This chapter discusses the requirements for sign lighting in the Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Standards). They set minimum control requirements, maximum allowable power levels and minimum efficacy requirements. They conserve energy, reduce peak electric demand, and are technically feasible and cost effective.
The Energy Standards do not allow trade-offs between sign lighting power allowances and other end uses including outdoor lighting, indoor lighting, HVAC, building envelope, or water heating.
Regulations for lighting have been in effect in California since 1977. However, until the adoption of the 2005 Energy Standards, they only addressed indoor lighting, inside spaces that were air conditioned or heated, and outdoor lighting that was connected to a lighting panel when the lighting panel was located inside a conditioned building. The 2005 Standards expanded the scope to include most outdoor lighting applications, indoor and outdoor sign lighting applications, and indoor lighting applications in unconditioned buildings. After the 2005 Standards, the Sign Lighting Standards were updated with the 2008 Energy Standards.
The 2016 Sign Lighting Standards evolved over a three year period through a dynamic and open public process. The Energy Commission solicited ideas, proposals, and comments from a number of interested parties. The Energy Commission encouraged all interested persons to participate in a series of public hearings and workshops through which it gathered information and viewed presentations on energy efficiency possibilities from a variety of perspectives. A consulting team was hired, which included a number of nationally recognized lighting experts to assist in the development of the Energy Standards.
The 2016 Sign Lighting Standards address both indoor and outdoor signs. The Energy Standards include control requirements for all illuminated signs (§130.3) and establish lighting power requirements for internally illuminated and externally illuminated signs (§140.8).
The Sign Lighting Standards are the same throughout the state and are independent of outdoor Lighting Zones.
The Sign Lighting Standards are the same in conditioned and unconditioned spaces.
The Energy Standards require that indoor and outdoor sign lighting be automatically controlled.
In brief, the mandatory sign lighting requirements include:
•Automatic shutoff controls,
•Dimming controls.
•Demand responsive controls for electronic message centers
All lighting controls must meet the requirements of §110.9 as applicable. Most lighting controls must be certified by the manufacturer to the Energy Commission and required to be 'listed in the Energy Commission directories. Additionally, self-contained lighting control devices are now regulated by the Title 20 Appliance Efficiency Regulations. More details on the mandatory measures are provided in Section 7.2 of this chapter.
Sign Lighting Standards apply to both indoor and outdoor signs and contain two different prescriptive compliance options:
1. The watt per square foot approach specifies a maximum lighting power that can be installed, expressed in W/ft² of sign area.
2. The specific technology approach specifies that the signs shall be illuminated with efficient lighting sources (electronic ballasts, high efficacy lamps, efficient power supplies and efficient transformers).
More details on the sign lighting power requirements are provided in Section 7.3 of this chapter.