General Service Lamps

DOE has published a Federal Register notice delaying the effective date of a recently published final rule adopting several clarifications to the test procedures for general service lamps. 

• The effective date of the rule published on January 16, 2025, is delayed until March 21, 2025. 

DOE has published a Federal Register final rule adopting clarifications to the test procedures for general service lamps (GSLs) located in appendix W, appendix BB and appendix DD.  Specifically, DOE is clarifying instructions that GSLs must not be tested as colored lamps and that lamps with additional components that do not affect light output must be turned off during testing. The clarifications also specify that non-integrated lamps be tested with a fluorescent lamp ballast, high intensity discharge (HID) lamp ballast or external light-emitting diode (LED) driver selected based on compatibility lists and availability; and provide specifications regarding the starting method, ballast factor, and number of lamps. This rulemaking is limited in scope and is providing clarifications to the current test procedures that are required for certification of compliance with existing applicable GSL energy conservation standards. Further, this rulemaking does not satisfy the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) requirement that, at least once every 7 years, DOE review the test procedures for GSLs.

• The effective date of this rule is February 18, 2025.
• The amendments will be mandatory for product testing starting July 15, 2025.
• The incorporation by reference of certain material listed in the rule was approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of November 21, 2016.

DOE has published a Federal Register final rule (FR) pertaining to energy conservation standards for general service lamps (GSL). The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), prescribes standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including GSLs. In this final rule, DOE is adopting amended standards for GSLs. DOE has determined that the amended standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy and are technologically feasible and economically justified.

• The effective date of this rule is July 3, 2024.
• Compliance with the amended standards established for GSLs in this final rule is required on and after July 25, 2028.
• The incorporation by reference of certain material listed in this rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register on July 3, 2024. The incorporation by reference of certain other material listed in this rule was approved by the director of the Federal Register as of September 30, 2022.

For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.

The general service lamps energy conservation standard rulemaking docket EERE-2022-BT-STD-0022 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.

Public Meeting Information

There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.

Submitting Public Comments

The comment period is closed.

The general service lamps test procedure docket EERE-2024-BT-TP-0010 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.

Related Rulemakings

- LED test procedure
- CFL test procedure

Public Meeting Information

There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.

Submitting Public Comments

The comment period is closed.

General service lamps (GSLs) must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 430.32(dd).

To determine that general service lamps that are currently manufactured or distributed into commerce are in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 430.23(gg).

Compliance

DOE has established regulations on certification, compliance, and enforcement in the CFR at 10 CFR Part 429.  These regulations cover statistical sampling plans, certified ratings, certification reports, record retention, and enforcement.  More information on these regulations is available here.

Waivers

For information on current test procedure waivers, see DOE’s Waivers webpage.

For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR 430.27.

Exceptions

DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for GSLs.

For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.

Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions

For information on further guidance and answers to Frequently Asked Questions on all covered products, see DOE’s Further Guidance database.

State Exemptions to Federal Pre-emption

DOE has not exempted any state from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart D.

Small Business Exemptions

Any manufacturer of a covered product with annual gross revenues that do not exceed $8,000,000 from all its operations and meets certain other conditions may apply for an exemption to the energy conservation standard. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart E.

ENERGY STAR®

DOE supports the testing and verification of ENERGY STAR® products in close collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Find tips and guidance for making your home, workplace, or vehicle more energy efficient visit EnergySavers.gov.

For more information related to this product, please email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov