage, and unlike CFLs do not contain mercury.  

One of the considerations with LED bulbs is the frequency, or color temperature of the light. LEDs are generally more efficient at higher and unhealthier frequencies so some manufacturers may choose to shift the frequency higher to achieve the new standards to the detriment of users.