New lighting regulations in the US in 2012

Australian lighting manufacturers who currently sell lighting products in the US, or are planning to expand their presence in the US market, have a number of things that they need to be aware of. The US will be introducing new energy-efficiency regulations from 1 January 2012.

In the article below, Grainger, a North American distributor of maintenance, repair and operating products, sheds some light on the upcoming lighting legislation in the US.

As 2011 begins to come to an end, it is a good time for businesses to evaluate facility lighting and prepare for the US Department of Energy’s energy-efficiency legislation that will go into effect in 2012. The legislation will mandate that lighting manufacturers cease the production of non-efficient lighting and related products, which will change the way facilities consume energy and maintain lighting. Grainger debunks seven myths surrounding the lighting legislation and outlines some tools and resources that can help businesses ease into the transition.

“There are plenty of myths out there that are causing some confusion and ambiguity surrounding the legislation, which could end up putting some businesses at a disadvantage,” said John McDermott, Brand Strategy Manager, Sustainability, Grainger. “The lighting legislation is a unique opportunity for businesses to be more financially and operationally efficient, and facilities should embrace this shift and reap the benefits.”

Myth 1: The legislation will not impact commercial businesses as much as it will impact consumers.
Fact: The legislation will impact both residential and commercial buildings. Effective 1 January 2012, standard 100 W bulbs will require an increase of 30% in efficiency and can no longer be manufactured for sale in the US. The requirements will also apply to 75 W (effective 2013), 60 W and 40 W (effective 2014). For fluorescent tubes and PAR bulbs, lighting that is found throughout most commercial buildings, the legislation is slated to go into effect on 14 July 2012.

Myth 2: The only monetary return businesses will get from making the switch to efficient lighting is the decrease in energy usage.
Fact: While energy and productivity savings from efficient bulbs are an obvious monetary benefit to making the switch, businesses can take advantage of utility rebates that may be available at the state and local level for additional savings. To find out what incentives are available in different areas, visit www.dsireusa.org/, which lists information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Myth 3: All lighting within a commercial facility will require costly retrofits to accommodate the shape and design of energy-efficient lighting.
Fact: While a significant amount of lighting that is unique to a commercial building, such as fluorescent tubes and PAR bulbs, will need some kind of retrofit, not all types of lighting will require a full modification. Halogen and incandescent bulbs, for example, can simply be replaced by newer technology, such as CFL and LED bulbs, with no retrofit required.

Myth 4: Making the switch to energy-efficient LED lighting is very expensive and will put a financial strain on the business.
Fact: While LED lighting is more costly than its inefficient counterparts at the onset of installation, the return over time can be significant. Not only can businesses experience the cost savings that come with reducing energy consumption, productivity levels may also increase as businesses will no longer have to address lighting maintenance as frequently due to the longer lifespan of LED replacement bulbs. No-cost resources are available (at www.grainger.com/legislation) to help businesses better understand the savings potential.

Myth 5: There is no rush to accommodate the legislation because businesses can stock up on their current inefficient lighting and wait until they run out - waiting will not add additional costs to the project.
Fact: Like any government incentive programs, the utility rebates that are currently available will not be available indefinitely. To help businesses prepare for the change, many lighting manufacturers and suppliers will also be running promotions and other incentives to purchase energy-efficient lighting, which, similar to government incentives, may not be available once consumers and businesses adapt more widely to the legislation and efficient lighting becomes standard. When updating the lighting in a facility, consider taking an approach that will align with the budget and comfort level. For example, start by identifying and changing out those bulbs that do not require a retrofit.

Myth 6: When evaluating lighting within a facility and determining the best way to approach the process, businesses are on their own.
Fact: While some facilities may have an in-house expert who is familiar with upgrading to energy-efficient lighting, many businesses do not know where to start. There are third parties that specialise in retrofitting and can identify the magnitude of potential savings, layout a plan for the project and even execute the installation and apply for the appropriate utility rebates. An example of such a partner is Alliance Energy Solutions (www.alliance-energy.net/), a Grainger company, which assists facilities in adapting to the lighting legislation and helps businesses maximise their energy savings.

Myth 7: The best way to dispose of inefficient, fluorescent lighting is just to toss it in the trash.
Fact: Because fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, they may pose an environmental hazard when disposed of improperly. The best way to dispose of inefficient lighting is through recycling and if there are no recycling centres or drop-off locations in the local area, prelabelled recycling kits can be purchased and used bulbs can be mailed to recycling centres to help ensure proper disposal.

For more information about the lighting legislation and how to prepare for the impending changes in the US, visit: http://www.grainger.com/legislation.