Light Bulb Ban 2023- Incandescent and Halogen Bulb Ban

In May of 2022, the Department of Energy issued new standards for lighting products. Starting August 1, 2023, the sale of incandescent and halogen bulbs will be banned. Due to a push toward energy efficiency, bulbs that produce less than 45 lumens per watt will be illegal to sell.  This includes bulbs such as:

• Traditional A19 bulbs
• Traditional PAR30 bulbs
• Traditional Decor bulbs

This means it will be illegal to sell, manufacture or import such bulbs. Manufacturers and retailers were notified of this in January 2023. This will eliminate most halogen and incandescent bulbs currently on the market. Manufacturers were ordered to stop producing these bulbs in January, but the full enforcement will begin in July.

Are Halogen and Incandescent Bulbs Illegal?

For manufacturers and retailers, yes, it will be illegal to sell, manufacture, and distribute them. However, for residential and other uses, it won’t be illegal to continue using existing incandescent bulbs and halogen lamps that are currently in place. This ban just means when those bulbs go out, you will have to find an LED alternative to replace them. 

There are some bulbs exempt from this ban. The ban currently only applies to bulbs that have suitable LED counterparts. Exempt bulbs are specialty bulbs with specific applications, like heat lamps, appliances, grow lamps, etc. 

Reason for the 2023 Incandescent and Halogen Ban 

The 2023 light bulb ban comes in accordance with the push for energy efficiency in the United States, along with lowering carbon emissions. According to the US Department of Energy, over the next 30 years,  this ban could cut carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons.

LEDs: The More Efficient Option

LEDs are the more energy-efficient option for lighting. They save up to 75% more energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, according to energy.gov. While LED bulbs cost more upfront, they last longer and reduce energy costs.LED bulbs can last up to 50,000 hours compared to 1,000 hours with an incandescent bulb.LEDs are also safer than incandescent bulbs because they produce less heat which reduces fire hazards, and LEDs do not contain any mercury. 

Transition to LED Lighting 

The coming ban is a perfect time to switch to LEDs. Super Bright LEDs offers a variety of LED light bulbs in various shapes, base sizes, and CCTs, and we offer retrofit kits for residential lights such as can lights and more. 

Many people still think of LEDs as bright blue light and have been hesitant to switch to LED bulbs. However, we offer bulbs in a variety of color temperatures that are similar to incandescent bulbs, such as natural white or warm white.