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The lighting industry’s move from fluorescents to LEDs is a once-in-a-generation technology shift. Since the 1970s, fluorescent lighting was the dominant source in commercial buildings, but over the last decade, LEDs became the de facto choice for new projects and lighting upgrades. Couple the industry’s progression to LEDs with federal and state legislation aimed at driving significant advances in sustainability, and the transformation away from fluorescents is nearly complete.
While LEDs are the clear path forward, today much of the commercial lighting in North America is still switched fluorescent. In recent years, several U.S. states and Canada have introduced legislation banning the sale of fluorescent lamps. About a dozen others have restrictions on high-CRI linear fluorescents in the works, and the federal government is banning the sale of most incandescent bulbs as of August 2023, with additional restrictions on halogen bulbs.
As regulations move to cement LEDs as the preferred light source, the availability of replacement fluorescent lamps and ballasts will continue to decline, and maintaining installed fluorescent lighting will become increasingly difficult.
The good news is, in addition to being mercury-free and energy-efficient, LEDs offer tremendous advantages. Long lamp lives result in fewer lamps purchased, less packaging, and less raw material used over time. LEDs also offer high-performance and unparalleled control flexibility, color options, tunable white capability, and digital control options with the ability to adapt as space needs change.
In short, more companies will cease the manufacture of fluorescent lamps, ballasts (both switching and dimming), and fixtures. Properties still using fluorescent technology will have to have to upgrade to LEDs to keep the lights on.
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