It’s official: “Farewell to Fluorescents” passes in Washington

Washingtonians are well on their way to having safer and more efficient lighting standards. House Bill 1185 successfully passed through the Washington legislature this week and is on its way to Governor Inslee’s desk to be signed into law. This victory will make Washington the 8th state to ban mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs.

While fluorescent lighting used to be the go-to option, it’s becoming a thing of the past due to the toxic mercury they contain. Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin that threatens our health and the environment.

As fluorescent lights are phased out, LED lights are taking center stage. Not only do they not contain toxic mercury, but they’re also twice as efficient and last longer than their fluorescent counterparts.

The Clean Lighting Bill (HB 1185) will protect Washingtonians from the unnecessary threat of mercury exposure from breakages of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps while also saving consumers money on utility bills. It also serves as a climate protection initiative, accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy through increased use of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions.