The first change will be applied to 100 watt everyday incandescent light bulbs, which will have to use no more than 72 watts to produce a comparable brightness. A similar regulation will be applied to other bulbs over the coming years.
Labeling will also be affected. According to new packaging requirements, descriptions of light bulbs will also change, and will presented in lumens instead of watts. The requirement was issued by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to manufacturers of incandescent, compact fluorescent and LED light bulbs, who’ve been told to use new labeling on consumer packaging by mid-2011 “to help consumers choose the most efficient bulbs for their needs.â€
“While watt measurements are familiar to consumers and have been featured on the front of light bulb packages for decades, watts are a measurement of energy use, not brightness,†stated the FTC in its press release. “As a result, reliance on watt measurements alone make it difficult for consumers to compare traditional incandescent bulbs to more efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescents.â€
The new labels will also include lighting facts similar to nutrition facts on food packages. These include details about brightness, energy cost, life expectancy, light appearance (warm or cool, for instance), wattage and mercury content.
To find out more about environmentally friendly lights, check out our solar lights section.
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