EISA Sets Standards for Lighting the Future

Since the invention of electric light, the incandescent lamp has been the standard.  Why?  They are cheap to produce, can be made in a wide range of sizes, and require no external regulating equipment.  The trouble is that incandescent lamps are based on a design that was developed over a century ago and the majority of their electrical energy consumption produces heat, not light.  If we wanted them to heat our house, this would be a good thing.  For a light source though, this is very inefficient.

In an effort to reduce energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and dependence on foreign sources of energy, the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) was passed and signed into law in 2007.  As a result of this law, regulations will set minimum efficacy standards and, for the first time, a minimum rated life of 1,000 hours for general services incandescent lamps.  Since most incandescent lamps cannot meet these requirements, several of the most popular ones will be phased-out by January 1, 2014.

It is estimated that the average household will save approximately 1300 kWh of energy (or $143 on electric bills) per year by replacing their incandescents with newer, more energy efficient lamps.  If these incandescents were replaced on a national scale, U.S. households will save a combined $15.8 billion on electric bills and eliminate the equivalent emissions of 16.5 million cars and light trucks.

You need not wait for the old incandescent lamps to go away, today there are a variety of halogen, CFL, and solid state (LED) technologies that will reduce energy use, improve lamp life, and save money on electric bills.  It’s never too early to start lighting the future.

To find our more about EISA and energy efficient lighting upgrades, visit www.nemasavesenergy.com.