Residential Lighting Consumption and Saving Potential in the Enlarged EU

Abstract

Lighting is present in every household and represents a considerable share of the electricity\nconsumption for residential sector in the European Union and Candidate Countries. Although, most\ncitizens are well aware that lighting is important part of their electricity consumption, they are still\nunaware or reluctant to adopt efficient lighting technologies. Most citizens are not aware that many\ntypes of traditional (and some new) lamps they use have very low efficiency and that large amount of\nenergy and money could be saved by installing more energy efficient lamps, without loosing any\nlighting service.\nThe European Commission investigated energy consumption and energy savings in lighting since the\nbeginning of the nineties, when launched a number of studies and pilot projects under the SAVE\nprogramme on lighting in the residential and tertiary sector. This studies have resulted in a number of\npolices and programmes adopted to reduce lighting consumption.\nAt the same time a number of successful governmental and utility driven programmes took place in\nmost Member States to promote efficient lighting. These activities have resulted in a substantial\nmarket transformation in some Member States.\nHowever, there is still a large cost-effective saving potential of at least 11,5 TWh per year in the\nenlarged EU (or 12,6 TWh per year by including Romania and Bulgaria). This does not include the\nadditional savings that will be introduced by new promising technologies such as LEDs.\nThe present paper provides updated information on the lighting consumption in the residential sector,\nthe penetration of efficient technologies and the first estimate of the saving potential, if new and\ninnovative polices and programmes are introduced. In particular the role of promotional campaigns,\nefficiency requirements, building codes, and white certificates are discussed.\nLast but not least the paper calls for the collection of more accurate end-use data to assess in a more\naccurate manner the still available saving potential.