6.1 Overview

For residential buildings and spaces, all the lighting requirements are mandatory. The residential lighting requirements are different from the nonresidential ones because there are no maximum lighting power threshold for spaces, no required calculation of lighting power, and no prescriptive method for showing compliance. There are luminaire requirements and lighting control requirements for residential lighting installations.

The residential luminaire requirements apply to permanently installed luminaires, including luminaires with easily interchangeable lamps. They do not apply to portable luminaires such as table lamps or freestanding floor lamps. The lighting control requirements are focused on dimming and occupancy sensing control requirements for applicable spaces and occupancies.

All section (§) and table references in this chapter refer to sections and tables contained in Title 24 California Code of Regulations, Part 6, also known as California Energy Code or the Energy Standards.

6.1.1    What’s New for the 2019 California Energy Code

      Clarification edits to the language of the residential lighting requirements in order to improve consistency such as the luminaire efficacy requirement of Section 150.0(k)1 and the different luminaires listed in Table 150.0-A as meeting the efficacy requirement.

      Minor modifications to the lighting controls requirements to maintain consistency with the requirements for dimmers and vacancy sensors.

      Edits to the language of the residential outdoor lighting requirements in order to improve readability, such as eliminating the redundant requirement of override to ON.

      Clarification edits to Table 150.0-A; eliminated outdated references to GU-24 socket; streamlined references to LED light sources and solid state lighting.

      Testing requirements for testing laboratories and manufacturers by harmonizing the requirements of Reference Joint Appendix JA8 with similar tests under the ENERGY STAR® program for lamps and luminaires.

      Clarification changes to the JA8 requirement including requirements about sample size, efficacy test, start time test, and color characteristics test.

      Clarification of the definition of habitable space in §100.1 to include or exclude spaces. A habitable space includes spaces designed for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking, and excludes bathrooms, toilets, hallways, storage areas, closets, and utility rooms.

6.1.2    Scope

The residential lighting requirements in the Energy Standards apply to more than just single-family homes. Space types covered include:

•           Single-family buildings, indoor and outdoor lighting.

•           Low-rise multifamily buildings (three stories or less), indoor and outdoor lighting

            Refer to Section 6.4.1 for low-rise multifamily requirements.

•           High-rise multifamily residential units.

          Refer to Section 6.4.2 for high-rise multifamily requirements.

•           Outdoor lighting, additions and alterations.

          Refer to Section 6.5 for outdoor residential lighting requirements.

          Refer to Section 6.7 for additions and alterations of residential buildings.

•           Residential spaces in nonresidential buildings.

            The following subsections list the spaces required to comply.

6.1.3    Residential Functional Areas in Nonresidential Buildings

The following areas in nonresidential, high-rise residential, and hotel/motel buildings are required to comply with the low-rise residential lighting standards, as defined in §130.0(b):

•           High-rise residential dwelling units

•           Outdoor lighting attached to a high-rise residential building or hotel/motel and separately controlled from inside of a dwelling unit or guest room

•           Fire station dwelling accommodations

•           Hotel and motel guest rooms. Guest rooms are also required to comply with the lighting shut-off requirements in §130.1(c)8, which require captive card key controls, occupant sensing controls, or automatic controls. Guest rooms must also meet the controlled receptacle requirements of §130.5(d)4)

•           Dormitory and senior housing dwelling accommodations. The requirements also apply to additions and alterations to functional areas of existing buildings specified above.

              All other function areas in nonresidential, high-rise residential, and hotel/motel buildings, such as common areas, shall comply with the applicable nonresidential lighting standards.

6.1.4    Related Resources

The California Energy Commission and others prepare educational resources with information about residential lighting. The Energy Commission’s resources are here: http://www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency/educational_resources.html.