President Obama Announces New Lighting Standards: Largest Energy Saver in History

WASHINGTON (June 29, 2009) - President Obama announced new federal lighting standards today that will save 11.3 quads of energy, which is the single largest energy savings appliance standard ever enacted by the United States Department of Energy (DOE), according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The new lighting standards will cut energy costs by $70 billion and keep over 9 tons of mercury out of the air over 30 years. The standards will improve the efficiency of tube-shaped fluorescent bulbs commonly found in offices across the country, as well as downlights, the reflector lamps that go into the recessed cans, which are increasingly popular in homes. The standards were more than a decade out of date and subject to deadlines stemming from an NRDC lawsuit in 2006.

Following is a statement by Lane Burt, Energy Policy Analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council:

"The lights that shine above our desks at work and in our kitchens during family meals will soon illuminate a brighter energy future for America. This new rule will reduce utility bills, create new jobs and cut global warming pollution.

"This rule ups the ante on what can be achieved with energy-smart policies.  We have the technology to cut our lighting bills by $70 billion and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 600 million metric tons over the next few decades - and now we will see that achieved.

"Today's announcement marks the single greatest energy-efficiency measure in the history of the DOE. And we look forward to them breaking their own record in years to come."