Policymakers from ten states across the United States (US) – California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington – have passed ‘clean lighting bills’ in the last two years, advancing their transition to more efficient, cleaner light-emitting diode (LED) lighting technology. Together, the ten states will cumulatively avoid 13.6 megatons (Mt) of CO2 by 2050.

The clean lighting bills mean that over 20% of the US fluorescent lighting sold will switch to LED.

Why are LED Lights Better than Fluorescent?

LEDs are widely accessible, mercury-free lighting solutions that are twice as efficient and last two to three times longer than fluorescent alternatives. This means they reduce energy demand, carbon emissions, and electricity bills – high priorities for many states.

“Hawai‘i pays the highest electricity rates in the country, almost three times as high as the U.S. average,” said Jodi Robinson of the Blue Planet Foundation, who helped lead the effort to phase out fluorescents in Hawai’i. “Energy efficiency policies, like adopting clean lighting standards, are the most cost-effective solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while also addressing the high energy burden facing our island’s residents and businesses.”

Vermont and California, the first and second states respectively to pass clean lighting bills, are now implementing the change.

“In Vermont, we are proud to have led the nation in moving to mercury-free lighting,” said Paul Burns, Executive Director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. “It was always our hope that other states would quickly follow, and it’s wonderful to see that happening, thanks to some excellent advocacy and organizing work. “

US States Matching Global Moves to Efficient Lighting

The ongoing revisions to the US’s federal lighting policies are incrementally raising the required efficiency of bulbs being sold on the market, slowly edging out the most inefficient and polluting products; however, there is an immediate opportunity to shut the door on costly lighting technologies.

“There is global momentum around the LED transition and US states are leading the pack,” said Ana Maria Carreño, Senior Climate Director at CLASP. “A national clean lighting policy would benefit every household and business across the US and help usher in the next generation of energy and cost-efficient lighting, while preventing further mercury pollution.”

At the recent Minamata Convention Fifth Conference of the Parties (COP5), countries agreed to phase out fluorescents globally by 2027. As the US is a party to the Convention, both state and federal action will be crucial to carrying out the decision nationally.

More states are signaling interest in passing their own clean lighting bills in upcoming legislative cycles. The CLASP lighting experts are watching closely to see when federal action will take advantage of the multifaceted benefits of an all-LED future.

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CLASP and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) would like to thank the nearly 200 state advocate organizations who are making the clean lighting transition a reality across the US, including the clean lighting champions at:

• Blue Planet Foundation
• Environment Oregon
• Fresh Energy
• Green Energy Consumers Alliance
• Hawaii Energy
• Illinois Public Interest Research Group
• Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group
• Mercury Policy Project
• National Product Stewardship Council
• Natural Resources Council of Maine
• Northwest Energy Coalition
• Responsible Purchasing Network
• Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
• Vermont Public Interest Research Group