The World's First Lamp Standards
The World's First Lamp Standards
Several bills directing the US Department of Energy (DOE) to establish lamp or lighting product efficiency standards were introducing an Congress in 1991. As a result of these bills, negotiations were held between lighting manufacturers and efficiency advocates, resulting in a compromise agreement. This agreement passed the Senate in February 1992, and is expected to be passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the President by fall, 1992.
The legislation establishes specific efficiency standards for fluorescent and reflector incandescent lamps, with updated standards established by the DOE every five years. In general, the standards apply to the most commonly used incandescent and fluorescent products: specialized products are exempted. The proposed standards essentially limit:
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reflector incandescent lamps to those with a halogen capsule (or more efficient lamps such as compact fluorescent lamps)
- fluorescent tube lamps to either tri-phosphor lamps or to reduced-wattage halophosphor lamps with a krypton gas fill (a 34 W lamp of this type can usually replace a standard 40 W lamp in existing buildings). The compromise also calls for DOE to study standards for HID lamps, and to implement a labeling programme for luminaires and incandescent lamps.
Preliminary calculations by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy estimate that the lighting standards will reduce electric generating plant requirements in the US by approximately 15 000 MW in year 2000. (See also US Law Helps Tap Large Savings Potential,IAEEL, 1/93)