A ban on incandescent light bulbs in the United States has been in the works for quite some time (with the first ruling issued as far back as 2007). Now, this ruling has been updated by the Biden administration and, as of August 1st, 2023, the sale of common incandescent light bulbs has been effectively banned. In this article, we’ll be explaining everything you need to know about this new ruling.
What Light Bulbs Are Being Banned?
In April 2022, an official ruling was passed by the Department of Energy that stated light bulbs must emit a minimum of 45 lumens (a measure of brightness) per watt. Because traditional incandescent light bulbs emit just 15 lumens per watt according to Philips, this means that these types of bulbs are effectively banned. LED light bulbs, on the other hand, provide 75 lumens per watt on average.
What Types of Incandescent Light Bulbs Can Still Be Purchased?
While most traditional incandescent light bulbs have been effectively outlawed from manufacturing and sales based on the new ruling, there are still certain types of incandescent light bulbs that can still be purchased. The types of incandescent light bulbs that can still be manufactured and sold according to the Department of Energy include:
- Appliance lamps, including fridge and oven lights
- Plant lights
- Flood lights
- Black lights
- Bug lamps
- Colored lamps
- Reflector lamps
- Showcase lamps
- Infrared lamps
- Left-handed thread lamps
- Traffic signals
- Some other specialty lights
What is the Reason for the Ban?
You may be wondering why this ban has finally been put in place so many years after it was originally introduced. Put simply, new technology (such as LED light bulbs) have proven to be much more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. Beyond that, LED light bulbs are also estimated to save American homeowners a significant amount of money. According to the Department of Energy, US homeowners are estimated to save a whopping $3 billion on their utility bills thanks to the new ruling. Additionally, the incandescent light bulb ban is estimated to cut carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons within the next 30 years.
What if You Currently Have Incandescent Light Bulbs in Your Home?
So what if you already have incandescent light bulbs in your home? Fortunately, the ban doesn’t mean you have to throw out incandescent light bulbs currently in use. Due to the fact that the ban is only on the manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs, you’re free to use those you’ve already purchased. However, once those have been used up, homeowners will have to officially make the switch to LED light bulbs for their lighting needs.
Call Right Electrical Services For All of Your Lighting Installation Needs!
Now that you know what to expect from the recent ruling on incandescent light bulbs, you’ll be able to make the best decision for your home’s lighting while saving money using more energy-efficient methods along the way. If you’d like to learn more about choosing the best light bulbs for each area of your home, check out our guide!
As Raleigh’s best electricians, we specialize in lighting installation including the installation of light fixtures. We also specialize in security and landscape lighting installation. Give us a call at (919) 359-1017 to book your appointment today!
Renee Rose
Renee is a freelance copywriter and blogger known for her expertise surrounding topics like marketing, freelancing, mental health, and more. She has written for hundreds of small business websites and is the Marketing Director here at Right Electrical Services, LLC.
Renee believes that when a business prioritizes entertaining, engaging, and informational content for their readers, they can expect a loyal following that trusts their company.