LED Lighting Helps You Comply With The U.S. Energy Codes

From LED Street Lighting to Workplace Lighting

The ASHRAE 90.1 is considered as the standard energy code of the United States. Introduced in 2001, this US standard lists out the regulations for creating energy efficient designs for industries and workplaces. Its guidelines are categorized into different sections namely Lighting, Power, Building Envelope, HVAC, Domestic Hot Water, and Other Equipment. Although a major portion of the ASHRAE 90.1 was introduced in 1975 (in ASHRAE 90), several revisions and additions were added in the years 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016.

The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005, which aims at combating the increasing energy problems in the country, requires every state to adopt an energy code based on the ASHRAE 90.1. The Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, directly enforceable in California, serves as a forerunner to the energy code. Notable changes to IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 usually appear first in Title 24, which is the reason why it’s of utmost importance.

The primary goal of these codes is to make sure that businesses and industrial settings use as less power as possible. Their secondary goal is to encourage the use of promising technologies that have a potential for energy conservation. LED lighting is one such technology, so adopting it in the industrial and outdoor environments ensures that you comply with the codes i.e, ASHRAE 90.1, IECC, and Title 24.

Advantages of LEDs Over Fluorescent Lighting:

LED lights are far more advantageous than other forms of lighting. Compared to fluorescent lamps, they are tougher and require less maintenance. Also, they emit lesser infrared and ultraviolet rays than other light sources. They are eco-friendly since they’re free from the ingredients harmful to the environment. Hence, their disposal is quite simple. Speaking of energy efficiency, fixtures with top-grade LED emitters are as good as, if not better than, the best fluorescent fixtures. Additionally, LEDs can be dimmed as per your requirements, thanks to the direct current (DC) current that powers them. Because LEDs are more tolerant to freezing temperatures than fluorescent lamps, they are well suited for roadway lighting and municipal LED lighting.

Energy Efficient Outdoor Lighting Design

Fluorescent technology has played a major role in commercial lighting for many decades, and you cannot expect any more cost reductions and efficiency enhancements from it. On the other hand, LED technology’s cost will come down as its market share grows. Though the luminous efficacy of today’s LED fixtures falls between 50-100 lumens/W, it is expected to reach 225 lumens/W in future.

For more information about outdoor lighting projects, please contact Great Basin Lighting. We’ve been the leading consultants for outdoor lighting design in Nevada and California for over 12 years. We’ve successfully handled hundreds of California LED lighting projects, so give us a call today at (925) 240‑1566 (CA) or (775) 333‑0900 (NV) or fill out our online contact form for more information.