For the last several years, the federal government has implemented new energy efficiency standards for lighting products. The changes have essentially eliminated incandescent and halogen lighting products in the United States. Now, the Department of Energy is planning to raise standards on everyday light bulbs again, focusing even more on LED products and reducing the use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).These decisions, initially outlined in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, change the future of the lighting industry. Manufacturers are now faced with a new challenge to focus primarily on energy-efficient products. Available products will primarily consist of LEDs.
What now? First, we'll dive into the complicated timeline of how we got here.
Then, we'll take a look at the requirements that essentially eliminate most incandescent, halogen, and CFL products in the U.S. Click here to jump ahead to the requirements and the exemptions.
Finally, we'll take a look at various LED options if you currently rely on traditional products. Click here to jump ahead to our recommendations.
Light bulb requirements: How we got here
2007
President George W. Bush signed EISA (Energy Independence and Security Act), an effort to reduce lighting that's energy inefficient.
2012 - 2014
The first tier of EISA restrictions phased out 60-watt incandescent bulbs nationwide.
2017
DOE publishes a “definitions rule” to expand scope of GSILs and GSLs, effective January 1, 2020
September 2019
The Department on Energy (DOE) rolled back restrictions on GSLs and GSILs.
2020
New standards do not take effect. 15 state attorneys general sued the DOE – including California, New York City, and Washington, DC. Environmental groups sued as well.
2021
President Joe Biden's administration orders review of all standards affecting climate change
May 2022
DOE issues final rules for definitions of GSIL and GSL; enforcement discretion for phase out
2023
Full enforcement of GSLs and GSILs in effect starting August 1, 2023 (this date is earlier for manufacturers)
In 2007, President George W. Bush signed the EISA (Energy Independence and Security Act) into law. The initiative promoted energy efficiency for appliances, including light bulbs. It's important to note that most of the restrictions apply to general service lamps (GSLs), which include the most common types of residential and commercial lightbulbs. Linear fluorescent lamps and HIDs are not considered GSLs.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is tasked with updating these rules. In January 2017, the DOE passed an expansion which required GSLs to meet a minimum efficacy of 45 lumens per watt. Without all the jargon, that means lighting products must be more energy efficient. Traditional lighting products like incandescent and halogen light bulbs would no longer be for sale.
The restrictions were supposed to go into effect for ALL states on January 1, 2020. But just a few months before that – in October 2019 – the Department of Energy (DOE) withdrew the new federal definitions for general service lamps. The definition for GSLs reverted back to old standards.
The DOE's actions triggered a lawsuit from dozens of states and cities across the country. Some states decided to move forward with more energy-efficient lighting requirements. Other states decided to add restrictions to lighting products not outlined in EISA (like linear fluorescents).
In May 2022, the DOE issued final rules for GSLs and GSILs. Since then, several states have taken additional measures toward energy efficiency.
In April 2024, the DOE finalized new rules for GSLs. The new standards will go into effect in July 2028 and will raise the requirement from 45 lumens per watt to 120 lumens per watt. That's a pretty big jump, but it's the boost needed to phase out compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The DOE says the new requirements will apply to newly produced or imported general service lamps. Consumers can continue using products purchased or manufactured prior to July 2028.
The DOE also acknowledges that the new efficiency levels "can be met by a broad variety of widely available LED bulbs but not by compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), which the market is already transitioning away from. LEDs provide longer lifespans and lower electricity usage, and unlike CFLs do not contain mercury."
New requirements for incandescent and halogen products
The Department of Energy's 2022 rulings did two things:
- Added new definitions of General Service Incandescent Lamps (GSILs) and General Service Lamps (GSLs). This expansion includes LEDs and CFLs (of all base types) in the GSL standards.
- Added a 45 lumen per watt backstop for GSILs and GSLs (all CFL and LED products meet that requirement and will continue to be sold)
But the Department of Energy's 2024 rulings paved the way for the 120 lumen per watt requirement for GSLs and GSILs to go into effect in 2028.
What is a General Service Incandescent Lamp (GSIL)?
