FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jack Gillis, CFA 202-737-0766
December 29, 2011 David Butler, CU 202-462-6262
Consumer Guide to New Light Bulb Choices
Resulting From Law Taking Effect January 1st
New Products Can Cut Lighting Portion of Energy Bills by 30%
But Consumers Need to Understand What to Buy
Washington, D.C.—Today, the Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union are releasing a simple guide to help consumers understand the new lighting choices they will have under the new light bulb law taking effect January 1, 2012. While a serious matter, the guide is entitled: How Many Tips Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb?, the two page guide provides 8 tips to selecting a new light bulb simpler.
“Contrary to reports, incandescent light are NOT being banned, they are simply becoming more efficient,” said Mel Hall-Crawford, CFA’s Energy Projects Director. “And consumers will have expanded choices, but will need to understand them so that when they go to the store so they can buy the product that meets their needs best. Our tips will do just that,” said Hall-Crawford.
“There’s no question that lighting choices have expanded dramatically,” said Shannon Baker- Branstetter, Policy Counsel for Consumers Union. “Having lots of efficient choices is a good thing, but it will take a little time to get used to. Some new lighting choices are more expensive than the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, but they save money by lowering electric bills. The new lighting options will also help reduce the need from power plants, thus benefiting ratepayers and our environment,” said Baker-Branstetter.
The Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, are using this new consumer guide as part of a consumer education campaign aimed at making sure consumers understand and benefit from this new lighting requirement as the new law takes effect. The guide offers practical advice from understanding lumens and brightness to checking for dimmability and compatibility to addressing mercury concerns. In addition to providing additional resources, How Many Tips Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb? provides everything needed to make a smart, sensible light bulb choice.
The complete guide can be found at www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/CFA-Tips-Buying-Light-Bulbs-12-29-11.pdf and http://www.consumersunion.org/energy/newsroom. The guide is free and news media are encouraged to reproduce the guide.
The Consumer Federation of America is an association of nearly 280 nonprofit consumer organizations, established in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education.
Consumers Union is the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, an expert, independent, nonprofit organization, whose mission is to work for a fair, safe, and just marketplace for all consumers.