July 11, 2011
House Vote Today Threatens Money-Saving Energy Standards
WASHINGTON – Legislative efforts to repeal energy efficiency standards estimated to save consumers billions of dollars in energy costs will reach the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote today. Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, calls on lawmakers to reject these attempts to do away with the bipartisan standards that would require increased energy efficiency in light bulbs and other appliances by voting no on the BULB Act (HR 2417).
Michelle Schaefer of Consumers Union, said “The lighting standards scheduled to go in to effect next year could help to save consumers billions of dollars in energy costs while helping to reduce utility bills and ease the strain on American pocketbooks. Lighting accounts for 10 to 15% of household electricity use, and is one of the cheapest efficiency upgrades available to consumers. By repealing these standards, we would increase consumer energy costs, waste energy, and diminish the lighting choices available to consumers. That’s why we strongly believe that Congress should continue to move efficiency standards forward, not backward, by opposing the BULB Act.”
The new lighting standards, passed in 2007 and signed in to law by President Bush, do not ban incandescent bulbs. Rather, these standards are technology-neutral, and manufacturers have already developed more efficient incandescent bulbs that are available and on the market today. Efficient options that meet the new standard include a wide variety of technologies and high quality bulbs, many of which are dimmable, can withstand cold, are long-lasting, and come in a range of intensity and colors.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), which represents companies that manufacture light bulbs, has endorsed the 2007 efficient lighting standards and spoken out against HR 2417. Consumers Union joined other groups in an advertisement against the BULB Act that ran today in top Washington publications. Click here to see the advertisement.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the BULB Act later today.
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Media Contact: Kara Kelber, kkelber@consumer.org or David Butler, dbutler@consumer.org