---

Large CFL Potential In European Homes

---

During the past few years, many programs in Europe have been carried out to encourage customers to use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) instead of incandescents. These programs include different combinations of direct installations, rebates, give-aways, wholesale discounts, and pay-on-the-bill schemes. A very broad range of promotional strategies has been employed, including direct mail, free lamps, articles and advertisements in newspapers, brochures, and TV and radio announcements.

To gather more knowledge about the residential energy savings potential and the market situation in the CFL area, the European Union's SAVE program (Specific Actions for Vigorous Energy Efficiency) supported a two-year research project, completed in June 1996. For the study, information was retrieved from 26 different programs carried out during 1988-94, and some of the results are summarized in this article.

Researchers and electric utilities from Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands participated in the project that included data from nine European countries. One important aim of the project was to identify and explain the successes and shortcomings of all these CFL programs. Another important task was an attempt to estimate the number of CFLs in use today in the domestic sector within Europe. A survey of utilities and research institutes in nine countries (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden) shows that a total of 84 million CFLs are used in the residential sector in these countries. Given the relative weight of these countries, the results seem to be very much in line with estimates for the whole European Union which indicate that about 100 million CFLs are in use in the residential sector.

However, the study focuses on the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark where detailed data has been gathered. In these countries, about half the households have CFLs installed (NL 56%, DE 50%, and DK 46%). These high penetration rates are probably not matched anywhere else in the world. Numbers of CFLs used per residence vary greatly: Important residence-related factors affecting usage include type (flat, single-family house, etc.), size, and number of inhabitants. Extensive and detailed interviews have been made with 600 households in each of these three countries. According to our interviews, CFLs are purchased mainly in response to economic and/or environmental concerns.

ONLY 25% OF THE POTENTIAL REACHED
The surveys carried out in the project have also provided data on burning hours per lamp in different types of rooms. Such information is helpful when trying to determine when and how to use CFLs in order to maximize lighting efficiency Table 1. The economic potential for using CFLs in Holland, Denmark, and Germany (defined as lamps burning 2 hours or more) averages around 11 CFLs per home. The benefit/cost ratio varied from 2.6 to 4.3 for the customer and from 1.9 to 2.8 for society as a whole Table 2. The size of the realistic potential, however, depends on the luminaires in use, the cost of new luminaires dedicated for CFLs, and customer requirements as to the quality of lighting. Taking all the limitations into account, it was estimated that the `realistic potential' is 6 CFLs per home. This should be considered a modest estimate in view of the fact that in a detailed survey among people who already use CFLs the average was 6.7 CFLs per home. Based on the study's assumptions (an average of 6 CFLs per household), about 12 billion kWh could be cost-effectively saved in residential lighting in these three countries alone. So far, however, a savings of only about 25% (3 billion kWh) has been realized.

WHY ARE CFLs NOT USED MORE?
Substituting CFLs for incandescent lamps improves the cost/benefit ratio for the customer as well as for the society. The investment in CFLs is typically paid back several times, and energy consumption is reduced by more than 75% which helps the environment considerably. So why do we not use more CFLs?

The sale and use of CFLs also depend on several other actors besides the consumers. Therefore, a survey among architects, designers, and retailers was carried out. This survey showed that designers and architects want CFLs with the highest quality of light (five-band phosphors) and that they want the shapes of the CFLs to be more standardized; the retailers want a lower price, and everyone seems to think that there is a lack of dedicated luminaires for CFLs. In Denmark, several of those professionals responded that the Danish CFL quality test and labeling program supported by the utilities has drastically reduced complaints from dissatisfied customers, since low-quality products are not entitled to this label.

Finally, cooperation with four CFL manufacturers was established within the project, including meetings at which innovations, development trends, and barriers to the spread of CFLs were discussed. Among other things, the manufacturers claim that they are focusing on the following technical improvements: decreased size, increased lamp life, reduced warm-up time, more and better colors, introduction of power-factor compensation, and dimming possibilities.

STABLE PRICES AND DEDICATED LUMINAIRES
Customers in the three main countries covered by the study also claim that they find the price of CFLs to be too high in comparison with incandescent lamps. Campaign periods with a rebate followed by periods of higher prices have led to fluctuating market conditions. A better approach might be to give a rebate until a substantial volume has been reached on the condition that manufacturers thereafter keep the price down at the same level.

The problem with incompatible lamps, and the risk of people replacing burned out CFLs with incandescents could largely be solved by getting more dedicated CFL luminaires out on the market (See IAEEL 1/95).

Dedicated pin-based CFL luminaires with built-in ballasts (which have a lifetime 4-5 times longer than the CFL) offer promising, new business opportunities for both the lamp and the luminaire industries. Dedicated luminaires will also make lamp replacement much cheaper and can drive down the life-cycle cost. However, some obstacles remain. For instance, there is a need for a higher quality, compact ballast that can support CFLs over a range of wattages.

OVERCOMING SOME OF THE BARRIERS
New products about to enter the market will address some of the problems with CFLs experienced by users. Dimming and built-in occupancy sensors will, for instance, soon be introduced. Such features appeal to customers interested in comfort/smartness.

Lower-than-expected light levels and a decrease in light flow with lamp age are other important complaints. These problems could partly be compensated for by using a lamp with a wattage ~10% higher than that recommended today. This means, for example, that a 60-W incandescent lamp should be replaced by a 13-W CFL instead of a 11-W one, as is often recommended. In this way customers would experience an increase in lighting rather than a decrease, which is often the case today. This could also help reduce the annoyance of having to wait 45-60 seconds before the lamp reaches maximum light output.

MORE INFORMATION, QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND WARRANTY
Another serious barrier is lack of knowledge. Better information, marketing, demonstration strategies, and warranties concerning lamp life are needed. Marketing through advertising on television and in national papers seems to be the best approach. Advertising aimed at children-who then, hopefully, ask their parents for the advertised product-has been a success in several countries.

Sales of poor-quality lamps tarnish the image of CFLs. Testing of the electronics, crucial for the life of the CFL, carried out by independent organizations can help identify lamps that fulfill the promised 8 000 or 10 000 hours of life. Such testing programs have been a success in Denmark.

A manufacturer warranty concerning CFL life could also help allay the worries of customers concerned that the lamps will not last long enough to justify their high cost, and thus become a strong incentive to buy. Such warranties have been a success in Germany.

DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION AND COOPERATION

The findings of the surveys in this project reveal a need for dialogue and cooperation between all parties involved: CFL manufacturers, retailers, designers/architects, lamp/fixture manufacturers, utilities, government agencies, and consumer/customer organizations. Our intention is to follow up on the project with informational activities including seminars in several EU countries as well as in eastern European countries.

Casper Kofod

The author is the head of the Energy Analysis and DSM Department at DEFU, the Research Institute of Danish Electric Utilities. The author can be contacted at:

DEFU
PO Box 259
DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
Fax: + 45 45 93 12 88
E-mail: ck@defu.dk

Top of page