HIGH EFFICIENCY LIGHT BULBS & BALLASTS

MANDATED IN STATE BUILDINGS

House Bill 4217

Sponsor:  Rep. Fred Miller

Committee:  Government Operations

Complete to 2-27-09

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4217 AS INTRODUCED 2-10-09

The bill would amend the Management and Budget Act to require buildings and facilities owned by the State of Michigan to use high-efficiency light bulbs when replacing an existing light bulb or installing a new light bulb.  The bill also provides that if the state leases a building or facility it must, whenever feasible, lease a building or facility with high-efficiency lighting.

A high-efficiency light bulb (or "lamp") would be one that has a luminous efficacy of at least 50 lumens per watt.  (A lumen is a measure of the amount of light emitted.  Standard incandescent light bulbs generally have an efficacy of less than 20 lumens per watt while the standard fluorescent light bulbs that are more commonly used in commercial buildings have an luminous efficacy ranging from 50 to 100 lumens per watt.)

Additionally, the bill would require all buildings and facilities owned by the state to use electronic ballasts when replacing existing magnetic ballasts or when electronic ballasts are needed to support new high-efficiency light bulbs.  (Ballasts control the current and voltage of the bulbs.)

However, if the replacement of an existing bulb or ballast requires a "major renovation" or other cost-prohibitive structural modification, the high efficiency bulbs or electronic ballasts would be installed as part of the next major building renovation.

The bill would allow the use of lower efficiency lighting in historic buildings if the DMB determines that high-efficiency lighting will not operate in a manner that provides adequate illumination or energy efficiency.

Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Management and Budget to issue directives requiring the use of high-efficiency lighting and ballasts.

MCL 18.1241b

FISCAL IMPACT:

The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminate at this time.  The purchasing cost of high efficiency light bulbs is greater than existing light bulbs.  Therefore, the expense to the State of Michigan for light bulbs is likely to increase.  However, it is expected that the state would realize savings over time from the increased energy efficiency of the high efficiency light bulbs and electronic ballasts.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

For further information concerning lighting efficiency see:

Lighting Efficiency Standards in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: Are Incandescent Light Bulbs "Banned?.  Congressional Research Service.  Available at:

http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RS22822_20080228.pdf

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs):  Issues with Use and Disposal. Congressional Research Service. Available on-line at

http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RS22807_20080213.pdf

Reports on ballasts and other subjects available from theLighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at: http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Chris Couch             

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

                                                                                                                           Mark Wolf

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.