How the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 Affects Light Bulbs

Inefficient Light Bulbs are Being Phased Out

Basics of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, as it pertains to lighting and light bulbs:

• It does not ban the use or purchase of incandescent bulbs.

• It does not ban the sale or manufacture of ALL incandescent bulbs, just those common household incandescent (and other) bulbs that are not energy-efficient.

• It does not require the use of compact fluorescent bulbs.

• It requires about 25 percent greater efficiency (that is, 25 percent less energy use) for household light bulbs that have traditionally used between 40 and 100 watts of electricity.

• Many bulbs, including specialty bulbs, three-way bulbs, chandelier bulbs, refrigerator bulbs, plant grow lights and others, are exempt from the law's requirements.

• It was passed by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush in 2007 and is implemented by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

• It includes many other provisions that do not pertain to lighting. Some of these provisions call for:
  • higher gas mileage in automobiles;
  • transportation electrification;
  • increased reliance on biofuels; and
  • training for green jobs.

Recent Regulatory Updates Affecting Incandescent Bulbs

Background: Title III, Part B of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other than Automobiles. Amendments to EPCA in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) directed DOE to evaluate energy conservation standards for "general service lamps", which are defined in EPCA to include general service incandescent lamps (GSILs), compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), general service light-emitting diode (LED) lamps and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) lamps, and any other lamps that DOE determines are used to satisfy lighting applications traditionally served by general service incandescent lamps.

• In January 2017, DOE under the Obama administration issued two regulations under the EISA amendments.  These regulations revised the definitions of the general service lamps (GSLs) and general service incandescent lamps (GSILs) subject to EPCA to include:
  • incandescent reflector bulbs and 
  • candle-shaped bulbs used in chandeliers, reflector bulbs used in recessed lighting, three-way incandescent bulbs, and certain other specialty bulbs. 

  These regulations would have taken effect in January 2020.

• In February 2019, DOE under the Trump administration issued a proposal to withdraw the January 2017 regulations, on the basis that the legal rationale underlying those revisions misconstrued existing law.   
• In September 2019, DOE under the Trump administration determined that the EPCA standards do not need to be amended and withdrew the 2017 regulations, effective October 7, 2019 .  
• In December 2019, DOE under the Trump administration determined that amended energy conservation standards for general service incandescent lamps would not be economically justified, and rejected the adoption of amended energy conservation standards for these lamps. 
• Learn more on DOE's Appliance and Equipment Standards Rulemakings and Notices page.  

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