,0 Energy-saving national lighting standards first passed in 2007 have survived a repeal effort, but continued opposition in Congress may mean their enforcement falls to the states.
The federal law requiring more energy-efficient light bulbs will be phased in starting in January. The new standards will save the nation an estimated $12.5 billion a year — – $85 a year for the average American family — and is expected to help reduce pollution by 2020, when the law is fully implemented, according to research by the nonprofit National Resources Defense Council.
In New Jersey the expected household savings is higher — $125 — because of higher energy use than other states. Statewide, the council projects savings of $447 million.
Conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives suffered a July 12 defeat in their initial effort to repeal those lighting standards, a move the defense council viewed as a victory for consumers, businesses and the environment.
But a week ago today, the House refused by voice vote to allow the U.S. Department of Energy to fund enforcement of the new requirements.
The failed repeal effort came on a separate GOP bill introduced at the last minute. Republican Rep. Michael Burgess of Texas pushed the enforcement measure that he attached as a rider to the appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Energy.
The GOP inserted the enforcement measure and 50 anti-environment riders to another critical appropriations bill for the Department of Environmental Protection.
Bob Keefe of the resources defense council called the GOP tactics “strictly political.”
“Even though these 2007 standards were passed by unanimous majorities among Republicans and Democrats and signed into law by President George W. Bush, conservative Republicans have turned it into a political issue by saying it is big government trying to take your light bulbs away.
“That’s not the case,” Keefe explained. “They are just trying to make them more efficient. We hope the Senate will be more logical than the House.”
It is unclear how or when the Senate will address the enforcement issue.
But Jim Presswood, federal energy policy director for the resources defense council, said if federal enforcement is hampered, the standards can still be enforced by the states.
“It is hard to tell the overall impact, but this situation is not helpful because it creates uncertainty in the marketplace and takes the Department of Energy out of the picture,” he said.
Penalties against manufacturers for failing to meet energy standards range from $200 to a maximum $500,000 for product violations. Manufacturers can also be cited for failure to file certain required product reports with the federal government.
“It’s ridiculous” John Krawice, counter manager at Broadway Electric and Supply Co. of Woodbury, said of the congressional repeal effort, “because a lot of manufacturers are already doing this — preparing to make new bulbs.
“The standards have been out for years and everybody has them.”
The state Board of Public Utilities does not have enforcement powers and the state has no department of energy.
“We encourage energy efficiency as part of the state energy master plan to reduce pressure on the power grid and the cost of electricity. The cheapest electricity is that which does not have to be produced,” said BPU spokesman Greg Reinert.
He said the agency supports the Porchlight Program that distributes free energy-efficient bulbs in the community and another program that sells discounted energy-efficient bulbs to employees of large companies.
The 2007 Energy Bill mandates traditional incandescent light bulbs must be 25 to 30 percent more energy-efficient by 2014 and 65 to 70 percent more efficient by 2020, eventually making them as efficient as today’s newer compact fluorescents (CFLs).
The old-fashioned bulbs lose 90 percent of their energy through heat, according to energy experts.
Since the estimated household savings is based on the new incandescent standards, consumers in New Jersey and elsewhere could save even more if they switch to other bulb alternatives such as the CFL or light-emitting diode (LED).
Caren Johnson, spokeswoman for Public Service Electric and Gas Co., said PSEG has already been encouraging consumers to switch to the more energy-efficient CFL.
“As a way of dealing with climate change, you reduce greenhouse gases with better energy use and conservation reduces the number of energy plants needed,” Johnson said.
She said lighting traditionally accounts for 9 percent of a household utility bill and the impact of newer bulb use will be gradual since older-type bulbs can still be used.
A USA Today poll early this year found most Americans agree with the new law. Of the 16 percent who disliked the newer light bulbs, the reasons given most often were that the light is not bright enough and the bulbs are too expensive.
The standard 100-watt incandescent bulb will be the first to go because U.S. companies cannot manufacture it next year.
Manufacturers such as Sylvania are replacing the 100-watt with a next-generation incandescent filled with halogen that uses 72 watts of electricity but produces light intensity equivalent to or brighter than the traditional 100-watt bulb. Manufacturers already have been supplying stores with lower wattage standard bulbs as another energy-saving tactic, said Shaun Cook, branch manager of Billows Electric Supply and Lighting Design Center in Berlin Township.
For example, he said a standard 60-watt has been reduced to 57 watts and the 100-watt is now 95 watts. They lessen brightness a bit but save energy.
“We still have plenty of these bulbs,” Cook said. “A lot of people are not happy with the light output of compact fluorescents because they take longer to warm up and some do not like the color they throw off.
“They want what they’re used to.”
He said LED “scares” consumers because of its price: Bulbs can range from $40 to $50 but last up to 20 years based on average use.
At the check-out counter at Broadway Electric Co. in downtown Woodbury, a light display with an operating electric meter shows the difference in kilowatt hour use for different types of bulbs.
Its horizontal dial moves quickest when recording energy used in a socket holding the old-fashioned incandescent bulb — today almost identical to the bulb Thomas Edison invented 125 years ago in New Jersey.
The dial moves slower with the 23-watt twisted CFL and barely moves with an LED in the socket.
“Men come in and buy compact fluorescents to reduce their energy bills, but women prefer more of a warm light feeling or candle-feel, so they like the incandescent or a subdued compact fluorescent,” said Genevieve Berstecher, an employee at Broadway Electric.
“And seniors like incandescents because they want as much light as possible.”
Not all traditional incandescents will be eliminated. Unique bulbs for candelabra, appliances, globes, showcases, three-way lamps, bug lights and plant lights will still be available, according to EPA guidelines.
Store managers say the CFL is the best value energy-wise for customers because it uses one-fourth the energy of an incandescent bulb and lasts up to six times longer, depending on daily usage.
A 23-watt CFL can save half the energy a standard 100-watt uses in a single year and $60 in lower electricity costs over a six-year life.
The new improved halogen incandescent will save only $14, but some consumers may prefer it because it casts a more traditional lighting hue.
While they save on utility bills, the downside of halogen, CFLs and LEDs is their upfront cost.
A standard 60-watt incandescent bulb may cost 40 to 50 cents compared with $2 to $3 for a compact fluorescent and considerably more — $40 to $50 — for an LED.
There are other drawbacks to CFLs. They cannot be used with a dimmer and they are more hazardous because they contain a small amount of mercury.
“It is illegal to put them them into the trash and no light bulb should ever be put into a recycling bucket,” said Ann Moore, recycling coordinator for Burlington County.
She said the public can drop the bulbs off at a Home Depot or other home improvement center for recycling. They can also be taken to a county hazardous waste collection site or to hazardous waste collection events. Gloucester County holds four a year.
Governments at all levels have been converting to more “green energy” lighting for several years and installing new bulbs in offices and in traffic signals.
For example, the Camden County Board of Freeholders has spent more than $1 million installing CFLs and LEDs in old and new light fixtures and expects to cut its energy consumption by the same amount.
“The board puts a high priority on environmental and green initiatives that help improve quality of life for all our residents,” said Freeholder Jeff Nash.
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