An Examination of the Performance and Acceptance of Compact Fluorescent Bulbs and Fixtures in the Residential Market

Bradley Steele, Energy Federation, Incorporated

Keywords

Abstract

This paper analyzes sales and returns data from a number of efficient lighting programs Energy Federation, Inc. (EFI) implemented with utility clients and state public benefits charges administrators from 1994 through 2001. These programs promoted sales of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), hardwire and plug-in compact fluorescent fixtures, to residential customers.

The analysis of over 2,100,000 product sales, and 47,000 product returns, suggests that consumers buying CFLs are satisfied with the products, and experience relatively few problems with them. There are statistically significant variances in return rates between different styles of CFLs. The most popular CFLs, ‘bare glass’ bulbs such as spirals, triples, and quads, have the lowest ratio of returns to sales. CFLs that either trap heat, such as capsules, or are placed in applications where ambient temperatures are likely to be high, such as reflectors, and products that are dimmable or have multiple light levels, have a much higher ratio of returns to sales.

Compact fluorescent fixtures do not perform as reliably as CFLs - at least at this point in time. Hardwire fixtures appear to present some difficult design challenges which the fixture manufacturing industry has yet to address successfully. As with CFLs, problems are manifested similarly among name brand and more obscure manufacturers. As with CFLs, some types of fixtures are more prone to fail, or to be rejected by customers for some perceived shortcoming, than other types of fixtures.

Plug-in compact fluorescent fixtures have higher return rates than CFLs, but appreciably lower return rates than hardwire compact fluorescent fixtures. The return rates of plug-in fixtures would be much lower if the category of torchieres were excluded. The torchieres return rates are comparatively high principally because of problems unrelated to ballast or lamp performance or reliability – such as difficulties customers encounter assembling the products, and switch failures. For plug-in fixtures, there do appear to be significant differences in product quality among manufacturers.