New bulb law a bright idea for consumers

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

July 31, 2011

(istockphoto )

JEFF JACOBY’S assertion in his July 17 op-ed, “How many lawmakers does it take to… ,’’ implies that the 2007 federal energy efficiency law will ban incandescent light bulbs. This is actually not the case, and is a common misunderstanding of the legislation. With this law consumers now have more choice than ever before, including new energy-efficient incandescent light bulbs that meet the new requirements.

Already on retail shelves and selling for as little as $1.49, energy-efficient incandescents look and feel the same as the light bulbs consumers have been using for more than 100 years, but they use almost 30 percent less energy. They are no more fragile than their traditional incandescent sibling, and some can last as much as 3,000 hours, or three times longer than Edison’s bulb.

Even compact fluorescent bulbs have been greatly improved over the years in both performance and light quality, including new silicone-covered versions that are shatter resistant and self-contained should the bulb break.

Our company’s innovation in energy-efficient bulbs is in direct response to consumer demand for longer-lasting, more energy-efficient products. We consistently work to improve their development and help lower their cost, while trying to be mindful of how their operation and recycling will impact the environment.

The savings from these new choices are a direct result of government, business, and industry working together to drive innovation and improve energy efficiency. At a time when families are struggling with high energy costs, these new minimum efficiency levels will lower our nation’s electricity bills by over $12 billion per year. That’s about $100 per year for every American family.

Zia Eftekhar
CEO, Philips Lighting North America
Burlington

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