[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 52 (Friday, March 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10741-10746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6294]
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[[Page 10742]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Voluntary Program To Provide Energy Efficiency Information for
Luminaires
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
ACTION: Notice of determination.
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SUMMARY: The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) requires the Secretary
of Energy to make a determination on whether a voluntary national
testing and information program for luminaires, developed by an
appropriate organization, meets the objectives of the legislation. The
Department of Energy has provisionally determined that the National
Lighting Collaborative's voluntary testing and information program for
luminaires will be consistent with the objectives of EPACT when it is
demonstrated to the Department that the program has been fully
implemented so that reliable and comparative energy efficiency
information about luminaires is widely available to luminaire
purchasers. A final determination will be made no later than December
15, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara Twigg, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-431, 1000 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-8714
Edward P. Levy, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General
Counsel, Mail Station GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC 20585, (202) 586-9507
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Authority
Section 126 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), Public Law
102-486, directed the Secretary of Energy, after consulting with
industry associations and other interested organizations, to provide
technical and financial assistance to support a voluntary national
testing and information program for those types of luminaires that are
widely used, and for which there is a potential for significant energy
savings as a result of such program. A luminaire is a complete lighting
unit consisting of a lamp or lamps and ballasting (when applicable),
together with the parts designed to distribute the light, to position
and protect the lamps, and to connect the lamps to the power supply.
Under Section 126, the voluntary program would provide information
that, when conveyed to consumers, would enable purchasers of the
equipment to make more informed decisions about the energy efficiency
and costs of competing products. The voluntary program would determine
the luminaires to be covered; include specifications for testing
procedures; and include information to be disseminated through
catalogs, trade publications, labels, or other mechanisms, that would
allow consumers to assess the energy consumption and potential cost
savings of competing products. Such program would be developed by an
appropriate organization (composed of interested persons), according to
commonly accepted procedures for the development of national testing
procedures and labeling programs.
EPACT requires the Secretary to make a determination not later than
three years after the date of its enactment, as to whether the
voluntary program that has been developed is consistent with the
objectives established for the testing and rating of luminaires. If the
Secretary determines that the voluntary program is not consistent with
the objectives of the legislation, within two years of such
determination the Secretary shall, after consultation with the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, develop test procedures for
luminaires. One year later, the Federal Trade Commission would
prescribe labeling rules.
II. Background
Since the passage of EPACT, the Department of Energy has monitored
the efforts of interested parties to develop a testing and information
program through the National Lighting Collaborative (NLC or
Collaborative), a working group composed of the National Electrical
Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the American Lighting Association,
lighting manufacturers, environmental organizations, designers,
national laboratories, electric utility associations, and other
lighting professionals. The Department has provided technical and
financial assistance to the Collaborative to help launch and publicize
the program. DOE held public meetings on May 24, 1994, and on January
5, 1995, to discuss the progress of the voluntary luminaire program and
the evaluation criteria that would be considered by the Department in
making the Secretary's determination. A June 15, 1995, Federal Register
notice announced the Department's evaluation criteria and requested
that the Collaborative submit a program description and status report
of the voluntary luminaire program to the Department by July 14, 1995.
III. DOE Evaluation
The Collaborative submitted a program description and accompanying
supporting materials, setting forth its voluntary national testing and
information program for luminaires, on September 5, 1995, following a
preliminary report submitted on August 5, 1995. Copies of both reports
are available in the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room, U.S.
Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, (202) 586-6020, between the
hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
In carrying out its evaluation of the NLC's program, the Department
has used the following criteria as discussed in the June 15, 1995,
Federal Register notice: the organization and composition of the group
designing the program; the selection of luminaires to be covered and
potential for energy savings; the testing and rating procedures; the
effectiveness of the program's energy efficiency information
dissemination; the extent of manufacturer participation; the success in
publicizing the new national program; the mechanisms for tracking
market data and luminaire efficacy; and the plan and structure for
continuing the program and incorporating new products. The following
sections discuss in detail whether the voluntary luminaire program, as
planned, will satisfy the objectives of Section 126 of EPACT.
a. Program Organization
The National Lighting Collaborative was established by the
representatives of 23 organizations on April 14, 1992, as a consensus
organization to resolve opinions on various aspects of lighting policy.
