EPA GREEN LIGHTS PROGRAM
E L E C T R O N IC
BALLASTS:
Technology To Boost Your
L ighting Efficiency
Ballasts are a necessary part of fluorescent
lighting systems-located in the fixture, they
start and operate the lumps. Make your
fluorescent lighting system more efficient and
save energy by replacing traditional magnetic ballasts with electronic versions.
In nearly every fluorescent lighting system,
electronic ballasts can replace conventional
m agnetic “core-and-coil” ballasts. They provide
about the same amount of light while reducing
energy use up to 25 percent. Other advantages
are reduced weight, less humming noise, and
virtually no lamp flicker.
operating if one bums out. Electronic ballasts
also are available for 8-foot standard and high
output T-12 lamps.
T-8 Electronic Ballasts
Specifically designed for use with T-8 (l-inch
diameter) lamps, the T-S electronic ballast
provides the highest efficiency of any fluoresc e n t l i g h t i n g s y s t e m . C o m p a r e d t o T - 8 operation with magnetic ballasts, the lamps may not
last as long but produce more light and are
much more efficient.
Dimmable Electronic Ballasts
These ballasts save additional energy by
permitting the lamps to be dimmed manually
or with controls that can sense daylight.
SAVING ENERGY PREVENTS POLLUTION
How can electronic ballasts prevent pollution? Saving electricity prevents air pollution
caused by electricity generation. Carbon
dioxide (CO 2 ) is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming-and 35 percent of all
CO 2 comes from electric utilities. Sulfur dioxide (SO 2) is the major contributor to acid rain65 percent of all SO 2 comes from utility
s o u r c e s . N i t r o g e n o x i d e s ( N Ox ) h a v e b e e n
c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e c r e a t i o n o f s m o g a n d acid
rain-36 percent of all NO X c o m e s from electric
utilities.
In fact, if you install ten 4-lamp electronic
ballasts in a room, replacing two magnetic
ballasts in each of ten fixtures operating 3000
hours per year, you would save 1,290 kilowatt
hours annually. These savings would prevent
2,065 lbs. of carbon dioxide, 15 lbs. of sulfur
dioxide, and 8 lbs. of nitrogen oxides from
being released into the environment each year
- an annual reduction of more than 24 percent.
Electronic ballasts save energy by opening the
lamps at high frequencies (above 20 kHz).
Several electronic ballast designs are available. The most common are
Standard T-10/T-12 Electronic Ballasts
These ballasts are designed for use with
conventional series-wired rapid start fluorescent lighting systems. Some electronic ballasts
designed for use with 4-foot lamps can operate
up to four lamps at a time and can be wired in
parallel to allow the other lamps to continue
Reprinted and distributed by IdEA$, The Industrial Energy Advisory Service, I-800-VP-IDEAS
Wachovia Prevents Pollution
and Saves Money
Earlier this year, Wachovia Corp. engineers
installed new energy-efficient electronic ballasts
andfluorescent lamps in lighting fixtures at its
Piedmont Operations Center and 90 of its 141
Georgia bank branch offices.
There are 3,400 lighting fixtures in the
Piedmont Operations Center. Before the new
ballasts and lamps were installed, each fixture
required 168 watts of energy. The new
technology reduced that figure to 109 watts, a 35
percent energy savings. “Since lighting
constitutes approximately one-half of the total
electric bill at the center, 59 watts [savings] per
lighting fixture. . . really adds up to a significant
savings,” noted Wachovia’s Maintenance
Services Manager Robert Cashner.
Wachovia estimates that the investment will
pay for itself in less than three years and will save
the company $78,000 a year in electric bills at
the Piedmont Operations Center alone. The
annual pollution prevented includes 2,987,335
pounds of carbon dioxide, 14,145 pounds of
sulfur dioxide, and 8,934 pounds of nitrogen
oxides. According to Cashner, branch offices will
have an even faster payback, since smaller-office
energy costs are much higher.
“We think it’s just a win-win situation,”
continued Cashner, “Employees and visitors
enjoy better quality lighting, the company saves
money, and the environment has fewer pollutants
to battle.” Wachovia Corp.‘s maintenance
services will continue to install the new lighting
in branch offices throughout Georgia.
g
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watt standard lamps, a low ballast factor
(.80 to .90) will result in less light compared to an average magnetic ballast
(about .94). A high ballast factor (over
.95) will mean more light.
Reliability: Most electronic ballasts on
the market today are reliable. Still,
specify ballasts with a proven track
record and a warranty that covers materials and replacement labor for at least
three years.
Power Quality: Both magnetic and
electronic ballasts may cause electrical
disturbances that can interfere with the
operation of sensitive electronic equipment. Specify electronic ballasts with
“total harmonic distortion” of no more
than 30 percent of the line current.
Depending on your needs, you may want
to specify an even lower percentage.
Compatibility: Not all lamps work with
all ballasts. Check with your lighting
consultant or supplier about compatibility.
Two - Lamp Fluorescent
System Efficiency
(lumens/watt)
(excerpted from Wachovia Corp.'s employee newsletter
First Impressions, April 30,1991.)
Standard Magnetic
Ballast
Electronic
Ballast
Ballast Type
Even though electronic ballasts cost 60 to 75
percent more than magnetic ballasts, the energy
they save typically offsets the price within
8,000 hours of use.
GREEN LIGHTS:
A Bight Investment
in the Environment
‘Power draw for operation of two 40-watt fluorescent lamps
Electronic ballasts are lighter and use less power than
standard magnetic ballasts
GETTING
THE FACTS
Asking the right questions can help you
decide if and when to use electronic ballasts.
g
Light Output: To find out how electronic ballasts affect light levels, ask
your supplier for the “ballast factor” that
applies to the specific lampballast
combination you plan to use. For 40-
Green Lights is an exciting new program
sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that encourages major U.S.
corporations to install energy-efficient lighting
technologies.
Corporations that make the commitment to
Green Lights will profit by lowering their
electricity bills, improving lighting quality, and
increasing worker productivity. They will also
reduce the air pollution caused by electricity
generation.
For information, contact:
Green Lights Program
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
401 M St., SW (ANR-445)
W ashington, DC 20460
(202) 479-6936
August 1991