Lighting standards expanded

Final rules for lighting include energy conservation standards, which could lead to huge financial savings according to President Obama.

By Eli Kaberon July 1, 2009

Within President Barack Obama’s expanded energy plan are the final rulings on standards for efficient lighting. These new standards explain specifically the test procedures to be used on general service fluorescent lamps, incandescent reflector lamps, and general service incandescent lamps. The U.S. Dept. of Energy states that 7% of all energy used in the United States comes from lighting.

The final rule does not take effect until 2012, but several standard levels are being adjusted currently. Tables representing changes in the energy conservation standards for fluorescent and incandescent lights appear in the plan, specifying what the correlated color temperature should be for various types of lamps. Each table also outlines conservation standard in lumens/Watt for the lighting varieties.

President Obama said the new plan would save consumers and businesses billions of dollars, an estimated $1 billion to $4 billion per year between 2012 and 2042, which was previously spent on wasted energy. Nearly 75% of the countries buildings were constructed prior to 1979, meaning they are not using the latest technology for energy and lighting conservation.