The Collaborative includes in its active membership representatives
from NEMA, the American Lighting Association, several luminaire
manufacturers, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the
International Association of Lighting Designers, the Electric Power
Research Institute, the American Council for an Energy Efficient
Economy, the Alliance to Save Energy, and Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory. Together, these participants represent a broad spectrum of
opinion on lighting issues, including the varying perspectives of both
private companies, testing and research groups, government
organizations, utilities, and conservation and environmental groups.
The luminaire manufacturer members of NEMA, which serves as the chair
of the
[[Page 10743]]
Collaborative, represent between 60 and 80 percent of the production in
the various fluorescent luminaire product categories, and the lamp and
ballast manufacturer NEMA members represent over 90 percent of the
production of those luminaire components. NEMA also serves as the
administrator of the voluntary luminaire program, with funding provided
through its regular membership dues.
The NLC solicits wide participation. Using a mailing list of over
75 individuals and organizations in addition to active participants,
the Collaborative has successfully instituted a consensus-building
review process through meetings and mailings to develop a broad-based
voluntary luminaire program. Several difficult issues have been
resolved through this process. For example, a Market Data Task Force
was formed which resolved differences among NLC members on the extent
of market data reporting that would be practical. The Luminaire
Efficacy Rating (LER), the new testing and rating method for comparing
the energy efficiency of luminaires, was created by NEMA and approved
as NEMA Standard LE5. The Collaborative has developed technical and
policy aspects regarding dissemination, publicity, and tracking of the
new testing and rating program.
To date, most of the Collaborative's work has focused on the
development, review, and enhancement of the voluntary luminaire
program. Given its membership, structure, participation, and consensus-
building review process, the Department believes the National Lighting
Collaborative represents a cross-section of stakeholders, and meets the
Energy Policy Act's call for an appropriate organization of interested
parties to develop the voluntary luminaire program.
b. Coverage
Based on the recommendations of participating manufacturers, the
Collaborative selected the following categories of fluorescent
luminaires for inclusion in the voluntary program on the basis of their
widespread use and significant potential for energy savings: (1)
Recessed Lensed 2' x 4' (4 lamps); (2) Recessed Lensed 2' x 4' (3
lamps); (3) Recessed Lensed 2' x 4' (2 lamps); (4) Recessed Parabolic
Louvered 2' x 4' (4 lamps); (5) Recessed Parabolic Louvered 2' x 4' (3
lamps); (6) Recessed Parabolic Louvered 2' x 4' (2 lamps); (7)
Wraparound (2 and 4 lamps); (8) Strip (1 lamp); (9) Strip (2 lamps);
and (10) Industrial (2 lamps). The NLC's program description and status
report estimates that these luminaire categories in aggregate represent
(1) at least 80 percent of the total commercial and industrial
fluorescent luminaire sales volume (in dollars), and (2) within each of
five fluorescent groups,1 the named products represent over 90
percent of the fixtures in that group. Because of their predominance in
market share as the most frequently used luminaires in the commercial
and industrial sector, it is estimated by the NLC that the types of
luminaires in these 10 categories operate for the most hours, thereby
offering the greatest potential for cumulative energy savings. In
addition, the program is being expanded to include technologies other
than fluorescent: HID industrial luminaires and downlights will be
added upon completion and approval of NEMA standards for testing and
rating these types of luminaires.
\1\ The groups are: recessed 2' x 4' lensed, recessed 2' x 4'
louvered, plastic wraparound, strip lights, and industrial.
