Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Raising Efficiency Standard for Light Bulbs

The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), proposed stronger efficiency standards for light bulbs, also known as general service lamps, to conserve energy and cut energy bills for American families and consumers. With this announcement, the Administration has now taken more than 110 actions this year to strengthen energy efficiency standards and save the average family at least $100 annually through lower energy bills in the years to come.

Collectively these energy efficiency actions will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2.4 billion metric tons and save consumers $570 billion cumulatively over 30 years, and represent a key pillar of the President’s strategy to tackle the climate crisis while lowering costs for families.  

The proposed rule significantly raises the minimum lightbulb efficiency level, from 45 to over 120 lumens per watt for the most common bulbs. Earlier this year, DOE implemented a near-term phaseout of inefficient incandescent bulbs. Today’s new rule will accelerate the transition away from compact fluorescent bulbs as well, toward more efficient and long-lasting LED bulbs that deliver significant savings and that the lighting industry is already embracing. DOE estimates that the new rule, if adopted within the proposed timeframe, will deliver consumer benefits of up to $20 billion dollars and conserve roughly 4 quadrillion British thermal units of energy in the 30 years after its implementation.

The new rule also advances President Biden’s goal to achieve a net-zero emissions economy by no later than 2050. DOE estimates that over 30 years, the proposed standards would result in cumulative emission reductions of 131 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and 903 thousand tons of methane—an amount roughly equal to the electricity use of 29 million homes in one year.

DOE will host a webinar on February 1, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. ET to solicit feedback on DOE’s proposed rulemaking from interested parties. Visit the general service lamp rulemaking page to find out more information about webinar registration and this rulemaking. DOE’s Building Technologies Office implements minimum energy conservation standards for more than 60 categories of appliances and equipment, including furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps, lighting, water heaters, household appliances, commercial refrigeration equipment, and many more.