MEEF - Middle East Economic Forum

ENERGY-SAVING T8 AND SUPER T8 LAMPS
by Craig DiLouie

Description: Next-generation T8 lamp technology has resulted in a number of 4-ft. choices that can be used to save energy. Energy-saving lamps include 25W, 28W and 30W T8 lamps, and Super T8 lamps offer higher light output, which can be used to reduce lamp and/or fixture count or operate with low-output electronic ballasts.

30W T8 Lamps: If instant start operation is acceptable, a 30W T8 system can be used to generate additional energy savings. Since there is a high population of instant start ballasts already in the field, switching to this energy-saving lamp can be a simple proposition.

28W T8 Lamps: A 28W T8 lamp is available for instant start and programmed start; when operated with a reduced-power (low light output) ballast, power consumption is 24 percent lower than a standard reduced-power instant start system with a six percent reduction in light output.

25W T8 Lamps: If instant start operation is acceptable, a 25W T8 system with a compatible electronic ballast can be installed.

Super T8 Lamps: Super T8 lamps are 32W T8 lamps but with a barrier-coat design, high lumen maintenance (88-92 percent end-of-life lumens), long service life and high light output—3100+ initial lumens as opposed to 2850 for a typical standard T8.

Table 1. Comparison of standard T8 and Super T8 systems. Source: Walerczyk, S. and B. Liebel, 2002: “Cutting-Edge Retrofitting and Relighting.” Seminar presentation at Lightfair International 2002, June 2, San Francisco, CA.

Lamp/Ballast

Initial Lumens

Ballast Factor

Lamp Life (hours)

System Wattage

Standard F32T8 w/electronic ballast

2,850

0.88

20,000

1-lamp fixture 30W

2-lamp fixture 58W

3-lamp fixture 87W

4-lamp fixture 114W

Super F32T8 w/reduced-power electronic ballast

3,200

0.78

24,000

1-lamp fixture 25W

2-lamp fixture 48W

3-lamp fixture 73W

4-lamp fixture 96W

Ballasts: For energy-saving T8 lamps, energy savings can be optimized by combining the lamp with a high-efficiency ballast or, if lower light output is acceptable, a low-output ballast. For higher light output, a high-output ballast can be installed. For Super T8 lamps, energy savings can be optimized by combining the lamp with a high-efficiency ballast, a standard ballast (and then delamping or reducing the number of fixtures), or a low-output ballast (which can produce comparable light output for 15-20 percent less wattage than standard T8 systems).

Table 2. Upgrade opportunities: System performance/savings on new T8 options vs. 4-lamp 277V T12 system. Source: Advance.

System Lamps	System Ballasts	Input Watts	Ballast factor	Light Output vs. T12	Savings vs. T12	Net System Lumens/Watt*
(4) 34W T12	(2) Energy-saving magnetic	144	.88	100%	N/A	56.2

Need more light output? Here are several options:

System Lamps	System Ballasts	Input Watts	Ballast factor	Light Output vs. T12	Savings vs. T12	Net System Lumens/Watt*
(4) 30W T8	(1) High-efficiency electronic	100	.87	118%	31%	95.7
(4) 32W T8	(1) Standard electronic	112	.88	117%	22%	84.9
(4) 32W T8	(1) High-efficiency electronic	106	.87	116%	26%	88.6
(4) 28W T8	(1) High-efficiency electronic	93	.87	111%	35%	96.5

Need roughly the same light output? Here are several options:

System Lamps	System Ballasts	Input Watts	Ballast factor	Light Output vs. T12	Savings vs. T12	Net System Lumens/Watt*
(4) 30W T8	(1) High-efficiency low-wattage (LW) electronic	89	.77	105%	38%	95.2
(4) 32W T8	(1) High-efficiency LW electronic	95	.77	103%	34%	87.5
(4) 25W T8	(1) High-efficiency electronic	83	.87	98%	42%	95.6
(4) 28W T8	(1) High-efficiency LW electronic	82	.77	98%	43%	96.9

Willing to sacrifice some light output to maximize energy savings? Here are several options:

System Lamps	System Ballasts	Input Watts	Ballast factor	Light Output vs. T12	Savings vs. T12	Net System Lumens/Watt*
(4) 25 W T8	(1) High-efficiency LW electronic	75	.77	87%	48%	93.6

* Net system lumens per watt = (mean lumens X number of lamps X ballast factor) / input watts

Table 2. Upgrade opportunities: System performance/savings on new T8 options vs. standard 4-lamp 277V T8 system. Source: Advance.

System Lamps	System Ballasts	Input Watts	Ballast factor	Light Output vs. T8	Savings vs. Standard T8	Net System Lumens/Watt*
(4) 32 W T8	(1) Standard electronic	112	.88	100%	N/A	84.9

Need roughly the same light output? Here are several options:

System Lamps	System Ballasts	Input Watts	Ballast factor	Light Output vs. T8	Savings vs. Standard T8	Net System Lumens/Watt*
(4) 30 W T8	(1) High-efficiency electronic	100	.87	101%	11%	95.7
(4) 32 W T8	(1) High-efficiency electronic	106	.87	99%	5%	88.6

Willing to sacrifice some light output to drive additional energy savings? Here are several options:

System Lamps	System Ballasts	Input Watts	Ballast factor	Light Output vs. T8	Savings vs. Standard T8	Net System Lumens per Watt*
(4) 28 W T8	(1) High-efficiency electronic	93	.87	94%	17%	96.5
(4) 30 W T8	(1) High-efficiency. LW elec.	89	.77	89%	21%	95.2
(4) 32 W T8	(1) High-efficiency LW elec.	95	.77	88%	15%	87.5

Willing to sacrifice even more light output to maximize energy savings? Here are several options:

System Lamps	System Ballasts	Input Watts	Ballast factor	Light Output vs. T8	Savings vs. Standard T8	Net System Lumens per Watt*
(4) 28 W T8	(1) High-efficiency LW elec.	82	.77	84%	27%	96.9
(4) 25 W T8	(1) High-efficiency electronic	83	.87	83%	26%	95.6
(4) 25 W T8	(1) High-efficiency LW elec.	75	.77	74%	33%	93.6

* Net system lumens per watt = (mean lumens X number of lamps X ballast factor) / input watts

Craig DiLouie is principal of ZING Communications, Inc. (www.zinginc.com), a marketing communications firm specializing in providing consulting, analysis and journalism services to the North American lighting and electrical industries.

Reprinted with permission from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). For more information, visit www.lightingtaxdeduction.org .

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ENERGY-SAVING T8 AND SUPER T8 LAMPS by Craig DiLouie

ENERGY-SAVING T8 AND SUPER T8 LAMPS
by Craig DiLouie