Energy-Efficient Lighting Becomes Law

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Energy-efficient lightbulbs have been the poster-product of climate-change awareness for years, but under the energy bill signed into law on Wednesday by President Bush, they now have a federal mandate. The energy bill received more attention for addressing tailpipe emissions, but a key feature of the bill is a phased-in requirement for lighting to use 30% less energy than incandescent bulbs, which have been the standard since the invention of electric light. Once these bulbs are fully replaced, it is estimated U.S. consumers will collectively save more than $18 billion a year in electricity bills. The efficient bulbs will save electricity each year equivalent to amount used to power every home in Texas, preventing roughly 100 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. One environmental concern, yet to be overcome, is that compact fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of mercury--an extremely dangerous element when released into the air or groundwater. Researchers are working to replace mercury with a more stable substance in these bulbs. from http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/14953