A U.S.-led revolution in light bulb efficiency launched with bipartisan fanfare more than a decade ago should be a beacon for how to tackle even bigger climate challenges through flexible standards.
The lighting efficiency standards, which pushed consumers away from pear-shaped incandescents invented in the late 1800s, led to widespread adoption of LED lighting in homes, autos, and commercial properties—even with hiccups along the way.
But how it was done—through a technology-neutral approach that set firm efficiency targets, but left it up to bulb-makers to decide how to comply—could offer a blueprint for using performance-based standards for a host of ...