T12 Lighting Phase Out Approaches

Posted on 20. May, 2010 by Alex Vidal in Blog

T12 vs T8 vs T5

T12 bulbs soon to be extinct

There’s been a lot of buzz here at the Green Savings Network surrounding the big “T12 phase out”. The U.S. Department of Energy’s fluorescent lighting mandate is official. As of July 1, 2010 magnetic ballasts most commonly used for the operation of T12 lamps will no longer be produced for commercial and industrial applications. Also, many T12 lamps will be phased out of production starting July 2012. All in the name of efficiency.

What should I be prepared for?
• Manufacturers will be phasing out their production of T12 lamps and ballasts
• Progressively less availability of T12 lamps and ballasts
• Increased cost of T12 lamps and ballasts due to demand vs. limited supply
• To keep up with federal regulations of energy efficiency, manufacturers’ technology and production will be focused on T8 and T5 systems
• Limited-time opportunity (2010) to access enhanced State Energy Efficiency Fund incentives for T12 upgrades

Did you know?
Approximately 30 percent of all fluorescent lamps sold in the U.S. are still T12 technology. As a result of the T12 phase out, 70 percent of all T12 fluorescent lamps sold in the U.S. will be phased out come July 2012.

For more info, check out the top 5 Frequently Asked Questions on the T12 Lighting Phase Out.

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  • http://www.columbialighting.com/blog/?p=263 blaze! » T12, We Bid You Adieu

    [...] Efficiency. Energy-saving. Green. The rising trend towards a greener future has encouraged those in the lighting industry to change their ways. The U.S. Department of Energy issued a fluorescent lighting mandate which affects the production of magnetic ballasts associated with the T12 lamp. By July 1, 2010, these magnetic ballasts will no longer be manufactured. As a result, by July 2012, the T12 lamps will be phased out as well. The cost of T12 lamps and ballast is expected to increase because of demand vs. limited supply. To find out more about this imminent phase out, please download this pdf. (Source: The Green Blog) [...]

  • Anne

    thanks for the info! check out this new technology for an easy retrofit called luxadd. it’s a converter and adapter in one. simply connect the new T5 into the converter and snap the converter into the T12 ficture. go to http://www.luxadd.com.

  • elrtech

    This leaves a business owner very few options. They could either hoard several boxes of T12 light bulbs and get as much out of them as they could before the July date. They could call an electrician, and spend a few hundred dollars per fixture to change the ballasts and convert to T8s. Or you could visit http://www.empirelightingresources.com and purchase our T12s. Our line of T12′s meet the US Department of Energy’s standards, and cost a fraction of what you would spend trying to convert all of your lighting fixtures. Plus we guarantee a savings on your lighting bill. The choice seems simple, but you decide.

  • Smcgraw

    It’s NOT a
    few hundred dollars to retrofit a T12 to T8, it’s typically $65-$75
    dollars per fixture including instalation, ballast and lamps, and tax. You can install a 28 watt lamp or a 25 watt lamp instead of a T8- 32
    watt lamp and really save on your energy bill. T8 Lamps are a more- white
    light 4100K is a good color for offices.

    We have
    better technology…that’s why things change. We don’t use Kerosene lamps anymore
    because we know there is a better alternative.When we know better — We do better. 

    We have
    better technology…that’s why things change. We don’t use Kerosene lamps anymore
    because we know there is a better alternative.
    When we know better — We do better. 

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