Douglas Avery & Evan Mills
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
U.S. Department of Energy
Mary Breighner & Jerry Naylis
Arkwright Education
Arkwright Mutual Insurance Co.
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Low-priced, luminous and popular, torchiere-style halogen lamps consume high levels of energy and operate at high temperatures, posing a fire hazard of concern to federal safety officials, risk managers and others. According to industry estimates, approximately 15 million of these lamps are sold each year. The ENERGY STAR® labeling program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy recommends compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) torchiere-style fixtures, a safer, more energy-efficient lighting source.
Compact fluorescent units operate at temperatures dramatically lower and safer than the halogen units they replace. Average halogen torchieres operate between 700°F to 1000°F, and have been the source of 350 reported house fires, 30 deaths, and 114 non-fatal injuries in recent years. Between 1996 and the middle of 1997, halogen torchieres were responsible for an additional 100 fires in dormitories alone. Compact fluorescent units safely operate at a temperature no higher than 140°F.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Arkwright Mutual Insurance Company conducted a study of CFL torchieres at Northeastern University in Boston to evaluate their performance and acceptance among students who frequently rely on traditional halogen lamps.
Compact fluorescent lamps greatly cut energy bills while reducing the safety hazards posed by halogen torchieres. Students indicated a desire for new compact fluorescent fixture designs mounted as wall or ceiling units. They found the quality and quantity of light provided by CFL fixtures was equal to or better than that provided by halogen torchieres. Universities can derive financial and safety benefits from CFL torchieres. Risk managers and insurers are recognizing that replacing halogen torchieres with compact fluorescent fixtures is an excellent loss prevention measure.
A one-page Campus Lighting fact sheet in PDF format can be downloaded by clicking here.