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Consumer and efficiency groups back phasing out fluorescent bulbs and updating appliance standards
Summary
MASSPIRG and technical groups urged the committee to adopt H.3477 to phase out mercury‑containing fluorescent lamps and to update efficiency standards for a set of appliances. Advocates said LEDs are widely available, cost‑effective and avoid mercury disposal risks; technical groups provided estimates of lifetime household savings.
Deirdre Cummings of MASSPIRG and representatives from the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) testified in favor of H.3477, which would phase out fluorescent light bulbs containing mercury and adopt updated efficiency standards for several classes of appliances and commercial equipment. Cummings told the committee that replacing fluorescents with LEDs avoids mercury waste and can drive significant energy savings statewide.
ASAP provided technical support that shows LED replacements are widely available, cost competitive and longer‑lived than fluorescents. "LEDs use half the energy, last two to three times longer, and do not contain mercury," a technical witness said, noting price declines and the availability of LED drop‑in replacements that do not require fixture changes.
Witnesses estimated household and business savings and cited multi‑state precedent—10 states have adopted similar lighting rules—and asked the committee to adopt the standards to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions without requiring immediate replacement of installed fixtures.
Ending: Supporters urged the committee to report H.3477 favorably and to coordinate the standards with federal rules to avoid gaps if federal standards change.
