Energy Star Luminaires effective date approaching, says EPA

March 6, 2012
The Energy Star Luminaires v1.1 specification will become effective on April 1, requiring manufacturers to change their product labelling unless the products are tested according to the new criteria.

The Energy Star Luminaires v1.1 specification will become effective on April 1, requiring manufacturers to change their product labelling unless the products are tested according to the new criteria. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a reminder of the approaching April 1, 2012 effective date for the Energy Star Luminaires v1.1 (light fixtures) specification.

This new specification replaces the Residential Light Fixtures v4.2 and Solid State Lighting Luminaires v1.3 specifications, and can be downloaded at www.energystar.gov/luminaires.

In May 2011, the EPA postponed the effective date for Energy Star Luminaires v1.0 from October 1, 2011 to April 1, 2012. This was to allow Energy Star manufacturing partners and EPA-recognized certification bodies and laboratories the necessary time to appropriately apply the technical requirements contained in the new specification

On April 1, 2012, only those light-fixture models that have been third-party certified as meeting the Luminaires v1.1 requirements will appear on the Energy Star Qualified Products List.

Partners are encouraged to take steps now to seek third-party certification for fixtures that meet the v1.1 requirements. Partners that have fixtures qualified to the old specifications that meet the criteria for Luminaires v1.1 should inform their EPA-recognized certification body as soon as possible that they would like those models certified to the new specification.

Beginning April 1, 2012, manufacturers must stop labeling fixture models qualified to the old specifications that have not been certified as meeting Luminaires v1.1. This applies to product packaging and promotional literature (print or electronic).

The Agency recognizes that labeled units manufactured before April 1, 2012 that were qualified to the old specifications will continue to carry the Energy Star certification mark while they sell through the market place.