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If, as claimed, these categories of luminaires do comprise 80
percent of the total fluorescent luminaire market and show significant
potential for energy savings because of their predominance in
commercial and industrial use, the Department believes that their
selection appears to provide a reasonable base for the initial phase of
the program. The Department, however, cannot fully evaluate whether the
selected luminaires are 80 percent of the luminaire market because it
has not yet received the statistical information requested for
verification. NEMA, however, has developed and circulated a statistical
reporting form to lighting fixture manufacturers to verify this
information. When DOE receives the results of this survey, it is
anticipated that the verification data will confirm that the luminaires
selected for initial inclusion in the voluntary program are those types
that are widely used and for which there is a potential for significant
energy savings as a result of such program.
c. Testing and Rating
Central to the NLC's program is that participating manufacturers
will test and rate, for energy efficiency, each type of covered
luminaire. The voluntary program uses the ``Luminaire Efficacy Rating''
(LER) as the measure of energy efficiency for a luminaire. Under the
program, the LER of a given luminaire is determined by applying the
calculation and testing procedures set forth in NEMA Standards
Publication No. LE5, Procedure for Determining Luminaire Efficacy
Ratings for Fluorescent Luminaires (NEMA Standard LE5). This approach
provides a uniform method for determining the energy efficiency of
luminaires that use various components (lamps, ballasts, fixtures), and
for comparing different luminaires of the same general type. In
addition, the program provides a method for comparing the energy costs
of different luminaires.
The LER is a single figure that expresses luminaire efficacy in
lumens per watt (the ratio of light output from the luminaire in
lumens, to the power input to the luminaire in watts) for a given
luminaire using a specific set of lamps (e.g., fluorescent tubes) and a
specific ballast. The LER is calculated by the following formula:
LER=(EFF x TLL x BF)/Watts Input
where:
EFF=luminaire efficiency,
TLL=total lamp lumens,
BF=ballast factor, and
Watts Input=total wattage input to the luminaire as measured during
the photometric test.
The TLL is the light output of the lamps being used in the test
luminaire, as determined from a table in NEMA Standard LE5 that lists
average rated lumens for typical fluorescent lamp types used in a
luminaire. The EFF, BF and Watts Input are measurements by the
luminaire manufacturer conducted during photometric tests. The EFF
represents the effect of the luminaire being tested on the lamps' light
output. It is the ratio of the light output of the test luminaire when
operated with the lamps being used in the test, to the light output of
the same lamps absent the luminaire. The BF represents the effect on
lamp light output of the ballast being used in the test luminaire. The
Watts Input is the amount of power drawn by the luminaire in the
test.2
\2\ For luminaires on which tests were completed prior to 1993,
and which were tested with F40 T12 40 watt lamps, NEMA LE5 permits
the use of specified values for ballast factor and Watts input.
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Thus, the LER of a luminaire is the product of the interactive
effect of the components that comprise the luminaire--lamp(s),
ballast(s), and the fixture itself. The higher the LER, the less energy
will be used to produce a given amount of light in equivalent operating
conditions. This metric is flexible in that efficiency improvements in
either the lamp, ballast, or fixture can raise the LER.
The Collaborative reported that the selection of the Luminaire
Efficacy Rating test procedure received consensus support within the
luminaire industry, having been balloted according to the formal
standards-making balloting procedures per the by-
[[Page 10744]]
laws of NEMA, a review and balloting process accredited by the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI). The NLC program and NEMA Standard
LE5 specify that luminaire efficiency (EFF) and wattage input shall be
determined in accordance with IESNA LM-41, the Illuminating Engineering
Society of North America's fluorescent luminaire photometric test
procedure, a standard, industry-accepted test procedure. In addition,
the ballast factor must be determined in accordance with ANSI C82.2, an
ANSI-approved test procedure for ballasts. Other industry test
procedures, ANSI C78.1 (Dimensional and Electrical Characteristics of
Rapid Start Type Fluorescent Lamps) and C78.3 (Fluorescent Lamps--
Instant-start and Cold Cathode Types--Dimensional and Electrical
Characteristics), also apply.
