Monthly Special Feature

Well July 14, 2012 is here and gone…….to help clarify the recent light bulb rules that went into effect on this date and the two-year exemption for the 700 series of T8 lamps IN YELLOW, let’s go back to the NEMA papers posted in July 2009:

Summary: New 2012 Standards for General Service Fluorescent Lamps (GSFL)                    

Effective Date of new DOE standards: July 14, 2012

Current exemptions continue [For example, lamps with CRI ≥87, cold temp. (CT), UV, etc.]

Impact for 4' & 8' Fluorescents Lamps ≤ 4500K and > 4,500K and ≤ 7,000K

• T12 4-ft. & 2-ft U-lamps with medium bi-pin bases

- Majority of F40 and F34T12 lamps and all FB40 and FB34T12 U-lamps FAIL.

- 4-ft. requires 3560 lumens @ 40W and 3030 lumens @ 34W to pass @ 89 LPW.

- 2-ft. U-lamps require 3360 @ 40W and 2856 @ 34W to pass @ 84 LPW.

- CWX/DX/DSGN50/C50 are exempt due to CRI.

• T12 8-ft. Slimline with single pin bases

- All 75W F96T12 lamps FAIL.

- All 60W F96T12/ES FAIL except for the 800/SPX Series & some 700/SP long life Series.

- CWX/DX/DSGN50/C50 are exempt due to CRI.

• T12 8-ft. 800mA HO with RDC bases

- All 110W F96T12 HO lamps FAIL. Requires enhanced coatings with 10,120 lumens to pass.

- All 95W F96T12/ES/HO FAIL except for enhanced 800 Series. Requires 8740 lumens to pass.

- CWX/DX/DSGN50/C50 are exempt due to CRI; CW/CT & D/CT are exempt.

• T8 4-ft. & 2-ft. U-lamps with medium bi-pin bases 

- All 4-ft. T8 basic 700/SP Series lamps @ 2800 lumens FAIL. Requires 2850 lumens to pass.

- All other 4-ft. pass.

- All 2-ft. 800/SPX Series U-lamps pass. Some 700/SP Series pass.

• T8 8-ft. Slimline with single pin bases

- All pass except some 700/SP Series. Requires 5723 lumens @ 59W to pass.

• T8 8-ft. HO with RDC bases

- All pass except some 700/SP Series. Requires 7912 lumens @ 86W to pass.

• T5 4-ft with miniature bi-pin bases

- All pass.

Summary: Energy Conservation Standards for Incandescent Reflector Lamps (IRL)

Effective Date of new DOE Standards: July 14, 2012

Impact: Only a few of today's halogen reflector lamps, e.g. PAR20, PAR30 and PAR38, can meet the standards in the Final Rule. In order to meet the new standards, reflector lamps will need to use new technologies such as advanced infrared (IR) coatings and optimized reflector coatings. IR coatings redirect wasted heat energy emitted by the lamp filament back to the filament, increasing the temperature of the filament, and thus enabling it to produce more light without increasing wattage. Optimized reflector coatings will more efficiently direct light produced by the lamp out of the lamp and into the space being illuminated. The few existing lamps that meet the new standards are more expensive than the standard halogen lamps on the market today. While the initial cost of the new higher efficiency reflector lamps will be higher, the consumer should see a payback through reduced electrical bills depending on the amount of time the lamps are "on."