US CFL sales dramatically increased
US CFL sales dramatically increased
In recent years, sales of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in the United States have increased dramatically. According to a 1991 study done for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the research arm of the US electric utility industry, CFL sales grew from 9,8 million units in 1988 to 16,7 million units in 1990, a 70% increase. Moreover, the study projected that this rapid growth will continue, with CFL sales roughly doubling by 1992 (35,6 million) and again by 1995 (71,8 million).
The Study, Survey and Forecast of Marketplace Supply and Demand for Energy-Efficient Lighting Products (EPRI TR 100288), which was co-sponsored by the California Institute for Energy Efficiency, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Dept of Energy, used confidential surveys of major US lighting product manufacturers to determine historical sales and supply projections through 1995 for full-size fluorescent lamps, and fluorescent lamp ballasts, as well as compact fluorescents.
For purposes of the survey, CFLs were defined as those lamps intended to replace incandescents and having overall lenghts of eight inches (20 cm) or less.
The CFL manufacturing data were further divided to examine the market trends for modular units (divided into two subgroups; "lamp only" and "separable") versus integral units (lamp and ballast combinations). In 1988, 85% of the CFLs manufactured were "lamp-only" units, while 13% were integral units, and 2% were "separable" (multiple piece package with a ballast and a replaceable lamp).
By 1990, the product mix had shifted to 81% lamp-only, 18% integral, and 1% separable. This trend was forecasted to continue, with manufacturers projecting that integral units would constitute 33% of their CFL product mix for 1993-1995, with lamp-only units falling to 60% and separable units growing only to 7%.
The CFL manufacturing survey also showed a trend toward increased use of higher output quad-tube lamps. In 1988, twin-tube (i.e. one arched tube) lamps (5-13W) constituted 92% of T-4 (1/2 inch diameter tube) manufacturing, with quad-tubes (9-26W) accounting for only 8%. Quad-tube lamps are expected to grow to 44% of the T-4 market by the end of this year, and to 57% by 1995.
The survey also determined that utility spending on lighting efficiency programs is projected to grow to appr. US$ 500 million per year by the mid-1990s.
More on Global CFL Sales, IAEEL 4/94)