Improved light bulbs have led to huge decreases in residential energy use. Changes to federal standards, however, will likely stymie future progress.

Nadja Popovich writes about the evolution of light bulbs and their contribution to decreases in U.S. energy use. Incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs are being replaced with LED bulbs, which use up to 85 percent less energy than older bulbs and can last for 25 years.
In 2012, new efficiency standards for light bulbs kicked in, requiring that new bulbs use 28 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. "The switch to more efficient lighting has been relatively rapid, Dr. [Lucas] Davis said, because of the short lifespan of traditional light bulbs," notes Popovich.
But industry group are fighting additional regulations set to start next year that prohibit the sale of light bulbs that give off less than 45 lumens per watt. In addition, the Department of Energy announced last month that it was rolling back regulations that would have made decorative bulbs subject to the same standards.
FULL STORY: America’s Light Bulb Revolution

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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