Energy Act of 2007: Impact on General-Service Light Bulbs and Lighting Controls
Consumers interested in the convenience and lifestyle benefits of dimming using dimmers and 
dimming systems should be aware that a recently enacted energy law will have a big impact on their lighting choices and dimming performance.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will virtually eliminate common 40-100W household screw-in incandescent light bulbs from being manufactured and imported starting in 2012. Starting January 1, 2012, 100W bulbs will be regulated, followed by 75W bulbs in 2013 and 40W and 60W bulbs in 2014.
As of the time the Act became law, virtually all common household bulbs in these wattages failed the new efficiency standards. (Meanwhile, incandescents with integral reflectors are regulated in a separate section of the Act, with notable exceptions; ask manufacturers about substitutions. The Act also limits candelabra-base incandescent bulbs to 60W max. and intermediate-base incandescent bulbs to 40W max.)
⌂ Most CFLs are not dimmable
⌂ Look for CFLs rated for dimming
⌂ Poor performance with CFL dimming
⌂ Consumers will have another option: energy-saving halogen bulbs
The Act appears to favor compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which raises several important issues regarding compatibility with dimming controls—from wall-box dimmers to dimming systems and 
whole house lighting control systems. Most CFLs are not dimmable; consumers should be sure the packaging or label says a given CFL is rated for dimming before using it on a dimmer. Additionally, even when a dimmable CFL is being used, it may not provide the performance that consumers expect from dimming.
For example, the dimmable CFL may flicker during dimming. Incandescent bulbs dim smoothly all the way to zero light output and an OFF state, while CFLs can transition abruptly to OFF at a higher level of light output, as high as about 10-20%.
Incandescent lamps tend to get significantly warmer in color tone as they dim, which is what people expect. Dimmable CFLs exhibit a smaller color shift; the lamps may get a little cooler in color tone (bluer), for example, as they dim. Research suggests people prefer cooler light at higher light levels and warmer light at lower levels. As a result, they may not like the color tone of dimmed CFLs.
But consumers still have an option for reliable dimming. While all 40-100W incandescent general-service bulbs fail the Act’s standards, energy-saving halogen bulbs—manufactured only by Philips Lighting under the Halogená Energy Saver or Energy Advantage brands at the time of the Act’s enactment—pass the new efficiency standards. These halogen bulbs, designed as direct replacements of standard incandescent bulbs, produce about 30% energy savings while producing 
about 10% less light, and they dim easily.
Energy savings can be boosted by combining energy-saving halogen bulbs with dimming. According to a research report created for the California Energy Commission, dimming reduces input watts by an average 20%. Since Energy = Power x Time, this equates to 20% energy savings. Meanwhile, dimming increases bulb life.
Today, if you want the affordable lifestyle enhancement of dimming and warm incandescent light, then choose standard incandescent or halogen bulbs with dimming controls. In the future, however, this option will basically cease to exist.
If you want the affordable lifestyle enhancement of dimming and high-quality light and energy efficiency with a smaller carbon footprint, then use energy-saving halogen bulbs with dimming. In the future, multiple manufacturers may offer high-efficiency incandescent and halogen bulbs that save approximately 30%.
Finally, if you want the affordable lifestyle enhancement of dimming and can accept tradeoffs in color appearance of light and dimming performance, and you want to totally maximize energy savings while minimizing carbon footprint, then choose dimmable CFLs with dimming controls. In the future, CFLs and in particular dimmable CFLs may improve; such developments will be welcomed.
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