American Households Reject Energy Efficient Lighting
Countries all over the world are following in the footsteps of Europe’s inefficient lighting ban, while American consumers are voting with their wallets against efficient CFL lighting. Ironically, it’s costing them more money.
A decade-long marketing push saw CFLs finally gain a noticeable foothold in the marketplace, but the last two years have seen a remarkable slump in sales. Energy Star products manager Richard Karney said that national sales of the light bulbs have declined 25% from their peak in 2007, with sales in some regions such as Vermont and parts of Massachusetts declining 35-50%.
Unfamiliar design and toxic mercury components are two reasons why Americans continue to reject CFLs, but cost seems to be the primary deterrent. Rather than seeing CFL light bulbs as an energy-efficient lighting investment, US consumers view them as an added expense.
