The US Environmental Protection Agency has published the Energy Star Luminaires V2.0 specification one month after the final draft with only minor editorial changes in the document.
It was only one month back when the EPA announced the final draft of Energy Star Luminaires V2.0. But that final draft still afforded stakeholders the right to comment on the most recent changes and ask for further revisions. The EPA said comments on the final draft raised few new issues and that editorial changes in the specification have answered the most recent comments.
Changes include language that allows GU24-based lamps to serve as a light engine in Energy Star products designed specifically to take advantage of unique GU24 products. The EPA did state that luminaire makers shipping screw-based designs with Energy Star-certified lamps must clearly define the specific manufacturers and lamps identified for use with the luminaire. Clear labeling and identification is necessary when failed lamps must be replaced.
The final specification exempts retrofit kits from meeting driver/ballast replacement requirements because the kits inherently provide a removable light source. The EPA clarified that LED-based tubes meant for fluorescent replacement are not covered by the specification. The remainder of the changes involved updated references and grammar.
The EPA will now begin the transition process starting with the webcast that will focus on the differences between V1.2 and V2.0. The program will take place at 2:00 PM Eastern.
Lighting manufacturers can take steps to embrace the new specification immediately. Indeed, Certification Bodies (CBs) will immediately begin testing luminaires to the new specification at the request of the manufacturer.
CBs will stop certifying products to the V1.2 specification on December 1, 2015. But products previously-certified to V1.0 or V1.2 will be eligible to carry the Energy Star label until June 1, 2016. Products manufactured after June 1, 2016 must be certified to V2.0.
The EPA said the one-year phase-in period was adopted because of the longer production and testing times that go along with more-complex, LED-based products. The EPA will now turn its attention to even better energy efficiency for the next revision of the specification, and possibly extensive coverage of networks and controls.
We are also watching progress in V2.0 of the Energy Star Lamps specification. Back in April the EPA released Draft 2 of that specification.
