The newly published report “B Class Halogens and Beyond” with the subtitle “Design Approaches to Complying with Proposed EU Eco-design Domestic Lighting Requirements:  A Technological and Economic Analysis” takes a closer look at the alternatives to today’s incandescent lamps and the prospects for making these technologies mandatory within the eco-design regulatory framework. A multitude of solutions from several suppliers have the potential to offer more efficient alternatives to clear incandescent lamps earlier than the Commission proposes to make this solution mandatory.

The European Commission has proposed to start phasing out incandescent lamps next year, and the proposal is due for voting in the regulatory committee on 8 December:  For frosted lamps, all lamps should be at least energy class A, according to the proposal. Class A corresponds to the efficiency achieved by a relatively well-designed compact fluorescent lamp (CFL).

For clear lamps, the proposal is to replace them with Class C lamps, and from 2016 to replace Class C lamps with B Class  Simply stated, with technology currently available on the market, Class C corresponds to the efficiency achieved by conventional line voltage (230 Volt) halogen lamps.  Class B corresponds to the efficiency achieved by halogen lamps employing a low voltage power supply and infrared-reflective coating.

The report shows that a much more rapid transformation to a mix of CFLs and B Class halogen lamps is possible, as compared to the regulation proposed by the European Commission.

The report also suggests that the technology is available to achieve a quick phase out of halogen “retro” class C, and that new, much more efficient halogen technologies beyond Class B is technically feasible without significant cost increases.

“We have been encouraged by the findings that different competing technologies can achieve the same high efficiency” Nils Borg, eceee Executive Director says.

The report findings in short

• Efficiency gains of 75 to 100% relative to conventional 40 watt incandescent lamps operated at 230 volts were observed with B Class lamps. In other words, operating wattages were half of what conventional GLS lamps require to provide similar or slightly greater light output.
• No single proprietary technology is required to achieve Class B. Based on product measurements, a literature review, and conversations with numerous experts in the lighting field, the authors of the report conclude that manufacturers have at least five different technological options for achieving Class B to replace incandescent lamps. Among the incandescent options, one already exists (Philips) and has been made available in finished retail packaging in limited numbers.  All of the other options listed are also currently being pursued commercially.
• The value of the lifetime electricity savings from a Class B-compliant lamp would be at least twice its incremental cost. Class B halogens may retail at €4,00-7,50 if produced in volumes of 50-100 millions.
• New hybrid technologies tested for the report would perform at far higher efficiencies than the Level B currently proposed in Europe. We recognise that it would be important to promote these highly efficient coated halogen technologies, as well as the so called selective emitter technology (almost two times as efficient as the current B Class lamps on the market). eceee will come back to the Commission on how this might best be done either through future minimum performance standards or a revision of the energy label.
• In addition to the proposed correction factors for discharge lamps, correction factors for these very efficient halogen technologies may have to be considered.
• The 2012 deadlines, already enshrined in California and Nevada general service lighting efficiency regulations, U.S. federal regulations, and near-final Canadian regulations, give manufacturers ample incentive to bring efficient products to the market already by 2012 and there is no reason why Europe should wait until 2016.
  

The report “B Class Halogens and Beyond was prepared for eceee by the US-based firm Ecos Consulting (not to be confused with the European NGO Ecos). The work has been supported by the European Climate Foundation and Defra’s Market Transformation Programme (UK).

Link to eceee report (revised 12 December)

For more information, contact

Nils Borg
Executive Director
eceee@eceee.org