LSD 62-2011

Page 1

A NEMA Lighting Systems Division Document

LSD 62-2011

Systems Approach for Lighting

Prepared by
NEMA Lighting Systems Division
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
1300 North 17th Street, Suite 1752
Rosslyn, Virginia 22209

Approved November 2011

Published July 2012

The requirements or guidelines presented in this document, a NEMA Lighting Systems Division white
paper, are considered technically sound at the time they are approved for publication. They are not a
substitute for a product seller’s or user’s own judgment with respect to the particular product discussed,
and NEMA does not undertake to guarantee the performance of any individual manufacturer’s products
by virtue of this document or guide. Thus, NEMA expressly disclaims any responsibility for damages
arising from the use, application, or reliance by others on the information contained in these white papers,
standards, or guidelines.

The opinions expressed in this statement represent the consensus views of the member companies of
the Lighting Systems Division of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. The members of the
Lighting Systems Division manufacture indoor and outdoor lamps, which include: incandescent,
fluorescent, light-emitting diode, and solid state lamps, lighting fixtures, and lamp ballasts.

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 LSD 62-2011
Page 2

Table of Contents

1. Intent of a Systems Approach for Lighting………………………………………………………………………………..3

2. What is a lighting system?……………………………………………………………………………………………………...4
3. What types of standards can be used to characterize the energy performance of
a lighting system? ………………………………………………………………………… .. ……………………………...…....4
2.1 Appliance Standards………………………………………………………………………… …...………………….…4
2.2 Building Energy Codes Using Power Density…………………………………………….…………………....5
2.3 Building Energy Codes Using Energy Density………………………………………………...………………5
4. Which lighting “systems approach” is the best to consider for future action? …………………...…………6

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 LSD 62-2011
Page 3

Intent of a Systems Approach for Lighting

The intent of the NEMA Lighting Division activity in the Lighting Systems area is to maximize energy
savings by shifting the regulatory focus from appliance standards to lighting systems standards as
incorporated into building energy code documents such as ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010. To gain
true energy savings from lighting while providing the quality of light needed for individual applications, the
pace of adoption of building energy codes needs to be accelerated and codes must be adopted nationally
or uniformly by all states. Initially the focus and enforcement must be on commercial/industrial
applications that can adopt sub-metering to ensure compliance and to aid in data gathering of energy use
data, with eventual extension of code requirements to residential applications.

If complete lighting systems are the new focus of the future, the challenge for the lighting and regulatory
communities is to clearly define what is meant by a “systems approach” and to ensure that the approach
is optimized for efficiency and ease of use, while ensuring that lighting quality and standards for visibility
are preserved. Such an approach must also be enforceable and nimble enough to allow newer
technologies to be selected and installed

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 LSD 62-2011
Page 4

Systems Approach for Lighting

1 What is a lighting system?

The term “lighting system” can mean anything from a lamp/ballast or LED/driver combination to an entire
building that contains electrical lighting and windows/skylights. To focus the discussion, the NEMA
Lighting Systems Division proposes two distinct terms be used—luminaire and lighting system—each with
the following attributes:
th
Luminaire: Per the recently published IES Lighting Handbook, 10 edition, “a luminaire is a device to
produce, control and distribute light. It is a complete lighting unit consisting of one or more lamps and
some or all of the following components: optical control devices designed to distribute the light; sockets or
mountings to position and protect the lamps and to connect the lamps to a supply of electric power; the
mechanical components required to support or attach the luminaire; and various electrical and electronic
components to start, operate, dim or otherwise control and maintain the operation of the lamps or LEDs.”
Furthermore, a luminaire may be equipped to receive signals from an automatic or manual control to dim
or turn off the light source.

Lighting System: A lighting system is a collection of luminaires and related lighting equipment installed
in an application with consideration of human comfort, the physical environment and daylight integration.
The lighting system is generally addressed by building standards such as ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard
90.1 or the International Energy Conservation Code and might include integrated controls and or external
controls. Such a system is comprised of many components, including luminaires, sensors/controllers, and
windows or skylights designed to minimize energy use while maintaining lighting quality and that are
optimally networked to provide central control and monitoring functions.

2 What types of standards can be used to characterize the energy performance

of a lighting system?

2.1 Appliance Standards

Appliance Standards: Historically, appliance standards for lighting have been set only for lighting
components such as lamps and ballasts; however, a luminaire could also be an appliance. The efficiency
metric typically used in lighting appliance standards is efficacy, expressed in lumens per watt (LPW).
Such standards could not be reasonably applied to a complete lighting system.

Pros:
Since appliance standards apply to products, they are relatively easy to enforce.

Cons:
If appliance standards are applied only to components of a lighting system, there is no assurance that
combinations will work well together or save the maximum amount of energy.

