The Biden administration’s new light bulb rule came in full effect on Tuesday, marking another step toward limiting American households’ illuminating options to energy efficient, but more expensive, LED lights.
Under a U.S. Department of Energy rule finalized last April, the new minimum standard for light bulbs is set at 45 lumens—a measure of brightness—per watt. The rule applies to all “general service lamps,” a category that covers the majority of lighting found in a home, such as those screwed into table side lamps and ceiling fixtures.
