House Plans to Overturn Bulb Ban

While the bulb ban has excited many environmentalists and LED lighting enthusiasts, many are not so happy about it. And, it’s just not consumers stuck on the traditional incandescent light bulbs that don’t favor the change. Apparently, the U.S. House of Representatives are not entirely crazy about the energy saving plan. The House is voting to end the rules on President Bush’s Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The Act set efficiency standards for light bulbs at 45 lm/W or more, which essentially eliminates use of conventional incandescent light bulbs. According to the ban, the only incandescent light bulbs that could be used are halogen-based incandescents.

The House Republicans insist that U.S. consumers should have the option to buy any type of bulb they want, especially the incandescent light bulb, which is both reliable and inexpensive.

To thwart the energy efficiency standards of the ban, Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas) introduced the Better Use of Light Act (BULB) Act on July 6. The BULB Act cancels Subtitle B of Title III of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which declares the performance standards for light bulbs.

Barton argues that the government is out of bounds with the 2007 Ban: “The unanticipated consequence of the ’07 act — Washington-mandated layoffs in the middle of a desperate recession — is one of many examples of what happens when politicians and activists think they know better than consumers and workers.”

How about you? What do you think? Well, if you’re rooting for the energy efficient ban, you don’t have to throw in the towel yet. The BULB Act will still need two-thirds majority to pass. On the other side of all this are the Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee, who are pushing to oppose the bill.

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