To assure uniformity in testing, tests must be completed in a
laboratory accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory
Accreditation Program (NVLAP) of the National Institute for Standards
and Technology (NIST) to perform the following tests for luminaires:
IESNA LM-41 and IESNA LM-46. (LM-46 concerns the testing of HID
industrial luminaires, which the NLC program is expanding to include.)
The accreditation must be in accordance with NIST Handbook 150-1, which
describes the accreditation program for energy efficient lighting
products. It should be noted, as provided in Section 285.33 of Handbook
150-1, that in some instances a laboratory will be accredited to
perform a test method but will not have the photometric equipment
necessary to test certain of the luminaires covered by the test method.
The laboratory will be precluded, therefore, from testing and rating
those luminaires.
One matter not yet addressed by either the NLC program or NEMA
Standard LE5 is the manner in which the reliability of the LER values
derived from performing the foregoing tests is to be adequately
assured. For example, for each luminaire rated, tested units should be
representative of those being produced, and the test should provide a
sufficient degree of confidence that the LER value determined will
apply to units of the tested product that are available for sale. Such
provisions would appear necessary to assure that the test procedures
provided by the NLC program would produce adequately reliable
information for consumers about energy consumption and costs.
The energy cost information called for in the program is calculated
from a cost measurement formula set forth in NEMA Standard LE5, and
adopted for use in the voluntary program. The calculation provides a
single comparative measure called the yearly lighting energy cost (or
yearly energy cost of light) for the luminaire's electricity costs (in
dollars per 1,000 lumens), assuming comparable conditions of use (3,000
annual lighting operating hours and $0.08/KWh electricity cost, the
1993 average commercial sector electricity rate specified in NEMA
Standard LE5). The yearly lighting energy cost provides a relative
comparison of annual operating costs between luminaires. (Actual costs
depend on electricity price, operating hours, and operating
conditions). If the light output from two luminaires being compared is
identical, the one with the higher LER will have the lower operating
costs.
Because the Luminaire Efficacy Rating system will provide a
uniform, comparative measure with which consumers can assess the
relative energy consumption and potential cost savings of alternative
products, and has been developed, as required by EPACT, ``according to
commonly accepted procedures for the development of national testing
procedures,'' DOE finds that in significant respects the NLC program
satisfies the objectives of EPACT as to the test procedures to be
included in a voluntary program for luminaires. DOE expects that the
NLC will satisfactorily address the matter of the reliability of test
results so that the program fully satisfies the requirements of Section
126 of EPACT.
d. Information Program
Section 126(a)(2)(C) of EPACT states that the program ``shall
include information [about luminaires], which may be disseminated
through catalogs, product literature, labels, or other mechanisms, that
will enable consumers to assess the energy consumption and potential
cost savings of alternative products.'' The NLC program calls for
dissemination of each luminaire's LER and energy cost by sales catalogs
and product literature, rather than labels, and for publicity and
education activities directed at customer/users to inform them of the
rating system. These methods were chosen because fluorescent luminaires
are primarily purchased by commercial and industrial buyers based on
printed specifications in catalogs or product literature.
Lighting specifiers such as designers, architects, electricians, or
facility managers rarely see the packaging in which the luminaires are
shipped, and may not even see the product itself until it is installed
(if at all). By contrast, off-the-shelf purchasing is more typically
done by residential customers, who currently constitute a small portion
of the luminaire market. Therefore, labels on the luminaires or
luminaire packaging might be ineffective, and the recommendation by the
Collaborative that catalog literature and other product literature be
the primary modes of information dissemination is sound. Since
manufacturers typically reprint their catalogs on a three-year cycle,
however, the Collaborative has agreed that the dissemination effort
could be assisted by using other types of product and advertising
literature which are produced more frequently, and by using an informed
sales force to promote awareness of the new energy efficiency
information among their customers. Several major manufacturers have
already produced such materials and initiated sales presentations to
explain and promote the new information system.
