In the high-rise jungle of corporate America during the 1980s and 1990s, fluorescent lamps were king. They ruled every office building for most of the second half of the 20th Century. However, like most legacy lighting technologies of that era, their product market shares have been overtaken by LEDs, and their final death happened by legislative efficiency requirements or outright bans.
In the U.S., federal laws phasing out less-efficient products such as Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) through minimum lumen-per-watt requirements have been underway for some time, but many states are accelerating the removal of these products from the market on their own through outright bans on the technology. With the minimum efficiency standards and bans on the sale of CFL and fluorescent tubes, are we seeing the death of fluorescent lamp technology?
The short answer is yes, but you can see for yourself.
As of this writing (November 2024), the current federal efficiency standards for General Service Lamps (GSL), including CFLs, stands at 45 lumens-per-watt (LPW), which most CFL lamps meet. However, in 2028 those minimum standards increase to 120 LPW. This will eliminate all compact fluorescent lamps from the market. To hasten their demise, many states are implementing outright bans on CFL lamps, as well as linear fluorescent tubes, not only because of their inefficiency, but also because they contain mercury which has a negative effect on the environment and human / animal health. In addition, the mercury content creates serious and costly waste disposal challenges.
Here are some of the state-level restrictions available at the time of the publishing of this blog:
California
Fluorescent light Restrictions:
- Screw-based & bayonet-based CFL: Active Ban
- Pin-based CFL and linear fluorescent tube: Phase out date of January 1, 2025
Colorado:
Fluorescent light Restrictions:
- Screw-base, Pin-based CFL and linear fluorescent tube: Phase out date of January 1, 2025
Hawaii
Fluorescent light Restrictions:
- Screw-base & bayonet-based CFL: Phase out date of January 1, 2025
- Pin-based CFL and linear fluorescent tube: Phase out date of January 1, 2026
Illinois
Fluorescent light Restrictions:
- Screw-based CFL: Phase out date of January 1, 2026
- Pin-based CFL and linear fluorescent tube: Phase out date of January 1, 2027
Maine
Fluorescent light Restrictions:
- Screw-based CFL: Phase out date of January 1, 2025
- Pin-based CFL and linear fluorescent tube: Phase out date of January 1, 2026
Minnesota
Fluorescent light Restrictions:
- Screw-based and Pin-based CFL: Phase out date of January 1, 2025
- Linear fluorescent tube: Phase out date of January 1, 2026
Oregon
Fluorescent light Restrictions:
- Screw-base & bayonet-based CFL: Active ban.
- Pin-based CFL and linear fluorescent tube: Phase out date of January 1, 2025
Rhode Island
Fluorescent light Restrictions:
- Screw-base & bayonet-based CFL: Active ban.
- Pin-based CFL and linear fluorescent tube: Phase out date of January 1, 2025
Vermont
Fluorescent light Restrictions:
- Screw-based and Pin-based CFL: Active Ban
- Linear fluorescent tube: Active Ban
Washington
Fluorescent light Restrictions:
- All CFLs and linear fluorescent tubes: Phase out date of January 1, 2029
Like many laws and regulations, it’s imperative to read the fine print and understand all of the details. With that in mind, let’s look at how a GSL (General Service Lamp) is defined.
According to the definition by the Department of Energy, a General Service Lamp (GSL):
-Has an ANSI base (with the exclusion of light fixtures, LED downlight retrofit kits, and exemptions for specific base types);
– Has an initial lumen output of greater than or equal to 310 lumens (or 232 lumens for modified spectrum GSIL) and less than or equal to 3,300 lumens;
– Is able to operate at a voltage of 12 V or 24 V, at or between 100 and 130V, at or between 220 to 240V, or at 277V for integrated lamps, or is able to operate at any voltage for non-integrated lamps;
– Is not a light fixture;
– Is not an LED downlight retrofit kit;
– Is used in general lighting applications
General Service Lamp (GSL) Exemptions:
There are several products that are exempt from the definition of a General Service Lamp and can still be sold according to federal law. (Note: state laws on exemptions may vary.)
Some of the exemptions below have tighter restrictions with the latest federal updates. For example, there is now a minimum wattage for infrared heat lamps that will result in some lower wattage heat lamps being discontinued without equivalent wattage replacements.
The exemptions include:
● Appliance lamps
● Black light lamps
● Bug lamps
● Silver bowl lamps
● Colored lamps
● G shape lamps with a diameter of 5 inches or more
● General service fluorescent lamps
● Sign service lamps
● High intensity discharge lamps
● Infrared lamps
● J, JC, JCD, JCS, JCV, JCX, JD, JS, and JT shape lamps that do not have Edison screw bases
● Showcase lamps
● Lamps that have a wedge base or prefocus base
● Left-hand thread lamps
● Marine lamps
● Specialty MR lamps
● Marine signal service lamps
● Mine service lamps
● Plant light lamps
● Traffic signal lamps
● Other fluorescent lamps R20 short lamps
● MR shape lamps that:
○ have a first number symbol equal to 16 (diameter equal to 2 inches) as defined in ANSI C79.1– 2002;
○ operate at 12 volts; and
○ have a lumen output greater than or equal to 800
● Reflector lamps that have a first number symbol less than 16 (diameter less than 2 inches) as defined in ANSIC79.1–2002, and that do not have E26/E24, E26d, E26/50×39, E26/53×39, E29/2
● S shape or G shape lamps that have a first number symbol less than or equal to 12.5 (diameter less than or equal to 1.5625 inches) as defined in ANSI C79.1-2002
● T-shape lamps that have a first number symbol less than or equal to 8 (diameter less than or equal to 1 inch), nominal overall length less than 12 inches, and that are not compact fluorescent lamps
General service fluorescent lamp (GSFL) Exemptions:
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) defines GSFLs as “any fluorescent lamp that can be used to satisfy the majority of fluorescent lighting applications.”
GSFLs do not include any lamp designed and marketed for the following non-general applications:
● Fluorescent lamps designed to promote plant growth;
● Fluorescent lamps specifically designed for cold temperature applications;
● Colored fluorescent lamps;
● Impact-resistant fluorescent lamps;
● Reflectorized or aperture lamps;
● Fluorescent lamps designed for use in reprographic equipment;
● Lamps primarily designed to produce radiation in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum;
● Lamps with a color rendering Index of 87 or greater.
As you can see, the answer to the question, “are we seeing the death of fluorescent lamp technology?” is complex, with different rules and regulations existing at different levels of government and with many different exemptions. So, while the answer is “yes,” how and how long before the fluorescent lamp will finally meet its demise remains to be seen.
