EERE: August 2008 Archives

• ASHRAE / IESNA 90.1-1999/2001
• LEED
• IECC
• Energy Policy Act 2005
• 2002 ECCC of New York
• Ballast Legislation
• DARK-SKY
• Energy Star
• California Energy Commission - Title 24
• NEMA
• ISO 14000

ANSI / IESNA / IESNA Standard 90.1- 1999/2001

ASHRAE 90.1 was recently published under joint sponsorship by ANSI (American National Standards Institute, http://www.ansi.org/), ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, http://www.ashrae.org/) , and IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, http://www.iesna.org/). This standard is generally regarded as the definitive source of guidelines for achieving energy efficiency, and many other codes and standards (such as the latest version of the International Energy Conservation Code or IECC, http://www.iccsafe.org/) either have or are expected to adopt the requirements published under ASHRAE 90.1.

The 1999/2001 version includes several key changes from the 1989 version:

• More stringent lighting power requirements and codes written in more enforceable language.
• Required use of lighting controls for many applications (details below).
• Control points for spaces are no longer used.
• Building area power allowances (W/ft2) no longer depend on the size of the buildings.
• Area factor, a function of ceiling height and floor area, is no longer calculated.
• Exterior lighting power requirements have been simplified. Specifically, most exterior lighting power requirements are now stated in terms of minimum efficacy (lumens/watt).

USGBC: LEED

(Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design: http://www.usgbc.org/)

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System^TM is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the U.S. Green Building Council representing all segments of the building industry developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution. LEED standards are currently available or under development for:

• New construction and major renovation projects (LEED-NC)
• Existing building operations (LEED-EB, Pilot version)
• Commercial interiors projects (LEED-CI, Pilot version)
• Core and shell projects (LEED-CS, Pilot version)
• Homes (LEED-H)
• Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND)

LEED is flexible, enabling buildings to become certified according to their level commitment to green design, which is reflected in a points and labeling system. Energy and atmosphere is the largest part of the LEED program, providing the ability to earn 17, or 27% of all possible points. Out of these 17 possible points, optimization of energy performance can result in 10 points.

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

Many states and municipalities have adopted portions of the IECC code as law. The IECC was formed in order to establish energy-related standards for residential, multi-family, and commercial buildings. A major focus of the code provisions is on the building envelope insulation and window requirements, which vary depending on the regional climate. While the a large portion of the code deals with the U-factor and R-factor requirements, the code also addresses the heating, cooling, water-heating, electrical, and lighting systems of the building.

Entire IECC document page  http://www.ecodes.biz/

Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT)

EPACT includes a significatnt tax deducation to encourage the use of energy efficient products through the year 2008.  Lighting and HVAC/hot water systems and building envelop improvements can qualify for tax deductions totaling up to 60 cents / sq. foot for each sysgtem with a posible $1.80 / sq ft maximum. 

Ballast Legislation: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office: 

Consumer products; energy conservation program: Fluorescent lamp ballasts; energy conservation standards, 56739-56749 [00-24004].  Standards go into effect, they will essentially require fluorescent lamp ballasts for F40 and F96 lamps to be the electronic type. The standards will segment the market into new applications and replacement applications and extend the implementation dates to mitigate the burdens to acceptable levels. The standards provide a phase-in period of approximately five years, until April 1, 2005 for new applications. In addition, today's rule provides an additional phase in, until June 30, 2010 for ballasts intended for the replacement market. This  Federal Ballast Rule covers only the following lamp types...2ft U Tubes, 4ft Rapid Start, 8ft Rapid Start, 8ft High Output.

Municipal Dark Sky Ordinances

The International Dark-Sky Association was incorporated in 1988 as a tax-exempt non-profit organization, exclusively for educational and scientific purposes. IDA operates under formal bylaws, established at the time of incorporation and revised at the annual meeting on 4 February 1989, and again in September 1990.

IDA's goals are to be effective in stopping the adverse environmental impact on dark skies by building awareness of the problem of light pollution and of the solutions, and to educate everyone about the value and effectiveness of quality nighttime lighting.  http://www.darksky.org

Energy Star

ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy efficient solutions -- helping to save money while  protecting the environment for future generations -- http://www.energystar.gov/

EPA partnered with the US Department of Energy in 1996 to promote the ENERGY STAR label, with each agency taking responsibility for particular product categories. ENERGY STAR has expanded to cover new homes, most of the buildings sector, residential heating and cooling equipment, major appliances, office equipment, lighting, consumer electronics, and more product areas.

California Energy Commission Title 24

The 2005 Building Energy Efficiency Standards that affect residential and non-residential building standards statewide in California
California Energy Commission -- http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/

These web links can be useful in keeping up with what is happening with California energy legislation. 

http://www.energy.ca.gov/ - site for California Energy Commission
http://www.cabec.org/ - site for California Association of Building Energy Consultants organization
http://www.calbo.org/ - site for California Building Officials organization

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

Nema publishes over 400 standards, application guides and technical papers. A few helpful documents include: "White Paper on Outdoor Lighting Code Issues", "Model Outdoor Lighting Regulation" and a June 2001 publication called "Exit Sign Brightness for Visibility & Safety" which includes a review of NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code and the related standard UL924, Emergency Lighting and Power Equipment.

National Electrical Manufacturers Association http://www.nema.org/

International Standards Organization -- ISO 14000

The ISO 14000 series of voluntary standards address international environmental management systems, environmental auditing, environmental labeling, environmental performance evaluation, and the life cycle assessment. ISO is an international non-governmental organization that promotes the development and implementation for voluntary international standards. ISO consists of 112 member countries, with the U.S. represented by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

ISO 14000 is used as a condition of some customer/supplier transactions, especially in Europe and with the U.S. government. In the courts, ISO 14000 may become a standard of due care in assessing whether a company was in good faith making consistent and diligent efforts to manage its environmental impact.

Cooper Lighting provides an excellent overview of each of these  energy and lighting  policies and legisltation:  Cooperlighting.com