Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures

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THE PRODUCT:

Metal halide lamp fixtures are commonly used in industrial buildings and high-ceiling commercial applications such as gymnasiums and big-box retail stores. Metal halide lamps are also used in some low-ceiling applications and in street lights and other high-light-output applications.

THE STANDARD:

In December 2007, Congress enacted EISA, setting initial minimum efficiency standards for metal halide lamp fixtures. The standard became effective in January 2009, requiring a minimum ballast efficiency of 88% for pulse start ballasts and a minimum ballast efficiency of 94% for magnetic probe start ballasts. Updated test procedures became effective in March 2010. The California Energy Commission adopted a two-tiered standard for metal halide lamp fixtures: the Tier 1 standards became effective January 1, 2010, and the Tier 2 standard will become effective January 1, 2015.

The current standards apply to fixtures designed to operate lamps with wattages between 150 W and 500 W. The 2012 ASAP/ACEEE report, The Efficiency Boom, analyzed amended standards for these fixtures and new standards for fixtures designed to operate 50-150 W lamps and fixtures designed to operate lamps with wattages greater than 500 W. The report analyzed the standard levels in the DOE preliminary analysis published in April 2011 that represent the maximum cost-effective energy savings. For 150-500 W fixtures, the standards represent savings of about 4% relative to the current standards. The incremental cost of $17 results in a payback period of just over 3 years.

The statutory deadline for the final rule was January 1, 2012. DOE missed the deadline.

KEY FACTS:

Potential technological improvements that could be used to meet the standard include improved core steel, electronic ballasts, improved components and improved circuit design. About 3.9 million metal halide lamp fixtures are shipped annually.