In addition to delineating formulas and test procedures for
calculating the LER, NEMA Standard LE5 identifies the information
concerning each luminaire's energy efficiency that should be included
in a manufacturer's promotional literature and catalogs. Furthermore,
it contains a suggested format, developed in consultation with and
adopted by the Collaborative, for presenting that information. The
format includes the catalog number (showing number of lamps), luminaire
category, ballast type, luminaire lumen output, luminaire watts input,
LER, yearly lighting energy cost for comparative purposes, and
luminaire efficiency. The LER two-letter luminaire category code
includes an ``F'' for fluorescent, as well as a second letter code
indicating one of five major luminaire types. This ensures that
luminaires from categories intended for similar design conditions will
be compared with each other, rather than across dissimilar categories.
It has also been proposed by the International Association of Lighting
Designers (IALD) that the NEMA Standard LE5 reporting format be
modified to include a measure for the quality of light, as well as
efficiency. The Collaborative agreed, but since this ``quality metric''
is under development by professional committees of the IALD and the
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, the NEMA Standard
LE5 will at first include an acknowledgement in the foreword that a
numerical value for lighting quality will accompany the LER after the
development of the measure is completed and balloted.
Based on the examples of major manufacturer product materials
submitted thus far, the Department finds
[[Page 10745]]
the presentation of the new LER rating to be clear and well-presented
overall. Explanations of how to use the new energy information were
included in the product materials examples, and the LER rating number
and yearly lighting energy cost were included effectively in
photometric data sheets. One company, however, did not include in its
descriptive product literature the letter indicating the luminaire
category, which NEMA Standard LE5 states should be included in
promotional materials and catalogs whenever the LER is provided. DOE
believes that identification of the luminaire category is essential to
ensure that LER values are compared between similar products, and not
across product types. DOE expects to consider whether deficiencies such
as the foregoing persist when making its final determination.
The NLC program report recognizes that the actual efficacy for a
luminaire once in operation may differ from the original rating as a
result of a substitution of one or more component parts (for example,
replacement lamps or ballasts different from those for which the
luminaire was rated). The NLC report states that manufacturers will
inform their customers, through printed matter and other means, that a
luminaire's LER will be altered if any of the luminaire's component
parts are changed or substituted.
In sum, the NLC program contemplates that manufacturers will
present the LER information as befits their own promotional styles, and
that the Collaborative will reinforce the importance for manufacturers
to include in their materials the information identified in NEMA
Standard LE5.
Finally, with regard to the broader publicity and education
activities directed at customer/users, the Department believes the
Collaborative has made good progress in launching an energy information
program for luminaires. The NLC's plan for disseminating information on
the use of the LER system is wide-ranging, including magazine and
newsletter articles, presentations at conferences, networking with
other organizations, and international publicity. Major education and
sales centers for the lighting industry are planning to include
presentations on the LER. A NEMA Executive Roundtable meeting with the
senior executives of fixture companies was held on August 30, 1995, to
discuss the actions that are needed in support of the voluntary
program. Presentations have also been made at Lightfair, the largest
lighting trade show in the United States, and at the Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America Annual Conference and Board
meeting. The NLC states that an overview brochure on the luminaire
energy information program will be prepared for widespread distribution
by the National Lighting Bureau/NEMA, and articles are planned for
trade association, research, and energy journals. The International
Association of Lighting Designers, a member of the Collaborative, has
agreed to track such articles and press coverage. The program states
that IALD will develop a survey on awareness of the program to be used
by manufacturers' representatives, distributors, and specifiers.
