Compact Fluorescent Lighting in America: Lessons Learned on the Way to Market

摘要

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were introduced in the 1970s; however, it has taken more than 30 years for them to gain widespread recognition in the U.S. residential lighting market. Government and utilities have invested significant public and ratepayer funds in promoting the technology because CFLs represent an effective energy efficient resource: they decrease lighting energy consumption by one-half or more for each incandescent lamp replaced. While CFLs still have only about 2% of the national market in terms of unit sales, they have achieved higher market penetration in some parts of the country, including California (5%) and the Pacific Northwest (12%). This report reviews efforts to increase market acceptance of CFLs and barriers to that acceptance. The report was prepared by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Building Technologies, Emerging Technologies Program. Lessons to be learned from this study of CFLs are identified in hopes of assisting future market introduction efforts for other promising energy-efficient lighting technologies. Lessons learned from reviewing the efforts of the many parties involved in increasing consumer acceptance of residential CFL lighting and from studies of CFL manufacturers, retailers, and consumers are summarized below. These lessons are grouped into three categories: those pertaining to technology, to marketing, and to program design. A fourth category lists lessons learned from recent interviews PNNL conducted with CFL manufacturers Philips, GE, Osram Sylvania, and TCP regarding how their experiences would apply to the market introduction of LEDs (light emitting diodes) or other new lighting technologies.