DOE Releases Final Metal Halide Ballast Efficiency Standard

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released new energy-efficiency standards for ballasts in metal-halide fixtures. There's a good summary of the highlights from Craig DiLouie on the blog for the Lighting Controls Association. 

The new rules go into effect in 2017 and will affect availability of some 50-1000W luminaires. The new regulations encourage a shift to pulse-start ballasts and a move from magnetic to electronic ballasts. Today, magnetic ballasts still account for approximately 90% of the market. The shift to electronic ballasts will introduce some complicating factors to address reliability concerns, DiLouie said. 

Ballast manufacturers will be reviewing their product lines and determining on a case by case basis whether the product already complies, must be redesigned, or will be discontinued. If the magnetic ballast must be redesigned, or if an electronic ballast will be put forward in place of a magnetic ballast, the luminaire may need to be redesigned and retested, which may result in some gaps in availability.

Go read DiLouie's article, "DOE Announces New Energy Efficiency Standards for MH Luminaires," and if you need the full context, here's the law itself: "2014-02-10 Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures; Final Rule"