Energy efficiency comparison of dimmable electromagnetic and electronic ballast systems

Compared with electromagnetic ballasts, electronic ballasts have much shorter lifetime and are not recyclable. This prompts new concerns about their environmental impacts due to the accumulation of toxic and non-biodegradable waste components and materials. In this paper, the combined use of a central dimming system with low-loss electromagnetic ballasts is compared with electronic ballasts. Experimental results have confirmed that the use of a central dimming system for large electromagnetic ballast driven lighting systems can be as energy efficient as electronic ballasts. Considering the long lifetime of electromagnetic ballasts and recyclability of their magnetic chokes, this project shows that such combined technology can provide an improved environmental-friendly and energy-saving solution for large-scale electric lighting systems.