US turns off low-energy light bulbs

The House of Representatives has voted to cut US federal government spending on the environment by $1 billion, effectively blocking legislation to improve light efficiency standards.

The funding cut means that the US government will not be able to spend money on enforcing a 2007 law which requires an improvement in the energy-efficiency of incandescent bulbs by 25% from January 2012.

The move, which was proposed by Republican Michael Burgess as an amendment to an energy spending bill, came just three days after the House of Representatives rejected a proposal to repeal the legislation.

Tea party Republicans have labelled the law, which was passed by Republican president George W Bush, as an imposition on individuals’ rights.

Burgess, in proposing the amendment, told the House of Representatives: “The federal government has no right to tell me or any other citizen what type of light bulb to use at home.”

While Republicans have hailed the vote as a victory, it does not stop individual states from promoting energy-saving lighting and moves are already underway by Democrats to oppose the measure.

In the vote on Friday (15 July 2011), the House did reject further cuts to energy-efficiency programmes and a proposal to ban a website designed to teach children about energy efficiency.