Legislation + Regulation

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has announced consensus legislation–created with input from manufacturers, designers, energy advocates and utilities–that would set federal efficiency standards for pole-mounted outdoor lighting for the first time ever. This legislation creates three tiers for efficiency levels: · Tier 1, which becomes effective three years after enactment of the bill, sets [...]

The FTC has proposed new labeling requirements for lamps in response to a congressional mandate to provide consumers with clear, easily understandable information to help them choose among different bulb types as traditional lamps compete with CFLs and newer LED lamps. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announced on October 27 seeks comment on new labels [...]

This month, the IES Hartford Section is presenting the Fall 2009 update and final draft of the Model Lighting Ordinance, sometimes called the “Dark Sky regulations.” The guest speaker is Leo Smith (Northeast Regional Director of the International Dark Sky Association), who served on the IDA/IESNA joint task force that developed the current MLO. To [...]

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of working with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association on a revision of their website detailing features, benefits and rules of implementation for the Commercial Buildings Deduction. Congress recently extended the expiration date for this important energy efficiency incentive to January 1, 2014. Check out the new and improved [...]

In July 2009, the Department of Energy issued new energy efficiency standards for commercial general-service fluorescent lamps and incandescent (and halogen) reflector lamps. The new rules take effect July 14, 2012 and will basically eliminate products with the lowest efficiency and lowest cost. In the case of fluorescent lamps, equivalent-performance products are readily available, such [...]

Despite strong, on-going sales of 4-ft. T12 fluorescent lamps, the magnetic ballasts commonly used for the lamps’ operation will start becoming relics of the past on July 1, 2010, when their continued manufacture for commercial and industrial applications becomes prohibited by DOE ballast efficiency regulations. According to the National Lighting Bureau, the July 1, 2010 [...]

Starting January 1, 2012, 100W bulbs will be regulated, followed by 75W bulbs in 2013 and 40W and 60W bulbs in 2014. I have been writing for some time that besides the exemptions, at least one incandescent/halogen product currently complies with the Act’s efficiency standards, which is Philips’ Halogena Energy Saver/Energy Advantage halogen screw-base lamp [...]

Several weeks ago, I conducted a short survey of lighting practitioners to see how they are using the Commercial Buildings Deduction. I got a very small response on the new construction side of the industry and a high response on the retrofit side. As the former lacked a statistically valid sample on which to make [...]

On August 3, an email blast was distributed to the approx. 11,500 subscribers of LightNOW inviting them to take a spot survey in which they would be asked to report data about their awareness and use of the tax incentives related to lighting. After the mailing, 356 subscribers responded. Respondents were first qualified to those [...]