Senate Energy Committee Passes Efficiency Standards for Outdoor Lighting

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today approved legislation that for the first time would set national energy efficiency standards for pole-mounted outdoor lighting. These standards are supported by NEMA.

In 2007, the Department of Energy estimated that outdoor lighting consumes more than 178 TWh annually, which is the equivalent of 42 coal-burning power plants (600 MW). In 2009, under the NEMA auspices, negotiations took place that included manufacturers, lighting designers, environmental organizations and other stakeholders which resulted in a consensus agreement that was later introduced as Section 6 in S 3059.

The first set of standards would take effect three years from date of the legislation becoming law and would also limit sky-glow and outdoor light trespass concerns. The DOE would undertake a rulemaking and would issue a second set of standards effective January 1, 2016, and a third set of standards could also be set with an effective date of January 1, 2021. The legislation also would prohibit the manufacture or import of general purpose mercury vapor light bubs on January 1, 2016, and set certain efficacy levels for high-output double-ended quartz halogen lamps.

Click here for more information about the bill.

Craig DiLouie

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