High-performance CFL downlights: The best and the brightest

Book · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:55513

Sardinsky, R; Hawthorne, S; Newcomb, J

Downlight fixtures -- often referred to as ``recessed cans`` -- are among the most common lighting fixtures in commercial and residential settings. As such, they represent one of the most promising targets for improving lighting energy efficiency. The authors estimate that downlight fixtures account for more than one-fifth of the 2.8 billion incandescent lighting sockets in the US, and represent about 8 percent of total direct lighting energy use. Over 30 million new fixtures of this type are sold each year in the US. With existing and foreseeable technology, nearly two-thirds of the incandescent downlights in the US are candidates for retrofit or replacement with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or fixtures. The remaining one-third, however, are unlikely to ever be replaceable with CFL technology because of constraints on light output, lighting quality, size, and cost-effectiveness of CFL alternatives. High performance downlight systems using compact fluorescent lamps and incorporating advanced optical, thermal, and ballast designs use up to 75 percent less energy than conventional incandescent downlight fixtures. Many CFL downlight fixtures, however, perform poorly. In this report, the authors explore ways in which various elements of fixture design influence performance. They also describe exemplary elements of high-performance designs, and evaluate several emerging or experimental technologies that promise to further improve efficiency.

• OSTI ID: 55513
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
BALLASTS
DESIGN
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FLUORESCENT LAMPS
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PERFORMANCE
RETROFITTING
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES