The California Energy Commission (CEC) has published a voluntary quality specification for omnidirectional and directional LED replacement lamps intended to replace screwbase incandescent lamps in light fixtures other than colored lamps, light strips and rope lights, linear pin-based lamps and integrated light fixtures.
Research conducted by the California Lighting Technology Center resulted in two conclusions. First, energy-saving products will not be accepted, despite good light output, cost-effectiveness and heavy promotion, if they do not satisfy consumer demands for lighting quality. Consumers remain unhappy with CFLs, for example, due to dissatisfaction with color quality, limited dimming and unpredictable lamp life. Second, current ENERGY STAR criteria for integrated replacement lamps may not be ideally aligned with maximizing consumer acceptance.
The Quality LED Lamp Specification is intended to work with ENERGY STAR but goes beyond in several key areas, including color temperature (limited to warm 2700K or 3000K), color rendering (90+ CRI with R9 of 50+), color consistency, dimmability (capable of continuous dimming without flicker or noise to 10%), rated life/warranty and light distribution. There is no efficacy requirement, enabling 90+ CRI lamps to be offered at a lower cost. These criteria, CEC believes based on the CLTC research, will increase consumer acceptance.
On November 8, 2012, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued decision 12-11-015, which requires utilities in the state to rebate only LED lamps that are consistent with the Quality LED Lamp Specification. A transition period of up to one year, during which non-compliant lamps could still be rebated, was allowed to give manufacturers time to make any necessary improvements to their products. This transition period was allowed based on the belief that while most products on the market today are very close to satisfying the Specification, few actually do. At the latest, the new specification will begin impacting rebate programs in early 2014.
