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Relevant Mandates and Rating Systems

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Mandates / Standards Rating Systems

Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings

  • The lighting systems must be commissioned (and recommissioned), and integrative design processes should be employed.
  • Energy efficiency necessitates lighting best practices and use of energy efficient lighting products.
  • "Maximize opportunities for and benefits of daylighting in regularly occupied space to introduce daylight and views into spaces, reinforce circadian rhythms, and reduce the use of electrical lighting."
  • "Maximize the use of automatic dimming controls or accessible manual lighting controls in regularly occupied spaces"

Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings

Relation to Lighting: employ integrative design, commissioning (lighting systems), energy efficiency, daylighting, lighting controls, glare control, integrative operations and management, daylighting and lighting controls

Energy Independence and Security Act (2007)

EISA 2007 established energy management goals and requirements, of which a sustainable lighting strategy is necessary, for federal buildings. It established a 30% energy consumption goal per gross square foot of federal space. It also required facility managers to complete preliminary comprehensive energy evaluations coupled with plans for ongoing lighting maintenance and commissioning. EISA also strengthened energy-efficient lighting procurement requirements by specifying Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated products and prohibiting the purchase of incandescent light bulbs in some circumstances.

GPO.gov | Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

Relation to Lighting: energy efficiency, energy-efficient lighting procurement, energy evaluations, lighting commissioning

Energy Policy Act of 2005

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) established a number of energy management goals for federal facilities involving components of a sustainable lighting system. Each agency is required to incorporate energy efficiency criteria in “all procurements involving energy consuming products and systems.” EPAct 2005 also directs new federal buildings to be designed 30% below the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) or International Energy Code standards.

DOE | Energy Policy Act of 2005

Relation to Lighting: energy management, energy-efficient lighting procurement, energy efficiency

Energy Policy Act of 1992

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct 1992) amended the National Energy Consumption Policy Act and gave federal agencies the authority to enter into energy savings performance controls (ESPCs) and encouraged negotiations with electric utility companies to find incentives for sustainable lighting systems. It also required 20% energy consumption reductions per gross square foot of federal buildings by FY2000.

Congress.gov | Energy Policy Act of 1992

Relation to Lighting: lighting incentives, energy reduction

National Energy Consumption Policy Act (1978)

The National Energy Consumption Policy Act (NECPA) serves as the underlying authority for federal energy management goals and has been regularly updated and amended by subsequent policies such as EPAct 1992, EPAct 2005, and EISA 2007. Energy reduction goals are set and amended as new best practices arise.

Energy.gov | National Energy Consumption Policy, Federal Energy Initiative, Federal Energy Management

Relation to Lighting: energy efficiency, sustainable procurement, energy management