Lighting Industry’s New Normal Seems To Be In Effect, NLB Says

March 7, 2017

Lighting-equipment demand fell 4.7% between the second and third quarters of 2016, according to data developed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) for its Lighting-Systems Index (LSI), a seasonality- and inflation-adjusted composite measure of luminaires, ballasts, miniature lamps, large lamps, and emergency lighting shipped throughout the USA by NEMA members. NEMA used 2002 data to create the LSI’s 100-point benchmark.

According to Laurie M. Miller, NEMA’s director of statistical operations, the year-over-year LSI decline was even more dramatic: third-quarter 2016 demand was 9.7% less than third-quarter 2015 demand. Demand fell for all monitored equipment: luminaires, ballasts, miniature lamps, large lamps, and emergency lighting.

National Lighting Bureau (NLB) Executive Director John Bachner comments, “The lighting market has changed and its rapid evolution shows no sign of let-up. Traditional lighting is being replaced by new technology, LED-based products in particular. For example, between the second and third quarters of 2016, halogen lamp shipments fell 7.5%, compact-fluorescent-lamp (CFL) shipments fell 12.8%, and incandescent-lamp shipments fell 17.2%. By contrast, during the same period, LED A-line lamps shipments posted a 124.2% increase.

“The falling prices of many LED products make the lighting source’s energy efficiency, versatility, adaptability, and longevity even more attractive,” continues Bachner. “In short, the electric-illumination industry is changing. I suspect that the metrics used to monitor its health will be changing, too.”

This article was first published by the U.S. National Lighting Bureau, an independent, IRS-recognized not-for-profit, educational foundation. Find out more: www.nlb.org.