Compliance with appliance standards for luminaires is difficult and costly to verify, requiring expensive
measurement equipment that may be out of reach of smaller companies.

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 LSD 62-2011
Page 5

Since the standards apply to components or whole luminaires, there is no limitation on how many of these
“appliances” could be used in an area or in a building unless they are also subject to a building energy
code; therefore, there is no guarantee of energy savings, even if highly efficient products are used.

Controls whether remote from or integral to a luminaire, would require separate prescriptive measures, to
indicate when, how, and by how much the light output should be controlled.

2.2 Building Energy Codes Using Power Density

Building Energy Codes Using Power Density: Such codes and standards with limits on installed power
can be set for lighting systems. The typical metric used for lighting systems in new and existing buildings
is lighting power density (LPD), expressed in watts per square foot (W/sf). Such codes and standards set
maximum W/sf of installed lighting, either for whole buildings or for particular spaces within a building.
Controls requirements are typically included, and they may be mandatory prescriptive requirements or
they may allow certain power densities to be somewhat relaxed when specific controls strategies are
employed. This approach may also be used for systems other than lighting, such as HVAC.

Pros:
Lighting specifiers or design contractors can select all lighting that is right for the application, without
being constrained by component regulations, as long as visual tasks can be seen and the power limit is
not exceeded. This results in high efficacy lighting being selected and installed.

This approach allows the energy consumption by the lighting system in the building to be estimated using
building modeling tools before the building is built, and design choices can be explored to minimize
energy consumption.

Cons:
Some stakeholders believe that this approach is not easily enforceable, with a consequence that some
buildings are built or renovated that do not meet the standards.

Unless a building owner or occupant voluntarily tracks energy use, there is no way to verify energy used
by the building or by the lighting alone.

Controls may be prescribed by the code and ultimately installed, but it is difficult to verify if they are being
used by the occupants. Commissioning and occupant education can help overcome these issues.

2.3 Building Energy Codes Using Energy Density

There is a recent call for action among lighting designers and engineers to replace power density with
energy density, which could be expressed in kilowatt hours/square foot/year, thereby allowing
assessment of actual energy use rather than just installed power. This approach could be used for
lighting systems or any electrical system.

Pros:
Appropriate quality lighting can be selected for the application, with high efficacy lighting being necessary
to meet the energy requirements and the visual and performance criteria.

Real energy use would be measured.

Lighting energy could be monitored using such tools as sub-metering and Energy Star Building Portfolio
Manager.

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 LSD 62-2011
Page 6

Cons:
Standards would need to be established based on actual hours of operation for various building types or
various spaces within buildings.

Enforceability could be an issue, similar to today’s power density approach to building codes.

If energy effectiveness of lighting systems were to be verified, separate metering for lighting would have
to be installed, (see ASHRAE 90.1-2010).

3 Which lighting “systems approach” is the best to consider for future action?

First and foremost, lighting products are clearly different from other appliances. Lighting products enable
us to see; provide safety and security; and can intrude on neighboring properties or into the night sky if
not properly controlled. Its quantity, timing, duration, and spectral content can affect human emotions and
health in positive and negative ways. When seeking the best way to optimize the energy performance of
lighting systems, these other equally important aspects must be considered.

Considering the pros and cons of the various standards/regulatory methods available, and considering
the differences between a luminaire and a complete lighting system, the following two-part
recommendation is offered as the best approach for optimizing energy efficiency, enforceability,
preservation of design choice, and practical implementation of regulations. Adopt the terms:

luminaire: A complete luminaire with all components, including those components designed to receive
signals from an automatic or manual control to dim or turn the luminaire on or off.

lighting system: A collection of luminaires and related lighting equipment where operational control,
physical environment, occupant comfort and daylight integration are considered.

Regulate lighting systems by requiring the following:

a. Public buildings: New buildings and buildings undergoing major renovation must comply with
ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010 by ______________________. Existing buildings with at
least 12 months of energy use data must annually supply their energy use data into a
national database, such as the Energy Star for Buildings Performance Manager database
beginning ______________________.
b. Private commercial buildings: States must adopt ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010 within 3
years of __________________ for new buildings and buildings undergoing major renovation
or federal funding for ______________________ will be withdrawn.
c. For lighting situations that are not covered by a building code, and for which a systems metric
cannot be developed, establish luminaire energy metrics for regulation that incorporate
pertinent non-energy factors to ensure lighting quality factors are addressed. [For example, if
a system metric cannot be developed for roadway lighting, a luminaire energy metric could be
established, but would need to take into consideration glare, uplight, and light trespass to
ensure quality factors are met and IES Recommended Practices are followed.]

Fund a study to determine feasibility and optimum enforceability of an energy use metric for buildings,
lighting systems for buildings and exterior lighting systems, including the feasibility of separate metering
or monitoring of energy use by building subsystems.

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association