Legislation + Regulation

  A new “Lights-Out” bill has been proposed in NYC’s City Council to reduce migratory bird deaths. The bill would require many privately-owned commercial buildings to reduce light at night. NYC Audubon estimates that 230,000 birds die annually in collisions with windows and brightly lit facades. The bill wouldn’t apply when people are in buildings, [...]

In October 2022, the Mexican government passed a law ending seasonal clock changes that the Mexicans call “Summer Time” and the U.S. calls “Daylight Savings Time.” This March, most of Mexico did not ‘Spring forward,’ and are now in a permanent Standard Time. Similar legislation has been passed by the U.S. Senate, but has not [...]

California’s energy code, Title 24 2022, became effective January 1st, 2023. In it were new code requirements for indoor horticulture spaces, including grow light requirements. This was in part motivated by a large surge in energy use after the 2018 legalization of recreational cannabis in the State. Urban indoor grow facilities took off and energy [...]

The American Lighting Association (ALA) has shared information about a China tariff exclusion that has been reinstated by the Biden Administration. This exclusion for passive infrared (PIR) sensor luminaires could reduce tariffs on certain fixtures depending on the light source (socketed vs. integrated). As part of the Section 301 tariffs on goods imported from China, [...]

  Effective January 1, 2023, lamp/bulb manufacturers have new “extended producer responsibility” requirements in Ontario, Canada, for end-of-life management of “lighting” under Ontario Regulation 522/20: Electrical and Electronic Equipment (the “EEE Regulation”). This includes both residential and commercial lamps sold in Ontario. Product Care Recycling is a not-for-profit organization registered as a “Producer Responsibility Organization” [...]

In September 2022, California banned the sale and distribution of certain fluorescent lamps over the next few years. In doing so, the state joined Vermont, the European Union, and soon, possibly, Canada and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy is targeting CFLs with new energy standards.

One week ago, on March 14th, the California Energy Commission (CEC) voted to repeal portable luminaires from the scope of Title 20 appliance efficiency regulations. Portable luminaires include floor lamps, table lamps, desk lampand other luminaires with a wall plug rather than a hardwired power source. Although CA Title 20 provided a number of paths [...]

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a new rule that would ban non-compete agreements and clauses from contracts in the U.S. The motivation is to create more competition and innovation by allowing employees to change jobs freely, without being restricted by non-compete clauses. The rule would apply to both independent contractors and full-time employees, [...]

New York City, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Boston, and St. Louis are all preparing to fine building owners who fail to comply with new local regulations that in most cases, limit large buildings’ greenhouse gas emissions and/or curb energy usage. The earliest of the fines will go into effect this month in San Francisco. This [...]