Biden administration considers stricter lightbulb regulations in push towards more energy-efficient LEDs

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The regulations would broaden the range of lightbulbs to include cone, globe and candle-shaped bulbs and are part of the Biden administration’s effort to increase energy efficiency. The DOE proposal to change bulb policy comes in the wake of a devastating climate report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – predicting even more dire environmental consequences in the next few decade if drastic change is not taken – and a Biden commitment to battle the climate crisis. By 2027, widespread use of LEDs could save about 348 TWh of electricity: This is the equivalent annual electrical output of 44 large electric power plants, and a total savings of more than $30billion at today’s electricity prices.” While new regulations could be a further step in the right direction, a recent study from climate change centres at Yale and George Washington Universities showed that, while Americans may be more vocal than active about their commitment to climate responsibility, they have started to make smart choices in their homes. The survey, conducted in March, found that a whopping 89 per cent of respondents said they use energy-efficient lightbulbs in their homes, while 52 per cent said they’d deliberately purchased an energy-efficient kitchen appliance.