The Federal Trade Commission today announced that starting in mid-2011, consumers shopping for light bulbs will notice new labeling on packaging designed to help them choose among the different types of bulbs on the market – traditional incandescent lamps, CFLs and LED lamps. The new labels will enable consumers to save money by selecting the most efficient lamps that best fit their lighting needs.

Under direction from Congress to re-examine the current labels, the FTC is announcing a final rule that will require the new labels on lamp packages. For the first time, the label on the front of the package will emphasize the lamp’s brightness as measured in lumens, rather than a measurement of watts. The new front-of-package labels also will include the estimated yearly energy cost for the particular type of bulb.

While watt measurements are familiar to consumers and have been featured on the front of lamp packages for decades, watts are a measurement of energy use, not light output. As a result, reliance on watt measurements alone make it difficult for consumers to compare traditional incandescent lamps to more efficient lamps, such as compact fluorescents. A CFL may be able to produce the same amount of light as a traditional incandescent lamp, while using significantly less wattage. New energy standards mandated by Congress will effectively phase out traditional low-efficiency incandescent lamps from the U.S. market over the next few years. The new labels that focus on lumens will help consumers make purchasing decisions as they transition to more energy-efficient lamp types.

Under the new rule, the back of each package of light bulbs will have a “Lighting Facts” label modeled after the “Nutrition Facts” label that is currently on food packages. The Lighting Facts label will provide information about:

• light output;
• energy cost;
• the lamp’s rated life;
• color tone (temperature);
• input watts; and
• whether the bulb contains mercury.

The lamp’s lumen rating and a disclosure for lamps containing mercury will also be printed on the lamp itself.

The new labeling requirements become effective one year from the date they are issued. The FTC also is seeking public comments on several issues that might be relevant to future changes to light bulb labeling requirements, such as whether new labeling requirements should be applied to candelabra lamps.

Information on how to submit public comments can be found in a Federal Register notice that will be issued by the FTC and is available at: http://www.ftc.gov/os/2010/06/P084206lamplabeling.pdf. The FTC will have more detailed information and consumer education available about the new labels early next year.

Craig DiLouie

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