Two Important Rules About General Service Lamps and Federal Restrictions

In an ongoing effort to conserve energy, two new rules have been adopted by the United States Department of Energy regarding the definition, production and sales of general service lamps. So what does it all mean and how are you affected?

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​1. The sale of general service lamps is prohibited after July 31, 2023.

Since 2007 when President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), we’ve known that incandescent and halogen technologies were being phased out to encourage more energy-efficient options. This act required manufacturers to stop producing certain types of bulbs, however it still allowed retailers to sell their existing inventory. This new rule changes that and prohibits the sale of general service lamps after July 31, 2023.

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2. General service lamps must produce a minimum of 45 lumens per watt.

This rule expands on the discontinuation of incandescent and halogen technologies and can include certain CFL, fluorescent and even LED bulbs.

​​Lumens measure the brightness of a bulb and watts measure how much electricity is used to achieve that brightness. The amount of lumens per watt is the amount of light produced for every watt of energy consumed.
 
The example below shows a 60 watt incandescent bulb that gives off 800 lumens and a 9 watt LED bulb that gives off 852 lumens. This means these bulbs produce around the same amount of light. The incandescent achieves 800 lumens with 60 watts (13 lumens per watt), while the LED achieves 852 lumens with 9 watts (95 lumens per watt). This is one example that demonstrates how the requirement of 45 lumens per watt will result in exceptional energy savings across the wide range of lighting products used daily in the United States.

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General service lamps are defined by certain criteria and there are also many exemptions.

A general service lamp meets the following criteria:

• The lamp has an ANSI base.
• The lamp can operate at a voltage of 12 volts or 24 volts, at or between 100 to 130 volts, at or between 220 to 240 volts, or of 277 volts for integrated lamps, or is able to operate at any voltage for non-integrated lamps.
• The lamp has an initial lumen output of greater than or equal to 310 lumens (or 232 lumens for modified spectrum general service incandescent lamps) and less than or equal to 3,300 lumens.
• The lamp is used in general lighting applications.
• It is not a light fixture.
• It is not an LED downlight retrofit kit.

 
General service lamps include, but are not limited to:

• General service incandescent lamps (GSIL)
• Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL)
• General service light-emitting diode lamps (LED)
• General service organic light emitting diode lamps (OLED)

 
General service lamps do not include:

1. Appliance lamps
2. Black light lamps
3. Bug lamps
4. Colored lamps
5. G shape lamps with a diameter of 5 inches or more as defined in ANSI C79.1– 2002
6. General service fluorescent lamps
7. High intensity discharge lamps
8. Infrared lamps
9. J, JC, JCD, JCS, JCV, JCX, JD, JS, and JT shape lamps that do not have Edison screw bases
10. Lamps that have a wedge base or prefocus base
11. Left-hand thread lamps
12. Marine lamps
13. Marine signal service lamps
14. Mine service lamps
15. MR shape lamps that have a first number symbol equal to 16 as defined in ANSI C79.1–2002, operate at 12 volts, and have a lumen output greater than or equal to 800
16. Other fluorescent lamps
17. Plant light lamps
18. R20 short lamps
19. Reflector lamps that have a first number symbol less than 16 as defined in ANSI C79.1–2002 and that do not have E26/E24, E26d, E26/50x39, E26/53x39, E29/28, E29/53x39, E39, E39d, EP39, or EX39 bases
20. S shape or G shape lamps that have a first number symbol less than or equal to 12.5 as defined in ANSI C79.1–2002
21. Sign service lamps
22. Silver bowl lamps
23. Showcase lamps
24. Specialty MR lamps
25. T shape lamps that have a first number symbol less than or equal to 8 as defined in ANSI C79.1– 2002, nominal overall length less than 12 inches, and that are not compact fluorescent lamps
26. Traffic signal lamps

 
A general service incandescent lamp is defined as a standard incandescent or halogen type lamp that is intended for general service applications and:

• Has a medium screw base.
• Has a lumen range of not less than 310 lumens and not more than 2,600 lumens or, in the case of a modified spectrum lamp, not less than 232 lumens and not more than 1,950 lumens.
• Is capable of being operated at a voltage range at least partially within 110 and 130 volts.
• This definition does not apply to 22 lamp types.

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Why are these changes taking place?

It is estimated that the removal of these lighting products will save consumers nearly $3 billion per year on their utility bills, greatly reduce carbon emissions and advance climate goals. Also, since LED bulbs last significantly longer than incandescent and halogen bulbs, sometimes up to 50 times, they will not need to be replaced nearly as often, saving money and maintenance time.

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What are my options?

​With Lighting Supply you still have plenty of options. Stock up on hundreds of remaining incandescent and halogen bulbs before the inventory is depleted or the federal cutoff date arrives or shop an enormous selection of energy-efficient LED bulbs. Not sure where to start? Call our friendly customer service team today at 800-609-5790.

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Resources and Related Articles:

1. Enforcement Policy Discussion for General Service Lamps (GSLs)
2. ​Appliance and Equipment Standards Rulemakings and Notices
3. Energy Conservation Program: Definitions for General Service Lamps
4. Summary of the Energy Independence and Security Act
5. 2022-05-09 Energy Conservation Program: Definitions for General Service Lamps; Final rule
6. Biden Administration Implements New Cost-Saving Energy Efficiency Standards for Light Bulbs