It was only recently that incandescent lamps were rendered obsolete. Now fluorescent lamps are due for an upgrade.


The quest for maximum energy efficiency is ongoing, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced new efficiency standards for general service fluorescent bulbs (GSFLs) in December.


Typically, GSFLs are used for indoor lighting in homes, restaurants and factories. According to the DOE, their usage ranges from approximately 630 hours per year in the home to about 4,000 hours per year in restaurants and other commercial establishments, and even 4,500 hours per year in industrial buildings. Based on that approximate usage, the DOE estimates that the new standards will save U.S. residents more than $15 billion on their electricity bills through 2030.


The standards impose an increase in the efficiency of GSFLs, as measured by minimum lumen output per watt of lamp. The increase from previous standards ranges from 0.8 percent to 10.5 percent, depending on lamp type. The DOE estimates that consumers will save on average approximately $4 to $6 in average life cycle costs per lamp. The DOE also estimates that the new standards will result in an energy-use savings of about 7 percent over a 30-year period, once the new lamps are installed.


The new GSFL standards are one of 10 that the DOE has implemented this year as part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. The DOE projects that the combined effect of those 10 standards will save American homes and businesses $78 billion in electricity bills through 2030. Additionally, since the beginning of the Obama administration, the DOE has finalized new efficiency standards for more than 30 household and commercial products, including dishwashers, refrigerators, and water heaters, which it estimates will save consumers almost $480 billion through 2030.