Starting in 2024, California, USA will phase out fluorescent lamps

Recently, according to foreign media reports, the US state of California passed the AB-2208 bill. Starting from 2024, California will gradually phase out compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and linear fluorescent lamps (LFL).

Linear Fluorescent Lamp (LFL)

The Act stipulates that starting January 1, 2024, screw-base or bayonet-base compact fluorescent lamps shall no longer be offered for final sale as newly manufactured products; starting January 1, 2025, pin-base compact fluorescent lamps, linear fluorescent lamps, or any such products sold as newly manufactured items shall no longer be offered. The following luminaires are exempt from this Act:

1. Lamps used for image capture and projection
2. Lamps with a higher proportion of ultraviolet light emission
3. Lamps used for medical or veterinary diagnosis or treatment, or for medical devices
4. Lamps used for pharmaceutical product manufacturing or quality control
5. Lamps used for spectroscopy and optical applications

Foreign media pointed out that although fluorescent lamps previously contained mercury harmful to the environment, they were allowed and even promoted because they were the most energy-saving lighting technology at the time. Over the past 10 years, LED lighting has gradually become widespread due to its electricity consumption being only half that of fluorescent lamps, making it a lighting alternative with high luminous efficacy and low cost. This AB2208 bill is an important climate protection measure that will significantly save electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, decrease the use of fluorescent lamps, and accelerate the adoption of LED lighting.

It is reported that Vermont previously voted to phase out compact fluorescent lamps in 2023 and 4-foot linear fluorescent lamps in 2024. After the passage of AB-2208, California became the second U.S. state to pass a fluorescent lamp ban. Compared to Vermont's regulations, the California bill also includes 8-foot linear fluorescent lamps in the list of phased-out products.

According to foreign media observations, more and more places around the world are beginning to value LED lighting technology and phase out the use of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps. Last December, the EU announced that it would basically prohibit the sale of all mercury-containing fluorescent lamps before September 2023. Additionally, as of March this year, a total of 137 local governments have voted on the "Minamata Convention on Mercury" to decide to gradually phase out compact fluorescent lamps by 2025.

Source: LEDinside, compiled by Irving