According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy consumption for all in the United States is estimated to be 8.2 quads, or about 22% of the total electricity generated in the U.S. and one-fifth of the national electrical consumption.
More than half of the energy is consumed in the commercial sector, where coincides with peak electrical demand and contributes to a building's internal heat generation, increasing air-conditioning load.
Consumers and businesses spend approximately $37 billion a year to light their homes, offices, streets, and factories. Advanced technologies can significantly improve the energy efficiency of and reduce building energy consumption and costs.
NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the largest trade association representing the industry, estimates that "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.
Lamps are now available with a 20 to 50% increase in lamp life compared with products available in 1990."
For our customers, installing energy-efficient is one of the most effective, sustainable design strategies available today. Reduced energy usage means reduced utility emissions, which means less air pollution and related human health effects. At OSRAM SYLVANIA we have long been the energy-efficient product innovators. We were first with high performance T8 fluorescent lamps in North America.
In 1981 we introduced the SYLVANIA OCTRONâ family of fluorescent lamps, ushering in a new era of efficiency. Since then, we have helped our customers save more than 267 billion kWh -- enough to run all of New York City for 4 years!! -- and over $26 billion in electricity costs.
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For years we have offered our customers optimal design and energy performance with The SYSTEM SOLUTIONâ concept-- our inventive offering of energy-efficient SYLVANIA lamps and ballasts. By bringing lamp and ballast development under one roof, we have been able to design SYLVANIA systems that optimize energy savings without sacrificing other elements of performance. As industry leaders in energy efficiency,
OSRAM SYLVANIA was instrumental in developing the Department of Energy Federal Ballast ruling requiring the use of energy-saving electronic ballasts in most fluorescent luminaires by 2005, and for replacement purposes by 2010.
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.