Lighting and Appliance Energy Regulations

As I mentioned before, this bill is extremely large so it will be impossible to discuss all sections of the bill. I have picked one more to discuss here. Title 2, Subtitle B is labeled “Lighting and Appliance Energy Efficiency Programs”. This section describes government regulation and mandated standards for light bulbs, lighting fixtures, water dispensers, household appliances, hot tubs, furnaces, and televisions. I obviously can’t describe every single rule it contains but let me give you one example. By 2011 certain outdoor lighting fixtures called “Outdoor Luminaires” must have an efficiency rating of 50 lumens per watt, then 70 lumens per watt by 2013, and 80 lumens per watt by 2015. Similar requirements are given for “Outdoor high light output lamps”, “Portable light fixtures”, “Art work light fixtures”, “LED fixtures”, and every other possible type of lighting you could think of. Rules are set for every aspect of lighting from size of bulbs, type of bulbs, how bright they should be, and how much power they can use. Whether or not this conserving of energy is a good thing, or whether or not attaining these levels is even possible, is not the issue. The real issue is whether or not the government has the right to dictate these things. Is it the role of government to tell us what types of light bulbs we must use?

The most disturbing part of this is not what is specifically laid out, but rather, the details that are missing There are many parts that simply say things like, “Any other type of equipment that the secretary classifies as covered”, or “The Secretary shall issue a final rule amending the applicable standards established”. In other words, the secretary of Energy is given complete freedom to adjust the standards at will, include or exclude different types of equipment at will, or enact just about any other rule he feels is appropriate. Basically, if this bill passes, the government will have complete control over how, what, when all lights and appliances can be designed and built. If Thomas Edison were alive, he wouldn’t have a chance.
I will end this entry with a little quote from the bill about how the government plans to make sure manufacturers are complying:

“Each manufacturerer of a product to which the standards are
applicable shall file with the Secretary a labor a
laboratory report certifying compliance with the applicable standard for each lamp type. The report shall include
the lumen output and wattage consumption for each lamp type."