In 2018 updated requirements for 4 and 8 foot linear lamps will go into effect in the United States.  For example, typical 4' medium bipin lamps must meet or exceed 92.4 lm/w.  Here is an article summarizing the changes as well as the full text of the rule.  Many lamps on the market today already meet the new thresholds, but some may be eliminated.  The CRI 87+ exemption is not changing, so we might also see an increase in CRI-exempt T8 or T5 lamps like we did for the T12s in 2012.

They do address the topic of high-CRI lamps being sold for general purpose "DOE believes
that within the scope of this rulemaking it is implementing the appropriate changes in the
CFR to clarify the exemption of high CRI products. It is not within the scope of DOE’s
authority in this rulemaking to modify the thresholds set by the current CRI exemptions
for GSFLs." 

So there might be some changes to the way they must be marketed, but no changes to the level itself.  I do not fully understand why they have the authority to alter the lpw criteria but not the CRI threshold.

That's interesting they're raising the levels AGAIN.   I think people freaked out with the '94 and 2012 bans (and rightfully so) but the lamp manufacturers just made adjustments to their offerings.  (For example, from F40CW, to F40/741 to F40CWX, the latter of which existed already to begin with).  That said, I don't think the intention of the bans was to make lamps higher-CRI so much as it was to kill off most general-purpose T12s, thus encouraging people to switch to T8.  But the lamp manufacturers (luckily for us!) just slightly altered their offerings in various color temperatures to meet the standards, since there are so many T12s still out there needing replacement lamps.  But CWX does NOT match CW, etc.  The 700-series lamps matched, but the "new" cool whites sure don't!  I feel like with the CRI rules they way they are since 2012 I'm seeing more full-wattage lamps in commercial use; after '94 the rule was higher CRI or reduced wattage, so those 34w 4' and 60w/95w 8' tubes popped up everywhere and cooked a lot of ballasts and helped ruin the reputation of fluorescent lighting.  But since then, I'm seeing a lot of full-wattage lamps in spot-relamping, replacing energy savers as they burn out. 

I remember it was common in the early 2000s that if you wanted full wattage, you'd see a lot of /950 or Daylight Deluxe used, especially in spot-relamping, since for whatever reason it was hard to get case quantities of 70CRI cool whites.  Now I see more 4100K being used.  Before I became really alert to lighting (Read: Before I found and joined Lighting Gallery!) I remember being intrigued by the "blue fluorescent lights" randomly appearing in commercial places in the F40T12 or F96T12 slimline fixtures.  Later, T8 conversions brought 4100K back as a popular color temp it seemed.

But after reading this article it sounds like history will repeat itself like with the '94 EPACT ban and T12s...it'll only be easy to get the energy-saver, reduced-wattage lamps.  We'll see how many of those start popping up.  I almost never see energy-saver T8s.  I honestly think they may perform better than their T12 counter parts did, though, thanks to the electronic ballasts.  I wonder if they'll be the only easily-available lamp at home centers or big-box stores, like 34w T12s were after EPACT.  (I've even talked to several people now, in the 2010s, who have asked me "Can you still even GET 40 watt 4' or 75 watt 8' tubes anymore?!"

Just FYI everyone: Only around a YEAR until this takes effect!

What is the light output of 32W T8 and all those lower W lamps ? For some reason i dont expect much higher Lm/W from any of the "energy saving" ones, only proportional lower Lm for the lower W..



For the record, here is some data about European Krypton filled 4ft T8 tubes. The tube is rated 36W, and draws 36W on Magnetic ballast or 32W on Electronic ballast, for the same light output

6500K 865 : 3250 Lm
4000K 840 : 3350 Lm (/CWX ?)
3000K 830 : 3350 Lm
2700K 827 : 3350 Lm

6500K 765 : 2500 Lm (/D)
4000K 640 : 2850 Lm (/CW)

/D and /CW are banned in Europe, but available (and are most commonly used) here

Here most 800 Series F32T8 (full wattage) lamps are rated for 2900 or 2950 lumens. Some are rated at 3000 or higher but they're rare. The overall most common lumen rating I see is 2900. The 700 series lamps were all mostly 2800 lumens, so not much of a difference.

The 25W F32T8s are typically rated anywhere from 2000-2250 lumens.

The 28W F32T8s range from 2500 to 2800 lumens depending on the color temperature.

The 30W F32T8s are pretty much the same as the 28W ones.

Not sure how they figure, but as it stands now, the existing energy saving lamps are dimmer. The 25W ones especially so!