DOE Adopts Two Final Rules Setting Stricter Energy Efficiency Standards for Light Bulbs

On April 26, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) finalized two rules reversing the previous administration’s rollback of energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. In the first rule, DOE has codified a 45 lumens per watt (“lm/W”) backstop energy efficiency requirement for general service lamps (“GSLs”) that Congress prescribed in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. In the second rule, DOE has reinstated rescinded definitional rules pertaining to “general service lamps” and “general service incandescent lamps” to expand the types of light bulbs that will be covered by the more stringent standards.

Both of these rules reverse rollbacks put in place under the previous administration In January 2017 DOE had finalized regulations expanding the types of light bulbs subject to energy efficiency standards under the Environmental Policy and Conservation Act by redefining "general service lamp" and strengthened standards to phase out less-efficient incandescent light bulbs. These regulations were scheduled to come into effect in January 2020. In late 2019, DOE repealed those rules and blocked the phaseout of incandescent light bulbs.