Energy Efficiency

Minimum Energy Performance Standards

The energy efficiency of lighting systems is under review in many countries due to the world-wide recognition of the need to conserve energy and reduce the generation of greenhouse gases. In Australia the Government has imposed a Minimum Energy Performance Standard (M.E.P.S.) on all fluorescent ballasts manufactured or imported from February 2003. The M.E.P.S. regulation requires that all ballasts be registered by the manufacturer or importer with respect to the ballast's Energy Efficiency Index (E.E.I.).

The Energy Efficiency Index is the corrected total input power of the lamp and ballast circuit for that particular lamp and ballast combination.

There are seven classifications as follows:

A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, C, D

The A1 classification is the most efficient. "A" classifications are only achieved with electronic ballasts, with B2, C & D classifications covering most magnetic ballasts. Classification B1 is in the crossover region between some types of electronic, and low loss magnetic ballasts.

In Australia the minimum M.E.P.S. rating for fluorescent ballasts is B2. In New Zealand the minimum rating is B1. The B1 rating is equivalent to the old LLEC ballast type, which is still available in Australia.

A single 36 Watt fluorescent fitting with a B2 ballast will have a total input power of around 43 Watts. The same luminaire with a B1 ballast would have a total input power of around 41 Watts.

The M.E.P.S. applies to ballasts for linear lamps of 15 Watt and above only (not to ballasts for circular lamps).

The M.E.P.S. regulations will save almost $270 million dollars in Australia by 2010, and reduce greenhouse gas emission by 350,000 tonnes.

Low Voltage Transformers for Dichroic Lighting

Iron core copper wound (magnetic) transformers for low Voltage lighting are not covered by the M.E.P.S. regulations. Iron core transformers are a source of considerable energy wastage. A typical 12 Volt 50 Watt iron core transformer dissipates about 18 Watts as wasted energy. An electronic transformer is considerably more efficient with the ndLIGHT ET60 dissipating only 8 Watts.