NEEA began its consumer lighting market initiatives in 1997 to advance consumer awareness and use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and fluorescent light fixtures throughout the region. Its earliest projects addressed such market barriers as high first cost; lack of product availability; lack of consumer awareness; incompatibility of CFLs with existing fixtures, dimmers, timers and photocells; performance problems; poor aesthetics of energy-efficient lighting products; and consumer dislike of fluorescent technologies by providing financial incentives to manufacturers; retailer education; marketing and mass advertising; and branding.
