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The final rule will more than double the required efficiency level for the most common lightbulbs, from 45 lumens (the unit of measurement for light intensity) per watt to more than 120 lumens per watt

The rule won praise from energy efficiency lobbying groups, with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) citing Energy Department estimates it will cut American utility bills by up to $27 billion while preventing the release of 70 million metric tons of carbon emissions over three decades.

“LED technology has gotten even better in recent years, and these standards will ensure that all products on the market catch up with the latest efficiency advances,” said Andrew deLaski, executive director of the ASAP, in a statement. “With dozens of light bulbs in each home across the country, these standards will reduce household energy costs and climate pollution from power plants.”

Ben Somberg, communications director for the ACEEE, told The Hill in an email that the primary effect of the final rule will be to improve the energy efficiency of light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which are already significantly more efficient than the fluorescent bulbs the Biden administration is in the process of phasing out. A full ban on sales of fluorescent bulbs by retailers took effect last August, after the administration finalized the rule the previous April.

“Making common household appliances more efficient is one of the most effective ways to slash energy costs and cut harmful carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. “Under President Biden and as directed by Congress, DOE is following the lead of lightbulb manufacturers, helping American families flip the switch on massive energy savings through strengthened energy efficiency standards.”

Source: thehill.com

2024-02-28 –Trinidad and Tobago has made a significant step forward in promoting energy efficiency solutions for its citizens through a regional project that was facilitated by the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS).

On Wednesday 28^th February, 2024, the Quality for Sustainable Energy in the Caribbean (QSEC) Project successfully concluded, marking a pivotal milestone in this country’s journey towards meeting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals through sustainable energy solutions.

The QSEC Project was funded through partnerships with the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the Ministry of Planning and Development’s Global Environment Fund (GEF) Project and The Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) in renewable energy initiatives.

Funding from these entities has been instrumental in the establishment of the TTBS’ Energy Efficiency Lighting Laboratory, which is the first of its kind in the region. This state-of-the-art facility which was launched in2022, positions Trinidad and Tobago as the first Regional Centre of Excellence for testing the energy efficiency of lighting products.

Since its inception, the Energy Efficiency Lab has conducted rigorous testing on Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) and Light Emitting Diode Bulbs (LEDs) samples from both Trinidad and Tobago and two CARICOM Member state. The results of these tests have revealed deficiencies in both product quality and labelling practices. Notably, all LED samples tested failed to meet the standard for labelling, and 95% of LED samples failed to meet the performance requirements of the international standard. These findings underscore the critical importance of enforcing quality control measures and adherence to international standards in the lighting products industry.

To address these issues, TTBS will be presenting the data gathered from the Energy Efficiency Lab to key stakeholders via consultations later this year. Plans are also underway to mandatorily enforce the National Energy Efficiency Labelling Standard for LEDs and CFLs, with the Energy Efficiency Lighting Lab testing high risk models of bulbs on sale in the local market for conformance.

In addition to promoting energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, the QSEC Project also aims to drive cost savings for businesses and consumers. Through the implementation of the Testing and Labelling Programme for CFLs and LEDs lighting products, consumers can now benefit from accurate information to compare brands.

Businesses in Trinidad and Tobago and the region can also have their lighting products tested and verified locally, eliminating the need to send them outside the region for testing.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Trade and Industry, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon expressed gratitude to all involved in the QSEC project, especially CROSQ, INDOCAL, PTB, and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. She also extended continued support from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, collaborating with the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Ministry of Public Utilities to meet the objectives of QSEC.

For more information about the QSEC Project and the Energy Efficiency Lab, please email electrical-products.lab@ttbs.org.tt or contact 662-8827 Ext 2367, 2368, 2375

-ENDS-

TTBS notes there are many questions and concerns regarding cloth face masks and takes this opportunity to provide the public with the recommended face mask guidelines such as preferable types of fabrics, number of layers and the composition etc. These specifications were extracted from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations for face masks and AFNOR SPEC S76-001 “Masques barrières” or “Barrier Masks” (in English), which outlines the minimum requirements for general purpose (non-medical) woven masks.

Manufacturers and bulk buyers engaged in mass production of face masks and interested in determining if it meets the minimum specification or requiring additional information please email: nirmala.matmungal@ttbs.org.tt or contact: (868) 662-8827 Ext: 2385.

To learn more about face masks and COVID-19 visit –
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-and-masks

Manufacturers and bulk buyers interested in determining if their face masks meet the recommended international specifications can email nirmala.matmungal@ttbs.org.tt or call (868) 662-8827 ext. 2385.

Register via email at: info@fashiontt.co.tt

Special discount on textile standards for participants of the workshop.

TTBS is proud to announce its successful transition of its Laboratory Quality Management System from ISO/IEC 17025:2005 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COMPETENCE OF TESTING AND CALIBRATION LABORATORIES system to the revised ISO/IEC 17025:2017 system.   Making the transition  was no easy task and required updating the management system to conform to the new requirements. This required planning, dedication, teamwork and cooperation. A true sense of togetherness is what it took!

Special thanks to Aalia Mohammed who initially promoted the transition ,  to all the staff members who worked tirelessly to the end , to Saira Knox who took the team through the transition and to the Management Team who championed the transition plan within the organization.

WAY TO GO TTBS!