(Bloomberg) —
Compact fluorescent light bulbs — once considered corkscrew-shaped emblems of the clean-energy transition — will effectively be phased out under a Biden administration rule finalized Friday that sets new requirements for the most commonly used types of lighting.
The requirements, which go into effect in July 2028, more than double current energy efficiency standards for the most widely sold residential and commercial bulbs. The rule, which also increases the efficiency of LED bulbs, will save an estimated $1.6 billion annually in household energy costs and slash greenhouse gas emissions, the Energy Department said.
The rule was mandated by Congress as part of energy legislation signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007, which already led to the phase-out of most incandescent light bulbs last year. The change comes as efficiency standards for household appliances such as gas stoves have drawn scrutiny and Republican opposition.
“Making common household appliances more efficient is one of the most effective ways to slash energy costs and cut harmful carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.
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