New Federal Energy Law Creates Lighting Control Challenges

The recently passed federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 may have created more questions than solutions for both integrators and manufacturers regarding lighting control systems.

The law, which was passed in December, calls for the elimination of inefficient light bulbs, such as today's common 40W to 100W incandescents, by the year 2012.

The extinction of the incandescent will require homeowners to switch to other energy-efficient light sources for their fixtures, such as LEDS, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or certain types of halogens.

That change will foster questions regarding the disposal costs and methodology for CFLs, as well as the dimming capabilities, light-generation quality and costs of CFLs vs. halogens vs. LEDs.

Regardless of the solution, integrators -- especially those who install lighting control systems -- may soon be pressed to inform their existing customers and new clients about the positive and negative ramifications of the law.

The new federal law is somewhat patterned after California's Title 24 but without some of the specifics related to manual on/automatic off switching and vacancy sensors.



Specifically, the law brings the United States on par with Canada, Europe and Australia in developing new lighting efficiency standards that are 30 percent more energy-efficient than today's incandescent light bulbs.

It does not specifically address dimming or lighting control.

According to the Home Lighting Control Alliance (HLCA), an industry association formed to educate the public about advanced lighting controls in the home, the law's performance standards appear to favor compact fluorescent bulbs, which are often faulted for their cold, unflattering color, slow-starting nature and mercury content.

Most of today's compact fluorescents cannot be dimmed, and even the special versions that are dimmable tend to exhibit flicker and produce a "cooler" color appearance while dimming. Indeed, some dealers call dimmable CFLs "flat-out terrible."

Moreover, CFLs with ballasts cost twice as much as LEDs, according to Gary Trott of the LED Lighting Fixtures in Orlando.

"Builders especially do not understand that they have to change their lighting designs. If they don't, homeowners are going to end up retrofitting surface-mount LEDs all over the place. This new law will add a lot of cost to a home with 50 can lights. Builders need adopt new lighting technology and use it as a competitive advantage," he says, adding that changing from a 60W incandescent to a 12W LED fixture will save $1 per month in electricity.

Under the new law, consumers still have choices for their lighting. Efficient incandescent/halogens, like the Philips Halogená Energy Saver, meet the standards by offering about a 30 percent energy savings and a service life of 3,000 hours.

Meanwhile, bulb manufacturers such as GE are working towards new high-efficiency incandescent bulbs that will comply with the new standards. And dimmable LED lights remain a possibility; the energy law, in fact, created a $10 million prize for an LED light bulb that can replace today's 60W incandescents.

But at least one integrator, Shawn Smith, vice president of S&S Electric in Oldsmar, Fla. and a member of the CEA TechHome Division board, says the price of LEDs is still too steep for the general market. Like many other dealers, he is in a quandary about how aggressively to push lighting control systems these days, and exactly what to tell builders.

According to Andy Wakefield, director of Lutron Electronics home business unit, the law is not "as bad as we thought at first glance." He is optimistic that light-bulb manufacturers will bring efficient solutions to the market.

Unfortunately, he is concerned that the stigma now placed on any bulb with the word "incandescent" in its name will be a death knell.

At the same time, there is a growing anti-green backlash against CFLs due to mercury levels and the disposal costs. Consumer awareness that CFLs include traces of toxic mercury is growing.

There are already stories floating on the Internet about the woman who had to spend $700 to dispose of one CFL bulb.

According to the HLCA, the law creates an opportunity for integrators to advance their lighting control sales -- due to the technology's dimming capabilities -- combined with vacancy sensors for bathrooms, bedrooms, walk-in closets and other spaces.

According to the California Energy Commission, dimming can save an average 10 percent of lighting energy consumption in the home, while vacancy sensors can save an average 20 percent.

"Consumers with dimmers and dimming systems should look to today's energy law-compliant incandescent/halogen bulbs and potential future high-efficiency incandescent bulbs for replacement as the new 2007 Energy Act's requirements begin to go into effect starting in 2012," says Gary Meshberg of Lightolier Controls and chairman of the HLCA.

"Those who wish to purchase compact fluorescent bulbs should be aware they will need special dimmable versions if they want the bulbs to work with dimmers and dimming systems, and even this may not ensure the performance or look and feel they expect."

The HLCA hopes to lobby Congress for possible amendments to the law that will mandate the use of energy efficient light bulbs in combination with lighting control.