The National Electrical Manufacturers Association, NEMA, is "the leading trade association in the United States representing the interests of electroindustry manufacturers. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its 400 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end-use of electricity."
While NEMA does not represent all manufacturers in the US, it does have 400 members that provide a useful overview of activities and achievements within the industry.
NEMA has noted a significant improvement in energy efficiency from its member companies. Manufacturers’ use of rare-earth phosphors instead of halophosphates, and development of smaller bulb diameters (T8 and T5) together with the shift to electronic from magnetic ballasts have led to a 40-50% improvement in system efficiency. This efficiency results in reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants including mercury. The introduction of pulse-start technology and ceramic arc tubes has significantly increased efficiency of metal halide lamps. Manufacturers have also developed and promoted the use of compact fluorescent lamps to replace incandescent lamps.
Increases in efficiency result in lower emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. For example:
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The 150 million T8 lamps and electronic ballasts that have now replaced the older style T12 lamps save annually 48 billion kilowatt hours electricity, 66.8 billion pounds of CO2 emissions from the fossil fuel portion of the electrical generation, millions of pounds of each of the major air pollutants such as nitrogen-oxides, sulfur oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds and 1,262 pounds of mercury from that coal and oil. |
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The compact fluorescent lamps now being used to fill 50 million “incandescent sockets” save annually 6.750 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, 10,125 million 9.4 billion pounds of CO2 emissions from the fossil fuel portion of the electrical generation, millions of additional pounds of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, particulates and carbon monoxide and 178 pounds of mercury from that coal and oil.
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The US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy joined forces in 1996 to add compact fluorescent lamps to the ENERGY STAR® family of products, launching a new era for the CFL. More than 40% of the US population recognizes the ENERGY STAR logo as the symbol for energy efficiency, and utility rebate programs throughout the country have helped boost the sales of these lamps that are up to 75% more energy-efficient than their incandescent counterparts.
In 2004 alone, SYLVANIA compact fluorescent lamps bearing the ENERGY STAR label sold through utility rebate programs saved consumers close to $11 million and prevented air pollution equivalent to that of almost 9,500 cars each year.
The industry has also achieved additional power savings and emission reductions by increasing the efficiency of other products such as metal halide lamps. . In summary, the industry has contributed to significant reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gases, ozone and acid rain precursors, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and mercury.