The Collaborative reported that the LER program is also receiving
international attention. It is being reviewed for adoption and
expansion by the Canadian Standards Association, and contacts have been
made with Japanese, Australian, and New Zealand lighting organizations.
e. Manufacturer Participation
The success of the voluntary luminaire program will ultimately
depend on the degree of manufacturer participation. Participating
manufacturers agree to test their luminaires according to the
procedures set forth in NEMA Standard LE5, to convey the resulting
energy efficiency information in a style of their own choosing that
complies with the specifications in NEMA Standard LE5, and to promote
customer understanding of the new information program. As a first step
in assessing the level of participation, the Collaborative has proposed
that 25 percent of the industry-wide shipments (measured in dollars) of
the products covered by the voluntary program will have energy
efficiency information published in the supporting sales literature by
one year from the date of publication of the Department's June 15,
1995, Federal Register notice outlining the evaluation criteria for the
program. As an interim measure for data collection, the Collaborative
has designed a statistical survey form which has been circulated to
manufacturers for tracking this information. The program provides that
the items in this survey will become part of the Bureau of Census' MA-
36L report beginning in 1996, although, in fact, the items were
included starting in the 1995 MA-36L report.
To date, the Collaborative has submitted to DOE examples of new
catalog and other product literature in which four major manufacturers
have included LER information, along with descriptions of the plans of
two other major companies, and a summary of the industry's outreach to
publicize the LER rating system. The Department finds that these
efforts constitute a good beginning for participation in the luminaire
program, and awaits the results of the first survey in order to assess
formally the extent of manufacturer participation. It is expected that
aggregate totals of the four manufacturers participating thus far will
exceed the initial target of 25 percent participation.
In future years, expansion of the program is anticipated. A member
of the Collaborative suggested goals for future participation levels,
these goals were refined by the Collaborative, and DOE, in its June
1995 Federal Register notice, stated that it expects the voluntary
program to achieve these levels of participation. They are as follows:
that 50 percent of industry-wide shipments of the products would be
covered by the voluntary program in 2 years from June 15, 1995, and
approximately 75 percent in 3 years. The Collaborative believes that
competition among manufacturers will encourage the rapid incorporation
of LER energy efficiency information by other companies. DOE continues
to expect the program to achieve the foregoing levels of participation
when fully implemented.
f. Market Data
In order to provide a reporting format to track luminaire efficacy,
the NLC proposed two additions to the Bureau of Census MA-36L report
used for tracking luminaire sales data, and the Bureau approved and
incorporated these changes beginning in 1995. The first addition
reports the percentages of fluorescent luminaires sold with magnetic or
electronic ballasts. Ballast type is a first-order indicator of
luminaire efficacy (LER). The other addition reports quantities and
values broken out by number of lamps. Since 4-lamp luminaires tend to
have lower luminaire fixture efficiencies than 2- or 3-lamp luminaires,
number of lamps per luminaire is a second-order indicator of LER. These
new data can assist the Department in forming a baseline from which the
efficacy of luminaires on the market can be estimated over time. Since
the second addition to the Bureau of Census report uses the categories
of luminaires covered by the voluntary luminaire program and specified
in NEMA Standard LE5, the resulting data can also be used to track the
percentage of the total fluorescent luminaire market that consists of
products covered by the testing and rating program. This would verify
that the LE5 categories cover at least 80 percent of the fluorescent
luminaire market.
[[Page 10746]]
The Bureau of Census data for 1995 will be released in July 1996.
The Department expects that the NLC will continue discussions of
expanding the data related to luminaire efficacy that is reported
through a format such as the Bureau of Census. Such reporting could
possibly include an average LER by luminaire type.
g. Continuation of the Program
The Department finds that the Collaborative has established a
workable administrative framework for continuing the voluntary program
and incorporating new products. NEMA will continue as the administrator
of the Collaborative and the voluntary program. The Collaborative will
continue to meet periodically to assess and update the program, to
insure consensus on the direction of the program, and to address any
concerns expressed by the Department.
