Mercury Vapor Lamp Ballasts

In 2005, Congress passed a law banning sale of mercury vapor ballasts as of 2008.  No new fixtures can be sold, and as existing ballasts burn out, they must be replaced with other lamp types. Mercury vapor lamps are an old type of high intensity discharge (HID) lamp that are less efficient than the now widely used metal halide and high pressure sodium lamps. 

Timeline

Federal Date States
1st Federal Standard Effective 2008
2007 RI Standard Effective
EPACT Initial Federal Legislation Enacted 2005
2005 RI Standard Adopted
1st Federal Standard Adopted (Congress) 2005

Timeline reflects state standards from 2001 to present; federal standards from inception to present.