LIA in crunch talks with Govt over 120lm/W rule
Industry representatives are meeting the UK government today to lobby for amendments to the forthcoming Ecodesign regulations.
A delegation from the Lighting Industry Association is to discuss the concerns of the sector with the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.
The UK Government’s proposed minimum efficacy performance standards (MEPS) for light sources have caused some alarm and confusion in the industry in recent months.
Introduced by the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the rules mandate a minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) for light sources and lamps of 120 lm/W in 2023, rising to 140 lm/W in 2027.
There are modest concessions for mains voltage light sources, directional light sources, ‘connected’ light sources, light sources with a Colour Rendering Index greater than 93, light sources with a correlated colour temperature of under 2000K, and light sources with an output of less than 400 lm.
Despite the concessions, a large proportion of lamps currently on the market fail to exceed 120 lm/W and face effective banning in the autumn.
However, causing more anxiety in the industry is the rules’ effect on luminaire makers. As the legislation is understood by the sector, they must use integral light sources with a minimum efficacy of 120lm/W, no matter what the format, colour temperature or colour rendering.
Industry sources also describe the rules as a ‘blunt instrument’, as delivered light in the form of luminaire lumens per circuit watt is not prescribed, so a low-glare downlight with a 120 lm/W source could deliver only 40 luminaire lm/W and remain compliant.
The concessions do not apply to embedded modules in luminaires.
The draft proposals – part of the lighting efficacy standards of the Energy-related Products Policy Framework – were unveiled in November 2021, and its measures are set to take effect this November.
The closing date for the final consultation is Tuesday 4 April 2023.
The Lighting Industry Association is proposing that the rules are restricted to A-class and possibly GU10 lamps. The association also wants changes to the energy labelling requirements.
• You can comment on the proposals HERE.
• Remanufacturing Lighting is the subject of a special one-day conference organised by Recolight and taking place on Thursday 27 April 2023 at the Coin Street Conference Centre in London. This CPD-approved event will give you the tools, insights and contacts make a success of luminaire reconditioning and reuse. You’ll learn how to sell the concept of reconditioned lights, develop best practice policies, comply with the standards, set up a testing regime for reused luminaires and remanufacture fittings at scale. The gathering will also give you inspiration from real world projects which prove that remanufacturing can be a success everyone. You’ll also meet key players in the remanufacturing industry network with specifiers with the power to get your products into projects. See more HERE.
