The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the Final Draft of the Energy Star Luminaires V1.0 specification. This now has an effective date of October 1, 2011.
The specification is available from the Energy Star Luminaires web page, which also carries comments on Draft 1 of the specification (released May 10, 2010) and Draft 2 (released October 4, 2010).
The Luminaires V1.0 specification will replace the Residential Light Fixtures (RLF, V4.3) and Solid State Lighting Luminaires (SSL, V1.2) specifications.
EPA expects to distribute the finalized Energy Star Luminaires V1.0 specification before the end of January, 2011. Stakeholders wishing to provide additional comments on the Final Draft should submit these to [email protected] by Friday, January 14, 2011.
As well as finalizing the Luminaires specification, EPA has been engaged in the revision of Energy Star Program Requirements for all product categories in preparation for third-party certification requirements which take effect on January 1, 2011. Details of those changes, including Revised Partner Commitments for Residential Light Fixture and Solid State Lighting Luminaire manufacturers, can be found at www.energystar.gov/testingandverification. Please note that beginning January 1, 2011, manufacturers seeking qualification of new product models must do so through an EPA-recognized certification body prior to using the Energy Star mark.
Changes from Draft 2
The Final Draft distributed today reflects changes resulting from the Draft 2 comments, subsequent industry discussions, and the third-party certification updates. Important modifications from Draft 2 to the Final Draft include:
- Accent lights and cove mount luminaires, formerly included only in the residential scope, have been added to the commercial scope of the specification with the same performance requirements.
- For solid state luminaires consuming 5 watts or less, the power factor performance requirement has been reduced to ≥ 0.5. This change reflects what is both broadly accessible and cost effective.
- The modulation depth requirement detailed under Operating Frequency Requirements for solid state luminaires has been removed. EPA will continue to follow the work of various industry groups working to develop recommended practices to mitigate the potential for perceptible flicker and stroboscopic effects with this technology.
- Three specific exceptions to the Ballast/Driver Replaceability Requirements have been added for luminaire types for which it is impractical to enable a consumer to replace the ballast or driver due to the small form factor of the luminaire. Where partners elect to take these exceptions, extended warranty periods are proposed.
- Lighting Toxics Reduction Requirements have been further refined, with exemptions now detailed in the specification.
- All Supplemental Testing Guidance has been refined to make reference to testing models of subcomponents, and sample size language has been updated to reference the number of units of each model that shall be tested. The guidance also now indicates that luminaires shipped without lamps and capable of operating multiple wattage lamps shall be tested using the highest wattage lamp type detailed on the packaging.
Luminaire models qualified prior to January 1, 2011 (or those submitted to EPA contractors prior to January 1 and subsequently qualified) will remain qualified until October 1, 2011. After this date, to remain on the Energy Star qualifying product list they must be certified by an EPA-recognized certification body to meet the Luminaires V1.0 specification requirements.
Luminaire models qualified after January 1 (i.e. certified by an EPA-recognized certification body) using the existing specifications and also meeting the Luminaires v1.0 specification requirements will be automatically added to the Luminaires v1.0 qualifying product list on October 1.
