US Law Helps Tap Large Savings Potential
US Law Helps Tap Large Savings Potential
According to a new study, it is possible to reduce lighting energy use in the United States by over 70%. The ultimate level of success depends on achieving the proper mix of information, incentives, and mandatory legislation. A recently enacted US law takes important steps towards this goal, but a large potential remains to be tapped.
Lighting in the United States consumed about 515 TWh of electricity in 1990 (19% of the national electricity use and 7% of the national energy use), at a cost of US$ 36 billion to consumers. Expenditures for lighting equipment represent another $8 billion annually.
Official US Department of Energy (DOE) forecasts indicate that lighting energy demand will roughly double over the next four decades. A new study from Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) estimates that, as a result of conservation programs and policies not included in the DOE forecast, actual demand can be as much as 20% lower than the DOE forecast (depending on assumptions about the degree of effort by utilities and government). Additional lighting savings will be captured by the recently enacted Energy Policy Act of 1992 (see IAEEL Newsletter 1/92).
THE ENERGY POLICY ACT
The "EPAct" is arguably the most significant energy-efficiency legislation yet enacted in any country. The new law calls for sweeping efficiency improvements through new mandatory standards for buildings, lighting products, motors, and various kinds of equipment used in the commercial and industrial sectors. The law also promotes special financing options for buyers of efficient homes, profit-based incentives that encourage electricity and gas utilities to actively promote energy efficiency, efficiency rating systems for windows and homes, a variety of new information programs, support for advanced appliance development, a variety of programs directed specifically at public buildings, and a large number of new research efforts and new policies.
The law addresses lighting in several ways:
-
First, states must adopt comprehensive nation-wide energy-use standards for new commerical buildings within two years. State standards' maximum lighting power densities (watts/square meter) must be identical to the now-voluntary American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) code 90.1- 1989. The standards can be periodically updated to capture new cost-effective savings that become possible in the future.
-
Second, mandatory standards for certain domestically made and imported lamps are to become effective within 18 months to three years. The standards will affect lamps installed in new and existing buildings alike. The incandescent standards apply to reflector lamps 40 watts or larger and exclude general service incandescent lamps and various specialized lamps (such as colored lamps, those designed for rough or vibration applications, traffic lights, aviation lamps, marine signal lamps, photographic lamps, theater lighting, and head-lights).
New fluorescent lamp standards apply to 48-inch (1200-mm) straight, and 22- to 25-inch (560- to 640-mm) U-shaped lamps at or above 28 watts, and all rapid-start 8-foot (2400 mm) high-output lamps and instant start lamps over 52 watts. Certain specialized lamps are exempted (such as lamps for plant growth, those designed for cold-temperature applications, colored lamps, impact-resistant lamps, UV lamps, and lamps with a color rendering index of 82 or greater). Test procedures, labels, and standards will be developed for high-intensity-discharge (HID) lamps.
-
Third, 10 regional centers to promote energy-efficient lighting (and other technologies) will be established across the country based on funding awarded to non-profit institutions, state and local governments, universities, utilities, or other groups. The centers will be a source fo information and educational materials, training, and technical assistance for architects, designers, engineers, and the public. The centers will also showcase efficient lighting technologies.
-
The fourth component of the EPAct establishes efficiency labels within 18 months for general service fluorescent lamps, CFLs, and incandescent lamps plus a national testing and information program for fluorescent luminaires. If sufficient progress has not been made within two years, the Department of Energy will develop luminaire testing standards, and the Federal Trade Commission will have the option to prescribe labeling rules for luminaires.
- Finally, DOE will explore the possibilities for establishing new standards on general service incandescent, fluorescent, and high-intensity discharge lamps.
LBL estimated the energy savings that could be realized by the EPAct's lamp standards in the year 2030 for the commercial and residential sectors. Potential savings can only be roughly estimated owing to uncertainties about how lighting energy use would develop in the absence of new standards. The combined savings lie between 49 and 123 TWh/year and 9 000-24 000 megawatts (MW) of electrical peak demand (one large electric power plant is 500 - 1 000 MW). These results reflect energy savings of approximately 10-25% over and beyond savings from current U.S. programs and policies directed at lighting. (These estimates exclude the net effect on heating and cooling energy use in buildings.)
In addition, the net present value (the difference between energy savings and the extra cost of the efficient products) of between $ 24 and $ 55 billion for the period 1990-2030 shows that the EPAct can confer large economic benefits. Corresponding annual environmental benefits range from 1.3-2.6 billion tonnes of avoided CO_2 emissions from power generation, 2.3-5.4 million tonnes of avoided SOx emissions, and 2.0-5.0 million tonnes of avoided NOx emissions.
BEYOND THE ACT
The full technical potential savings for a comprehensive mix of lamps, fixtures, and controls (without reducing light levels) is approximately 64-71% (336-458 TWh) with a net present value of $ 96-$ 152 billion. Future standards could be designed to achieve these higher savings.
The study found that relying only on consumer education and information would result in far less energy and economic benefits than would the new standards or utility and federal financial-incentive programs.
(See also Luminaire Ratings on the US Agenda, IAEEL 1/94)
Evan Mills
TABLES
For more information, see:
Energy Policy Act of 1992, P.L. 102-486 (U.S. Government Printing Office) and B.A. Atkinson, et al,
Analysis of Federal Policy Options for Improving U.S. Lighting Energy Efficiency: Commercial and Residential Buildings. 1992.
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Report No. 31469,
MS 90-4000. LBL, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
Fax: +1 510 486 6996