The document discusses the phase-out of traditional incandescent light bulbs in the United States as mandated by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. It provides background on the legislation and explains that it aims to gradually increase energy efficiency in lighting by forcing innovation and improving lamp technology. While the public reaction has been largely negative, the phase-out helps reduce energy consumption and saves consumers money over the long run by pushing more efficient alternatives like LEDs and CFLs. The document considers some options for consumers dealing with the change, such as upgrading to high-efficiency incandescents, or switching to LEDs or CFLs, which use at least 70% less energy but may have higher upfront costs.

1. Issue 1
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Volume 4
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2014-01-15
Illuminating
ideas
from the CannonDesign Lighting Studio
Educating Colleagues in the Art and Science of Lighting
Shedding Light on the
Incandescent Phase-Out
the hoarding of 60 Watt and 40 Watt Bulbs Begin” (USA
Today, Dec. 2013), “Last of the Incandescent Light
Bulbs Banned” (LA Times, Jan. 2014), and “Dark Times
Ahead: Incandescent Light Bulb Banned in 2014” (Daily
Caller, Jan. 2014), it’s no surprise that the public’s
reaction is widely negative. In our country, founded
on the tenets of liberty and freedom, it’s fairly easy to
understand how a ban on anything would put our backs
up. The concept of outright prohibition has been met
throughout our history with adversity; we simply don’t
like being told what we can’t do. That’s why it’s critical
to quash the misnomer “ban” and understand that
what’s really been adopted is a gradual process of
increasing our country’s efficiency as it pertains to
consuming lighting resources through innovation
and improvement. Ultimately, the legislation has
forced manufacturers to focus R&D efforts on improving
lamp technology – which many have successfully done
- while simultaneously compelling consumers to learn
about more efficient alternatives.
If you haven’t heard about the “Ban on Incandescent
Light Bulbs” by now, it’s time to re-acquaint yourself
with your favorite news source.
As of January 1st, traditional 40 and 60-watt
incandescent light bulbs can no longer be made or
imported into the United States, part of the multiyear phase-out of the traditional source under the
2007 Energy Independence and Security Act signed
into law by George W. Bush. The two lamps, which
account for about half of all standard bulb sales,
follow the rolling phase-outs of the 100 and 75-watt
lamps, which went into effect in 2012 and 2013
respectively.
Quick facts on the EISA legislation:
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It only affects “general service incandescents”,
defined as medium screw-base lamps producing
310-2600 lumens, which effectively mean the 100,
75, 60, and 40-watt bulbs that we know and love.
It mandates that these lamp types must use 27%
less energy by 2014 or they can no longer be sold.
It specifically excludes all other incandescent
lamp types and shapes, including PAR and MR16
reflector lamps, decorative lamps, 3-way lamps,
candelabra base lamps, and all sorts of specialty
and rough service lamps.
By 2020, general service (medium screw-base)
incandescents will be required to meet even more
stringent efficiency standards. Again, all other
incandescent lamp types will be exempt under the
current legislation.
Like it or not, we (as in, the human race) are in a critical
situation when it comes to energy consumption, and by
many metrics the United States is the world’s biggest
glutton.
The majority of Americans say they were not aware
the phase-out was coming, which explains the recent
onslaught of media coverage. With headlines like “Let
(Source: The Energy Collective)
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2. Option 1:
Stick with incandescent if you love
incandescent.
Just as the legislation was designed to encourage them
to do, major lamp companies like GE and Philips have
taken the EISA’s mandate to reduce incandescent
power consumption by 27% and have introduced high
efficiency incandescent versions of the lamps being
phased-out. The new and improved versions of these
lamps cost about a dollar more than their “banned”
cousins, but that cost is recovered over the course of
the lamp’s life through its reduced energy consumption.
Pop in the replacement and you’re good to go, and
you’ll save a few nickels a month to boot. Now that
wasn’t so hard, was it?
