After maintaining a steady pace for a century, lighting
technology has begun to leap forward, fueled by tightening
energy efficiency standards and hefty incentives for
manufacturers. And despite a bit of price shock on some lighting
products, co-op members-especially large commercial and
industrial accounts-are working with their local, not-for-
profit, consumer-owned power providers to see if emerging
lighting options can curb rising costs. Congress first enacted
improved energy efficiency standards for incandescent bulbs
under the federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
But when new lightbulb rules began to take effect in 2012, they
were met with confusion. Under the law, by 2014, lightbulbs
using between 40-W to 100-W must consume at least 28 percent
less energy than traditional incandescents, which will save
Americans an estimated $6 billion to $10 billion in lighting
costs annually. The measure also mandates that lightbulbs become
70 percent more efficient by 2020. In June of this year, the