The process for evaluating which new products should be added to
the list of covered products in the voluntary program, and which should
be deleted, will be incorporated with the regular reassessment by NEMA
of its standards. All NEMA standards are routinely reviewed within five
years after their publication date for possible revision, renewal, or
recision. Since NEMA Standard LE5 was first published in 1993, the
fluorescent luminaire testing and rating method will be reviewed by
1998 and updated as appropriate, with consensus review by the
Collaborative. The review of the entire standard will include the
reevaluation of such statistical data as the 1993 average commercial
sector electricity rate specified in the original version of NEMA
Standard LE5.
NEMA is already developing an HID industrial standard and a
downlight luminaire standard related to the LER. The NLC will be part
of the review process once these are in draft public review form. The
NLC report also states that 2' x 2' and 1' x 4' fluorescent luminaires,
types that are rapidly gaining in market share, will be considered for
addition to the voluntary program.
Collaborative members believe that the program will also achieve
self-sustaining continuity through the marketplace, as the LER energy
efficiency rating adds competitive value to rated products, and
manufacturers which have not included this information find themselves
at a competitive disadvantage.
IV. Determination
Based on the Department's evaluation of the NLC's program
structure, current implementation, and future plans, the Department
believes that the critical elements of a voluntary national testing and
information program to provide energy efficiency information for
luminaires are already operational or under development, and that the
program is likely to mature and expand so as to meet all of the
requirements for such a program in Section 126(a) of EPACT. Key
elements of the program now in place include the LER rating method to
measure the energy efficiency of luminaires, test procedures to be
performed in accredited laboratories, a core organizational group in
the National Lighting Collaborative with administrative services
provided by NEMA, a list of luminaires covered in the initial phase of
the program, the identification of the energy efficiency information to
be disseminated by manufacturers, and the methods for such
dissemination. Other measures, such as planned publicity initiatives
for the program and a market data reporting system, have made good
progress and are expected to be completed within approximately two
years.
However, because the program is still in the initial stages of
implementation, the Department has an insufficient basis for making a
final determination. Based on the current design of the program and the
Collaborative's plans, it is anticipated that the program will cover,
within three years, product categories representing 80 percent of the
fluorescent luminaire market, and approximately 75 percent of the unit
sales within these categories; assure that each LER rating derived from
testing will be generally valid for the tested products; make the
luminaire marketplace aware of the voluntary program; and expand the
program to include downlights and HID industrial luminaires. In order
for the Department to evaluate progress in these areas, close
collaboration between the Collaborative and the Department should be
maintained to facilitate exchange of information and program updates.
If the Collaborative provides data and documentation to DOE by July 15,
1998, on the achievements of the NLC program, including information as
to whether the above objectives have been met, then DOE can make its
final determination.
For these reasons, it is hereby determined provisionally that the
National Lighting Collaborative's program is consistent with the
objectives of Section 126(a) of EPACT. If the objectives set forth in
the preceding paragraphs have been completed, DOE will make a final
determination that the program meets the statutory objectives. DOE
expects to make a final determination no later than December 15, 1998.
V. Relationship to Mandatory Energy Conservation Programs
Certain aspects of the NLC's voluntary program for luminaires
involve matters covered by mandatory energy conservation test
procedures, labeling, and standards imposed under the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended. For example, both the luminaire
efficiency rating in the NLC program and the mandatory requirements for
lamps involve consideration of the light output of lamps.
The NLC program, however, is designed to provide a consistent
approach to the testing and dissemination of energy efficiency
information only for luminaires. It is not intended to affect mandatory
requirements for other products. Therefore, to the extent DOE approves
the NLC program as meeting the objectives of Section 126 of EPACT, such
approval does not indicate any view by DOE as to the appropriate
content of any mandatory program. Moreover, neither the provisions of
the voluntary program, nor actions under that program, in any way
govern any mandatory requirements imposed under EPCA.
Nevertheless, DOE hopes that any future modifications in the NLC
voluntary program can be sufficiently well coordinated with mandatory
testing and labeling requirements to minimize any conflicts that might
place added burdens on the manufacturers, retailers, or buyers of the
affected lighting products.
Issued in Washington, DC on March 6, 1996.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 96-6294 Filed 3-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P