On September 16, 2008 the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) committee tasked with developing LM-80 voted to approve the procedure for measuring lumen maintenance of SSL products and sent the procedure to the IES Board of Directors for final approval.
LM-80 is a critical part of the Energy Star for SSL criteria developed by the DOE, due to become effective on September 30, 2008. LEDs Magazine understands that a delay in ratifying LM-80 will cause a consequent delay in the effective date for the Energy Star SSL criteria.
A general email from Richard Karney, DOE Energy Star Products Manager, said that once the IES Board approves the LM-80 procedure, the DOE will immediately notify stakeholders confirming that LM-80 has been officially approved.
"While the IES schedule for completing work on this new procedure indicates the Board will make a final decision by September 30, there is an outside possibility the Board may need more time," said Karney.
"Please be assured that we are monitoring this situation very closely, and will communicate any changes to the planned program launch date as soon as we know it."
Karney also reminded prospective Energy Star participants that only manufacturers who have signed an Energy Star Partnership Agreement for the SSL Program will be eligible to qualify and label their products. The agreement can be obtained from [email protected].