According to the DOE, a General Service Incandescent Lamp:
- Is a standard incandescent or halogen type lamp intended for general service applications
- Has a medium screw base
- Has a lumen range of 310-2600 (Modified spectrum range 232-1950 lumens)
- Is capable of being operated at a voltage range at least partially within 110 and 130 volts
Exclusions for GSILs include:
- Appliance lamp
- Bug lamp
- G-shape lamp with a diameter of 5”
- Left-hand thread lamp
- Marine signal service lamp
- Plant light lamp
- Sign service lamp
- Showcase lamp
- Black light lamp
- Colored lamp
- Infrared lamp
- Marine lamp
- Mine service lamp
- R20 short lamp
- Silver bowl lamp
- Traffic signal lamp
What is a General Service Lamp (GSL)?
According to the DOE, a General Service Lamp is a lamp (of any technology – incandescent, halogen, LED, CFL) that:
- Has an ANSI base (with the exclusion of light fixtures, LED downlight retrofit kits, and exemptions for specific base types)
- Has an initial lumen output of greater than or equal to 310 lumens (or 232 lumens for modified spectrum GSIL) and less than or equal to 3,300 lumens
- Is able to operate at a voltage of 12V or 24V, at or between 100 and 130V, at or between 220 to 240V, or of 277V for integrated lamps, or is able to operate at any voltage for non-integrated lamps
- Is not a light fixture
- Is not an LED downlight retrofit kit
- Is used in general lighting applications
Exclusions for General Service Lamps:
- Appliance lamps
- Black light lamps
- Bug lamps
- Silver bowl lamps
- Colored lamps
- G shape lamps with a diameter of 5 inches or more
- General service fluorescent lamps
- Sign service lamps
- High intensity discharge lamps
- Infrared lamps
- J, JC, JCD, JCS, JCV, JCX, JD, JS, and JT shape lamps that do not have Edison screw bases
- Showcase lamps
- Lamps that have a wedge base or prefocus base
- Left-hand thread lamps
- Marine lamps
- Specialty MR lamps
- Marine signal lamps
- Mine service lamps
- Plant light lamps
- Traffic signal lamps
- Other fluorescent lamps
- R20 short lamps
- MR shape lamps that:
- have a first number symbol equal to 16 (diameter equal to 2 inches) as defined in ANSI C79.1–2002
- operate at 12 volts, and
- have a lumen output greater than or equal to 800
- Reflector lamps that have a first number symbol less than 16 (diameter less than 2 inches) as defined in ANSIC79.1–2002, and that do not have E26/E24, E26d, E26/50x39, E26/53x39, E29/2
- S shape or G shape lamps that have a first number symbol less than or equal to 12.5 (diameter less than or equal to 1.5625 inches) as defined in ANSI C79.1-2002
- T-shape lamps that have a first number symbol less than or equal to 8 (diameter less than or equal to 1 inch), nominal overall length less than 12 inches, and that are not compact fluorescent lamps
Some of the exemptions above have tighter restrictions with the latest federal updates. For example, there is now a minimum wattage for infrared heat lamps that will result in some lower wattage heat lamps being discontinued without equivalent wattage replacements.
What is EISA?
President George W. Bush signed EISA (Energy Independence and Security Act) in 2007. The intention was to promote energy efficiency throughout the country.
The first round of EISA restrictions rolled out between 2012 and 2014. That officially eliminated the 60-watt incandescent light bulb.
The EPA says EISA aims to:
- move the United States toward greater energy independence and security;
- increase the production of clean renewable fuels;
- protect consumers;
- increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles;
- promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options;
- improve the energy performance of the Federal Government; and
- increase U.S. energy security, develop renewable fuel production, and improve vehicle fuel economy.
Now, it's up to the DOE to regulate and update measures to improve energy efficiency.
What's next: How to meet new lighting requirements
The safest option to meet the continuously changing lighting requirements is to purchase solely LED products unless you are looking for specialty products.
I need CFLs, incandescent or halogen bulbs. What are my options?
If you need incandescent or halogen bulbs (outside of those included in the exemptions), they are no longer for sale. The only option is to update to LEDs.
If you need CFLs, you still have time. Most CFLs will still be for sale until July 2028. But if you're planning ahead, use this step-by-step wizard to find recommendations for LEDs to replace existing pin-base CFLs.
On our website at shop.regencysupply.com, we also offer suggestions for state-based compliant replacement products. Simply search for the product you typically buy and look for the "show compliant replacement products" option.
If you have a commercial building with hundreds of CFL products, now is a good time to go ahead and upgrade your lighting. Our lighting experts have years of experience and can provide the best options for your application. Contact us to get started today.