Of the nation’s total energy use, lighting accounts for
roughly 19%, with 71% of that lighting energy spent
in residences and the other 29% consumed in the
commercial and industrial sectors. The takeaway:
the gross majority of our country’s lighting power
is eaten up in our homes – making improving
residential lighting an obvious choice when
targeting areas to improve energy efficiency. And
there’s a second reason to target residential lighting:
the primary lighting instrument used in residential
lighting applications, the incandescent “A” lamp, is
inherently inefficient.
The A lamp has remained largely unchanged since its
inception in the 1800s. In short, a tightly coiled wire
filament is placed in a glass bulb filled with inert gas. As
electricity flows through the lamp, the filament actually
resists the flow, causing it to heat until it glows, or
“incandesces”. This method is extremely ineffective; its
job is to create light, but because of this resistance only
10% of the energy it consumes is actually converted
into visible light. The other 90% of the energy is emitted
as heat - AKA, waste. The metric we use to define
how well a light source does its primary job – or, how
much visible light (lumens) a source produces per watt
consumed, is called “luminous efficacy,” and the higher
the efficacy the more efficient the source. Incandescent
lamps have efficacies of roughly 12 lumens/watt, while
newer alternative technologies like CFLs and LEDs
have efficacies several times that amount.
(Source: GE)
Option 2: Swap out your A lamp for an LED or a CFL
for even more energy savings.
Premature introduction to the market with poor
consumer education has given both of these
technologies a bad rap, and the importance of
making informed decisions when using either can’t be
overstated. However, both technologies have stabilized
and are perfectly good replacements for incandescent
A lamps in many household applications, like table and
floor lamps, pendants, and surface mounted ceiling
or wall luminaires. The DOE has made selecting an
appropriate, high-quality replacement lamp easier
by requiring a “Lighting Facts” label on all packaging
indicating light output, wattage, color temperature and
color accuracy.
(Source: Philips)
So, if there are more energy efficient solutions, which
obviously translate to lower energy consumption
followed by lower electric bills, why are We The People
so reluctant to give up our A lamps? Chiefly, because
they’re familiar, they’re cheap, and we don’t know any
better. But with the legislation in full effect, it’s time to
get savvy on our options to make the switch as painless
as possible.
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3. If you’re controlling the new source with a dimmer,
check for dimming compatibility (which is available
from all reputable lamp manufacturers). Dimmer
companies like Lutron and Leviton have done a great
job introducing new products for these sources that are
reliable and reasonably priced. If you’re concerned
about the toxicity of CFL mercury content or return on
investment given the increased upfront costs of these
alternatives, click the embedded links for some great
articles that will put your mind at ease.
As constituents, we all want to know the policies being
created in Washington D.C. not only trend positively
for the greater Union, but also have a direct and
constructive effect on our own personal lives. The
lighting efficiency requirements in the 2007 Energy
Independence and Security Act empower our country
to decrease our consumption of natural resources
while concurrently keeping more money in the wallets
of the American people. Seems like a bright idea to
this lighting designer.
Written by Sara Schonour
Option 3: Rethink your lamp choice.
Are you using an incandescent A lamp in a recessed
downlight? If you are, you’re already wasting about 50%
of what little lighting power the omni-directional shape
emits. Choose a reflector style PAR incandescent
lamp (not on the phase-out list) instead, which directs
all of its light in the right direction, or take it one step
further and consider an LED or CFL PAR replacement
to save up to 80% of the consumed electricity.
Lighting can be a complex topic - we’re here to help! If
you have questions about this article or anything relating to
the world of lighting design, don’t hesitate to reach out to a
member of the CannonDesign Lighting Studio.
Haley Darst, Intern LC, Jr. Assoc. IALD, EIT, LEED BD+C
Boston
Carina J. Grega
New York City
Sara Schonour, LC, Assoc. IALD, EIT, LEED AP, CDT
Boston
Option 4: Hoard the phased-out lamps while you still
can.
While it’s not the preferred option, it’s certainly one you
can choose to take, as stores are allowed to sell their
stock of existing A lamps until they run out. If you’ve
got the closet space and enjoy overpaying for lighting
in your home, stockpiling inefficient light bulbs is your
American right.
Raisa Shigol, LC
Chicago
Ray Soto, LC, LEED AP, CDT
Grand Island
Kate St. Laurent, LC
Boston
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