REPS. HARMAN AND UPTON INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROVIDE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN OUTDOOR LIGHTING EFFICIENCY

Harman says “energy savings that will flow from these efficiency improvements are stunning”

Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA), together with Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced legislation (H.R. 1732) today that will result in a 25% increase in outdoor lighting efficiency by 2010 – the equivalent of taking more than a dozen coal-fired power stations off-line.  The bill complements the lighting efficiency provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 – also authored by Harman and Upton – to include outdoor lighting, which represents approximately 20% of all electricity used for lighting purposes in the US. 

“For the US to get its arms around the twin challenges of climate change and reducing dependence on oil requires pursuing energy efficiency and conservation measures wherever possible.  Outdoor lighting is a major consumer of generated electricity and an obvious target for driving down power usage across the country,” said Rep. Harman.  “This bipartisan bill is a continuation of our commitment to fighting the mounting health and security risks posed by global climate change.”

“It is so important to harness advanced technologies to save energy – this bipartisan bill partners with industry to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, simply by switching to more efficient outdoor lighting,” said Rep. Upton.

According to NRDC Senior Scientist Noah Horowitz, “When you realize that every city and town in America has outdoor lights on its roads and parking lots and these lights are frequently on for 10 plus hours every day, you quickly appreciate the massive energy and environmental benefits this standard provides.  Upon full effect this standard will cut our nation’s electric bill by approximately  $1 billion per year and save as much power as that generated by more than a dozen large (500 MW) power plants.  By setting higher efficiency standards for new outdoor lighting, Reps. Harman and Upton are once again showing true dedication to reducing our energy use and output of global warming pollution.”

Outdoor lighting currently consumes some 4.4% of all the electricity generated in the US.  Most of this lighting is provided by outdated and inefficient technologies.  The Harman/Upton legislation sets incremental efficiency standards to phase out such technologies (which include incandescent and halogen lights), paving the way for more efficient and cost-effective lights (such as super-efficient light emitting diodes, or LEDs).  The first standard will be set in 2011, the second in 2013, and the last in 2015.  The Department of Energy would then have the authority to set rules that raise efficiency standards even further.

 H.R. 1732 requires outdoor lights to come with bi-level controls, which permit users to alter the amount of light emitted.  These controls will give cities, counties, and other users more control over their own energy usage, empowering them to maximize their energy conservation efforts.

The bill also protects the efforts of early innovators like California, which has already passed an outdoor lighting standard. 

In 2007, Harman and Upton introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation – which became law as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act – that bans the famously inefficient 100-watt incandescent light bulb by 2012, phases out remaining inefficient light bulbs by 2014, and requires that light bulbs be at least three times as efficient as today’s 100-watt incandescent bulb by 2020.  The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that the 2007 provisions will eventually save $18 billion in energy costs every year, and prevent the emission of 100 million tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2030 – the equivalent of taking 20 million cars off the road.

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