Assessing the residential lighting efficiency opportunities in Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico

Lighting, primarily with incandescent bulbs, is the major end use of electricity in Mexican homes. The introduction of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) could significantly reduce electricity use in lighting. We describe a survey of lighting use in homes of Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico, that was conducted to provide information to determine the potential for CFLs. The results show that 1/6 of the incandescent bulbs can be replaced with CFLs if only those bulbs used more than 4 hours per day are targeted. We also provide insights on conducting similar surveys in other developing countries.