FYI, sent from a US Congressman's office. May have been updated since 2007.
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Thank you for contacting me about energy use and light bulbs. With the passage of the energy bill, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (H.R.6), I appreciate the opportunity to update you on this important issue.
The energy bill, which the President signed into law on December 19, 2007, represents a bold change of direction in our energy policy. It calls for the first significant increase in corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for cars and light trucks ins over 30 years, to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. It also calls for stronger appliance efficiency standards, including a revolutionary new light bulb standard. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, by the year 2020, the light bulb standard alone is expected to lower consumers' annual electricity bills by more than $13 billion and save more than 140 billion kilowatt hours of energy per year.
The energy bill does not ban incandescent light bulbs. Instead, it raises the efficiency standards of incandescent bulbs that will be manufactured in the future. As long as the next generation of incandescent bulbs satisfies efficiency requirements, incandescent bulbs will still be available to consumers. The energy bill also includes exemptions for many types of commonly used incandescent bulbs.
Also available are Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs), halogen bulbs and LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs. These bulbs provide a wide range of options for customers to choose from depending on brightness, cost, and aesthetics. While CFLs, for example, cost two or three more dollars initially, over the life time of the light bulb each CFL will cost approximately $40 less than a traditional incandescent bulb through savings in electricity and bulb replacement costs. The mercury present in CFLs is a small fraction of the amount contained in other common household items such as older thermometers, and bulbs can be recycled at Home Depot, TruValue and Ace Hardware. An additional list of recycling locations can be found listed by town on the Environmental Protection Agency website at:
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/ead/mercury/dispose/lamprecycleproject.htm.
In terms of an overall energy policy energy efficiency and conservation are some of the most-easily implemented policies to cut the amount of energy we use in the short term. Conserving and using energy more efficiently are actions that every individual can take right now to cut their electricity use, and save money in the process.
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