On October 7th, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015 (SB 350). This new bill provides ample opportunity for those in the lighting control arena as it has committed the state of California to use renewable energy for half its electricity and make existing buildings twice as energy efficient in just 15 years.
SB 350 will allow Californians to continue to save money through rebates and subsidies as they purchase electric vehicles, replace inefficient light bulbs and appliances, and install solar panels or double-paned windows. Perhaps the biggest change those in the lighting control industry will notice will come with the new update to Title 24 in 2016. Title 24, which dictates the minimum standards of new and retrofitted buildings, is updated every 3 years to reflect the capability of new green technologies.
The Clean Energy and Pollution Act has presented a huge opportunity for the lighting control industry. Making buildings twice as energy-efficient means investing in light control. Not only does light control increase comfort and productivity, it saves energy. Here are just a some of the many options that can provide energy-saving benefits for commercial applications:
Xeleum Athena Series LED Stairwell Fixtures:
The Athena Series LED Stairwell is specifically designed for use in stairwells where the space is often unoccupied for long periods of time. It reduces energy usage by up to 80% by automatically providing fully ON light levels only when the space is occupied and returns to power saving dim levels with the space is unoccupied. These fixtures function equally well in hallways, bathrooms, laundry rooms, or any area that is frequently unoccupied.
Lutron Whole Building Centralized Control Solutions:
Lutron whole building solutions like Quantum and GRAFIK 7000 allow facility managers to conveniently manage both electric light and daylight right from their desktop. Control, configure, monitor, and report on the lighting for any space in your building for maximum energy efficiency, comfort, and productivity.
Daylight Autonomy from Lutron:
Shading solutions coupled with window sensors regulate daylight to optimize comfort and lower energy costs by harvesting daylight and reducing the load on HVAC systems. Window sensors automatically adjust shades in a space throughout the day based on the sun's position to prevent glare and enhance views.
The Cree ZR Series LED troffer delivers superios quality in an ultra-slim, sleek package at an affordable price. The ZR Series troffer can reduce energy consumption by more than half, and with standard 0-10V dimming or Cree SmartCast controls, can accelerate its already rapid two-year payback.
These are just a few of the product solutions we can recommend. Most of the lines on our line cards have products that are compliant with new standards. For help with your project call us at 858-564-0233.
Western Lighting & Energy Controls is your best resource for information on new legislation and Title 24 requirements, and all the associated product solutions. We offer live local training to educate industry professionals about the benefits of lighting control so they have the necessary tools to determine the ideal solution for any customer and any space. Download the Title 24-2013 Commercial Application Guide for a summary of code requirements for lighting controls and receptacles, or watch our video of a training session on the newest Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards.
If you'd like to see what other training classes Western offers, check out our Training Schedule, or let us know if you'd like us to alert you to Training Schedule updates for Title 24 in 2016.
