Impacts of the 2020 Federal Light Bulb Efficiency Standard

 Association of Energy Services Professionals. 
Starting January 1, 2020, it will be against the law to sell most halogen and incandescent light bulbs in the U.S. An existing federal minimum energy efficiency standard of 45 lumens per watt (LPW) comes into effect on this date and no currently available halogen or incandescent lamps are able to meet it. Federal law allowed California to implement the 45 LPW GSL standard effective January 1, 2018. The California and federal standards accelerate a transition to light emitting diode (LED) light bulbs already underway. This transition will eventually make most residential lighting efficiency programs no longer cost-effective. Since the change in federal administration, there has been some uncertainty in the energy efficiency community about these standards, and their effects on the U.S. light bulb market. This article seeks to answer some common questions about the standards, and to provide some clarity about potential market impacts.