Energy Star Light Bulbs Are Gone: What the Label Means on Boxes Now

That Energy Star logo on the bulb box retired in December 2024. Here’s what to read instead.

On December 31, 2024, the EPA ended the Energy Star specification for light bulbs and fixtures. Not a scandal — a victory lap. EPA estimates certified lighting saved more than a trillion kilowatt-hours since 1998, and by 2022 LED bulbs already made up about 80% of the US consumer market. The label had done its job.

Three things to know on your next bulb run:

1. A box with the logo is old stock or legacy packaging. Partner brands were required to stop using the mark on products and materials after the sunset date. It reflects certification under the retired program — not a current endorsement.
2. The logo isn’t the quality gate anymore — the Lighting Facts panel is. It’s the FTC label printing the numbers that matter: lumens, Kelvin, CRI, rated life. Read four numbers and you’re ahead of most shoppers: 800+ lumens for a 60W replacement, 2700K for living spaces, CRI 90+ where color matters, and lumens per watt above 100.
3. One exception survives. Energy Star continues for recessed downlights under a separate specification, and as of March 2026 the wider Energy Star program operates with DOE as lead federal agency.

Check the side panel, not the front of the box. That’s the whole new rule.