Last month I introduced California Assembly Bill 1109, the California Lighting Efficiency and Toxics Reductions Act. This measure will initiate the Nation’s most comprehensive and ambitious effort to increase the energy efficiency of lighting products for consumers and business, while reducing and recycling major sources of toxics and pollution associated with today’s lighting technology. This measure was developed through months of careful consultation with lighting efficiency experts, including meetings with representatives of every major lighting manufacturer, key government officials, and the environmental community. 

By using performance standards, rather than banning any particular technology or product, AB 1109 will not only provide substantial savings of energy and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, it will save consumers money and increase consumer choice for lighting products.  And by also addressing the need for toxic material reduction and recycling, AB 1109 provides a comprehensive policy framework.

California has long been a leader in energy efficiency, recycling, and most recently efforts to combat global climate change.  With the potential to reduce C02 emissions by six million metric tons per year, AB 1109 represents one of the most potent ‘early action measures’ that California must take in order to achieve the state’s ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction objectives.

But the effort to increase lighting efficiency and reduce pollution should not be a California solo effort.  I believe that this legislation can serve as a model policy for states across the country.

Toward that end, this week, a coalition of energy efficiency advocates and lighting manufacturers have announced a parallel national effort to advocate for a shift toward high-efficiency lighting technologies in the home and office.  That coalition includes: Philips Lighting, the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, and the environmental supporters of my AB 1109, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Californians Against Waste.

In announcing support for AB 1109, Noah Horowitz, NRDC senior scientist said, “Bringing to market the next generation of clean, efficient light bulbs and lighting systems will save energy, reduce pollution – including the heat-trapping emissions that cause global warming – and lower consumers’ electricity bills.” AB 1109 is also supported by Environmental Defense and the California Product Stewardship Council.

The coalition’s support of public policies that set technology-neutral performance standards that will phase out the most inefficient products from the market essentially mirrors the lighting efficiency performance standards I have called for in AB 1109 and is a step in the right direction. I applaud this effort nationwide and look forward to continuing to work with all of the coalition members as we move forward with AB 1109 in California.

Specifically, AB 1109 directs the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop and implement a strategy for reducing California’s energy consumption for general purpose indoor lighting by 50% by the year 2018.  The measure will also establish similarly substantial energy efficiency goals for commercial and outdoor lighting. As part of the strategy for achieving these goals, the CEC will establish minimum energy efficiency standards for these categories of lighting, without banning any particular technology or product.  The CEC pioneered the concept of energy efficiency standards for large appliances, and it is time we expanded this model to all lighting products. Innovations in current technologies will enable most of today’s lighting products to meet the performance standards set by AB 1109.  These standards will also help bring new products to the market, giving consumers greater lighting choices.
While AB 1109 is designed as an energy conservation and pollution reduction proposal, its implementation is expected to save California residential and business ratepayers more than three billion dollars ($3 billion) annually in avoided energy costs.

Reducing lighting’s share of California’s energy consumption will in and of itself significantly reduce pollution, including NOx, SOx, Mercury and CO2 emissions. 

It is important to recognize that today’s lighting devices are often manufactured with trace amounts of toxic materials. Most incandescent light bulbs are manufactured with toxic lead and all fluorescent lights contain varying levels of toxic mercury.  Thus, a responsible proposal for updating California’s lighting policies must also include requirements that manufacturers utilize the latest technology to reduce, and where possible eliminate, the use of toxic heavy metals such as lead and mercury.

To that end, AB 1109 directs the Department of Toxic Substances Control to develop and implement a schedule for reducing the amounts of mercury and lead in lighting devices. The Europeans have already capped mercury in fluorescent lamps at 5 mgs/device. With some manufacturers already reducing mercury levels well below that level, I’m hoping we can do even better than that.

Finally, while it has been over a year now since Californians have been prohibited from disposing of hazard electronics in their trash, most consumers still lack the information and opportunity to properly manage and recycle hazardous lighting devices, such as fluorescent tubes.

To address this problem, AB 1109 requires manufactures to provide a free and convenient system for recycling these devices. Again, the Europeans have already required a similar system. California consumers deserve nothing less.

I applaud this coalition’s environmental stewardship and forward thinking.  I will continue working with members of the coalition on AB 1109 as this important legislation moves forward.  I’m confidant that by working together we can save California residential and business ratepayers billions annually in avoided energy costs while at the same time significantly reduce pollution, including CO2 emissions - the primary culprit in global climate change.