ACEEE NEWS RELEASE
NEW OUTDOOR LIGHTING AGREEMENT WILL REDUCE NEED FOR NEW POWER PLANTS WHILE IMPROVING LIGHTING QUALITY
Contacts: Steven Nadel, ACEEE, 202-507-4011
Jennifer Amann, ACEEE, 202-507-4015
Press contacts: Glee Murray, ACEEE, 202-507-4010
Ronnie Kweller, Alliance to Save Energy, 202-530-2203
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
November 3, 2009
Washington, D.C.—Today, lighting equipment manufacturers and energy efficiency organizations announced agreement on a legislative package that would create new minimum efficiency standards for many types of outdoor lighting products. If enacted by Congress as new legislation, the agreed-upon new standards would reduce U.S. lighting energy use by about 24 to 42 billion kWh annually, equivalent to the annual output of 3 to 6 new 1000 MW power plants (the typical size of a new nuclear unit).
The agreement was reached by the National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association (NEMA); several energy efficiency organizations, namely the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Alliance to Save Energy, and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP); and a major utility, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E).
The agreement establishes initial efficiency standards for outdoor pole-mounted lighting fixtures, then calls on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to quickly set revised standards. Covered fixtures primarily light roadways and parking lots. In addition, the agreement requires double-ended halogen lamps (a type of high-wattage incandescent lamp that is used outdoors) to meet specific efficiency requirements and prohibits sales of mercury vapor lamps as of 2016. New mercury vapor fixtures and ballasts were prohibited in a 2005 law, so this next step completes the transition away from mercury vapor towards more efficient types of light.
“This agreement establishes modest initial standards for outdoor lighting equipment, but paves the way for big savings if DOE does a good job when setting revised efficiency standards,” stated Steven Nadel, ACEEE Executive Director. “Only a minority of fixtures on the market today is affected by the initial standards; much larger savings will occur if the revised DOE standards move the average fixture to performance levels met by the better fixtures now on the market.”
Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas stated, "As both a Senator and the Honorary Chair of the Alliance to Save Energy, I appreciate the unwavering commitment made by manufacturers, consumer and advocacy groups, and utilities to negotiate this agreement. This public-private cooperation will help move our nation towards a more energy-efficient future."
ACEEE estimates that the initial standards will save about 12 billion kWh/year. The revised standards could increase savings by 12 to 30 billion kWh/year for total savings of as much as 42 billion kWh/year (or roughly enough power to meet the total needs of more than 3.6 million typical U.S. households).
“The agreement will also improve lighting quality from outdoor fixtures, since the most stringent standards apply to fixtures with high glare and light trespass. Standards are less stringent for fixtures with better glare and trespass control,” said Jennifer Amann, the Director of ACEEE’s Buildings Program.
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