Last month, LightNOW reported that the Trump Administration negated an Obama-era rule that would expand the definition of general-service lamps to include incandescent reflector lamps and several previously exempted lamp types. In even bigger news, a second rulemaking resulting in no new energy standards for incandescent lamps, DOE indicated that the January 2020 backstop provision for a higher standard of 45 lumens/W for all general-service lamps would not automatically trigger, which would have eliminated a majority of halogen A-lamps.
On September 12, President Trump addressed a group of Republican lawmakers in Baltimore about major policy accomplishments, and included the following remarks about energy-efficient lamps:
The president said:
The lightbulb … People said: ‘what’s with the lightbulb?’ I said: ‘here’s the story.’ And I looked at it. The bulb that we’re being forced to use! No. 1, to me, most importantly, the light’s no good. I always look orange. And so do you! The light is the worst…
He added that energy-efficient lamps are “many times more expensive” than incandescent lamps, and complained about the process of disposal if the lamp breaks.
What are we doing? It’s considered hazardous waste, but it’s many times more expensive and frankly the light is not as good. So we’re going to sell them, but we’re also going to sell incandescent bulbs. People are very happy about it. It’s amazing.
Fact-checking website Politifact took Trump’s remarks to task here, while FactCheck.org did so here.
For those in the lighting industry, the president’s remarks are obviously misleading, repeating political talking points that should have died long ago. While compact fluorescent lamps are limited in lighting quality and contain mercury, LED lamps have far surpassed CFLs in capabilities while dramatically dropping in price (to around $3 compared to $1 for an incandescent), and they contain no mercury.
According to NEMA, CFL sales accounted for less than 5% of the A-lamp market in the first quarter of 2019, and LED lamps dominated the market at 71%, an obvious indicator of their popularity. Triggering the backstop provision would have targeted the remaining 25% to generate significant additional consumer energy savings and reduce carbon emissions, a fact energy and environmental groups has pointed out. NEMA has argued that the market has shifted to LED on its own and will continue to do so, making new regulation unnecessary.
Unfortunately, energy efficiency, which should be a bipartisan goal and often has been, has become politicized, making the job of educating the public about lighting even harder.
