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Using 50% to 80% More Energy Than You Should Be?
New Efficiency Standards for Probe-Start Metal Halide Luminaires

New Efficiency Standards for Probe-Start Metal Halide Luminaires

How this will affect your purchasing decisions, product options and availability

The Energy Independence and Security Act, passed in 2007, is an energy policy designed to increase energy-efficiency and the availability of renewable energy. A key provision of the Act sets new efficiency standards for ballasts used in metal halide (MH) lamp fixtures, and goes into effect on January 1, 2009.

These new standards prohibit lighting manufacturers from producing any new 150- to 500-watt MH fixtures using traditional probe-start ballasts. Instead of low efficiency probe-start ballasts, luminaire manufacturers are required to produce fixtures with more efficient pulse-start ballasts that use less energy and deliver higher lumen output.

Read the complete Energy Independence and Security Act for any allowable exceptions to the regulation.

In comparison to probe-start MH lamps, pulse-start MH lamps* offer: 

• Energy savings - higher lumen output*, and better lumen maintenance allow for fewer total fixtures or reduced wattage lamps (For example, 320W PSMH provides the same
  or better mean lumen output as 400W Probe)          
  
• Better performance* - up to 33 percent increased lumen maintenance
• Better cold starting capability* - faster cold start/warm-up and a shorter hot-restrike times.
  * Courtesy of National Lighting Product Information Program (NLPIP)
  

Pulse-start MH lamps also provide a lower total cost of ownership. Manufacturers suggest that because pulse-start MH lamps are more efficient and feature longer life ratings, fewer fixtures and less frequent relamping are required, reducing energy consumption and operating costs.

If you’re considering a retrofit from probe-start to pulse-start MH lamps, they use completely different ballasts that are not interchangeable. This is mostly due to the igniter that’s required with the pulse-start ballast.  While the initial retrofit may require an initial up-front investment, customers will more than make up for it with increased energy savings over the life of the lamp.

Many of Ruud Lighting’s products are affected by this new regulation. The 2008-2009 Ruud catalog uses a red triangle to indicate which products will no longer be manufactured after
January 1.   

Example:

Whether this new regulation presents you with the opportunity to upgrade or replace fixtures, our Customer Service and Application Engineering departments are ready to assist you in selecting and purchasing the appropriate product. Although Ruud Lighting will no longer manufacture luminaires using probe-start ballasts, we will continue to sell what’s left of our inventory of these luminaires.