Market Watch

Lighting comprised about 8% of the total U.S. energy consumption in 2001, according to a report funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The study found commercial buildings used the largest share of lighting energy, followed by residential, industrial, and outdoor stationary fixtures. In terms of lamp types, incandescent lamps were found to be the highest energy user, accounting for 42% of the nation's electricity used for lighting, followed by fluorescent with 41% and high-intensity discharge with 17%.

Wireless Monitoring and Control Market Has a Bright Future

Venture Development Corp., a technology market research firm based in Natick, Mass., forecasts the overall product shipments for the wireless monitoring and control market will increase rapidly from about $109 million in 2001 to around $752 million in 2006, growing at a compound annual growth rate of more than 47%. The table at right shows 2001 shipment shares to the four largest consuming industries, along with the forecast shares for 2006. These four segments accounted for 57% of the market in 2001, and are forecast to account for 64% in 2006.

NEMA's Business Indicators Point to a Rebound

Shipments of industrial controls have finally begun to turn around, according to the Industrial Automation Control Products and Systems section of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). Prior to the first quarter of this year, the Primary Industrial Control Index had fallen in each period for seven of the nine previous quarters. The first quarter 2002 index gained 7% over its fourth quarter level, and the second quarter index improved another 8%. The Primary Industrial Control Index represents U.S. orders for devices including motor starters, contactors, terminal blocks, control circuit devices, motor control centers, sensors, and PLCs.