Codes + Standards

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Emergency Lighting Section has launched its Premium Exit Sign Program, which establishes standards for and encourages the use of high-performance exit signage. Unlike other NEMA Premium programs, this effort does not focus strictly on energy efficiency. Instead, the goal of the NEMA Premium Exit Sign Program is to increase [...]

I’m pleased to announce that I have finally completed the long awaited (by my publisher) update to The Lighting Management Handbook, which came out in 1994, with this 300-page book about redesigning existing lighting systems: Lighting Redesign for Existing Buildings. Because light is used to see but cannot be seen, it is often overlooked by [...]

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published two new solid state lighting standards: • NEMA SSL 1-2010 Electronic Drivers for LED Devices, Arrays, or Systems • NEMA SSL 6-2010 Solid State Lighting for Incandescent Replacement—Dimming With these publications, NEMA establishes harmonized requirements and expectations for solid state lighting (SSL). Both are directed toward designers, [...]

Daintree Networks, Inc. recently announced the launch of its ControlScope Connected Partner Program, designed to encourage vendor collaboration and development. Through the program, launched today with its first five members, Daintree Networks works with industry-leading lighting vendors to create interoperability between third-party products, as well as with Daintree’s own ControlScope wireless lighting control platform. Companies [...]

The Title 24 Residential Lighting Design Guide is now available to help builders comply with California’s 2008 Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. The Residential Lighting Design Guide provides a practical approach to lighting code compliance and design, including a broad array of example designs as well as technical and compliance information organized in a [...]

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and the Environment Katherine Hammack issued a new policy memorandum to improve high performance green buildings standards for the Army. “Energy security, sustainability and efficiency are national security imperatives,” said Hammack. “This policy supports the Army’s global missions in a cost-effective, safe and sustainable manner that will [...]

ENERGY STAR is a voluntary labeling program designed to help consumers identify energy-efficient, cost-effective products. To earn the label, a manufacturer’s product must meet strict efficiency and performance criteria established by the Federal government. On Aug. 31, 2010, the final ENERGY STAR criteria for integral LED replacement lamps became effective.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), a member of the Global Lighting Forum (GLF), has announced an initiative to coordinate and promote LED (light emitting diode) technology on a global level. In order to accelerate the uptake of LED lighting, GLF held the inaugural meeting of its LED Working Group recently in Shenzhen, China. In [...]

The Lighting Controls Association has published an article I authored about performance-based approaches to commercial building energy codes. This code approach is more directly linked to actual or expected energy use, potentially allow maximum component tradeoff flexibility between building systems, are considered a way to achieve higher energy savings, and can more easily accommodate alternative [...]