Fluorescent ballast and lamp disposal issues
All around the world, governments, utility companies, and private businesses are attempting to reduce the amount of energy consumed. In the United States alone, new economic strategies and programs are being created to facilitate this process. For instance, the recent enactment of the National Energy Policy Act, the Environmental Protection Agency`s (EPA) Green Lights Program, and a surge of utility involvement in Demand Side Management (DSM) Commercial/Industrial Direct Install and Rebate Programs. Many of these programs target Commercial/Industrial lighting system retrofits as one of the most cost effective avenues for reducing the consumption of energy. Due to this trend, hundreds of millions of lighting ballasts and lamps are being pulled out of existing buildings and discarded. The benefits of these programs result in enormous reductions in fossil fuels (and subsequent carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide emissions) required to generate the displaced electricity. Throughout the United States, however, there is an increasing concern for the environmental impacts surrounding the accelerated disposal of both lighting ballasts and lamps. Regulations initially established were for a {open_quotes}one by one,{close_quotes} retirement (failure) process rather than promoted obsolescence and forced retirement of lamp groups or entire systems (truckloads of old technologies). Recognizing this trend and the potential negative environmental effects federal state, and local regulators are in the process of reevaluating the impacts and are being asked to promulgate policies to specifically address this situation. While it is anticipated that regulations pertaining to PCB ballasts will become better focused, the regulations regarding fluorescent lamps are, really, yet to be finalized. As interested and involved parties continue to become more aware of all the impacts, we can expect clearer direction.
- OSTI ID:
- 227092
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951173--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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