Obama unveils new standards for lighting

WASHINGTON, June 29 (UPI) -- New energy efficiency rules aimed at saving billions of dollars were announced Monday jointly by U.S. President Barack Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

"One of the fastest, easiest, and cheapest ways to make our economy stronger and cleaner is to make our economy more energy efficient," Obama said in a statement released by the White House. "That's why we made energy efficiency investments a focal point of the (American Reinvestment and) Recovery Act.

Introducing more energy efficient technologies to homes and businesses means not only reducing energy demand but also saving money for all Americans, he said.

Obama said the first step was setting new efficiency standards for fluorescent and incandescent lighting.

"I know light bulbs may not seem sexy, but this simple action holds enormous promise because 7 percent of all the energy consumed in America is used to light our homes and our businesses," Obama said.

Chu already has begun taking stock of light bulbs in the White House to determine which ones can be replaced with energy-efficient bulbs, the president said.

The administration also was speeding up a $346 million investment in economic stimulus funds to expand and accelerate development, deployment and use of energy-efficient technologies in homes and commercial buildings.

"When it comes to saving money and growing our economy, energy efficiency isn't just low-hanging fruit; it's fruit laying on the ground," Chu said in a news release issued by the White House. "The most prosperous, competitive economies of the 21st century will be those that use energy efficiently. It's time for America to lead the way."