Competitive Impact of Building Energy Performance Standards on the Lighting and Fixtures Industries

摘要

The likely effects of BEPS on the overall design of new buildings; how BEPS might affect lighting design and hence, demand for lighting products; and how these changes in demand might affect the competitive structures of the US lamp and fixtures industries are presented. The major elements of a conceptual approach to the effects of regulation on competition are outlined. An analysis of the degree to which BEPS will change the design of new buildings is presented. Although it is concluded that the effect of BEPS on overall building design will be quite small, the same is by no means true for its effect on lighting design. Hence, an approach to estimating the maximum reasonable effect of BEPS on the demand for lighting products is discussed. The potential effect of BEPS on the structure of the lamp and fixtures industries is discussed, based on an analysis of the structure of those industries and the effect of BEPS on demand for lighting products. We concluded that, although the effects of BEPS on the lamp industry will be negligible, more substantial shifts in the structure of the fixtures industry are possible. The elements of an approach that could be generally useful in assessing the impact of new regulations on competition in industries affected by the regulations are outlined. (ERA citation 09:026198)