6| Energy Efficient LightingAn article in the previousedition of Wiring Matters(Autumn 09 Issue 32) lookedat energy efficiency ofluminaires which highlightedthe energy efficiencies ofvarious types of lamps andprovided specific informationfor the phasing out ofincandescent type lamps. Thisarticle looks at somerequirements for energyefficient lighting in domesticpremises and includesguidance on some typicalscenarios that can beencountered when working ona lighting system.Building Regulations 2000energy efficiency requirementsThis article will look at therequirements of the BuildingRegulations 2000 asapplicable in England andWales. Energy efficiency isdealt with by requirements ofRegulations 4A, 17C and 17Dand Part L of Schedule 1 of theBuilding Regulations.Regulation 4A relates tothermal elements and sowould not be applicable tolighting. Regulation 17C refersto new buildings and 17Drefers to consequentialimprovements to the energyperformance of building workto an existing building (with atotal useful floor area over1000 m2). Part L of Schedule1 has requirements forconservation of fuel and powerand is reproduced in Figure 1.Fixed internal or externallighting systems are includedwithin the scope of a fixedbuilding service as referred toin L1b and L1c of Schedule 1.The type of building workwhere energy efficient lightingrequirements would apply isthe provision of a newdwelling, an extension to anexisting dwelling or materialchange of use of a building toa dwelling and thereplacement of a lightingsystem as part of rewiringworks. For domestic premisesthere are two approveddocuments that provideguidance on complying withPart L, L1A Conservation offuel and power in newdwellings and L1BConservation of fuel and powerin existing dwellings. Includedare specifications for theprovision of energy efficiencyfixed internal and externallighting and is summarized inFigure 2.Energy efficient lightingin domestic premisesby Paul BichenoIET Wiring Matters | Winter 09 When looking to comply withL1c. the occupier of thepremises should be givendetails on the types of lamps toobtain as replacements,including the style, rating andconnection so as to continuethe benefits of energyefficiency. This is important ifthe premises have a mixture ofdedicated energy efficient lightfittings and their associatedlamps and retrofit energyefficient lamps.What is an energy efficientlight fitting?An energy efficient light fittingas specified in the ApprovedDocuments L1A and L1B(Figure 2) is one thatcomprises the lamp, controlgear, housing, reflector, shadeor diffuser. This specifies thatthe fitting will only be capableof accepting lamps that have aluminous efficacy greater than40 lumens per circuit-watt,where circuit-watts is thepower that the light fittingcontrol gear and lampconsumes. The lamps wouldtypically be of the compactfluorescent type with pin-based connections and sowould not accept lamps of thetraditional Edison Screw (SC)or Bayonet Cap (BC)connection types. In thecontext of energy efficientlighting the whole fitting wouldtypically be referred to as adedicated fitting and there area number of traditional fittingdesigns available.In addition to a dedicatedenergy efficient light fitting,compact fluorescent lamps areavailable that that haveintegrated control gear with thetraditional SC and BCconnections types that alsohave a luminous efficacygreater than 40 lumens percircuit-watt. A number of lampdesigns have been developedto enable the replacement oftraditional lamp designs (e.g.traditional GLS, candle, miniglobe, reflector)used in existing light fittings.Table 1 provides someinformation on the equivalentenergy efficient lamp for aparticular traditional lamp. Thetraditional tungsten filament andtungsten halogen type lamps donot meet the 40 lumens percircuit-watt requirement and soare not regarded as energyefficient lamps. Energy saving GU10 typeIET Wiring Matters | Winter 09 Energy Efficient Lighting | 7L1. Conservation of Fuel and PowerReasonable provision shall be made for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings by:a) limiting heat gains and losses:i.Through thermal elements and other parts of the building fabric;ii.From pipes, ducts and vessels used for space heating, space cooling and hot water services;b) providing fixed building services that:i. Are energy efficient;ii. Have effective controls; andiii. Are commissioned by testing and adjusting as necessary to ensure they use nomore fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances; andc) providing to the owner sufficient information about the building, the fixed buildingservices and their maintenance requirements so that the building can be operated insuch a manner as to use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in thecircumstances.Note: bold text highlights requirements related to lighting.Fixed internal lightingProvide light fittings (including the lamp, control gear, housing, reflector, shade or diffuser)that can only takes lamps having a luminous efficacy greater than 40 lumens per circuit-watt.Provide fixed energy efficient light fittings (as above) that number no fewer than the greater of:a. one per 25 m2of dwelling floor area (excluding garages), orb. one per four fixed lighting fittings.Fixed external lightingFixed external lighting should enable the effective control and/or the use of efficient lampssuch that:a. Either, the lamp capacity does not exceed 150 Watts per light fitting and the lightingautomatically switches off;i. When there is enough daylight; andii. When it is not required at night; orb. The light fittings have sockets that can only be used with lamps having an efficacygreater than 40 lumens per circuit-watt.Figure 1: Schedule 1 Part L1 (Conservation of fuel and power)Figure 2: Provision of energy efficient fixed internal and external lightingTraditional Energy efficient100W 20-23W75W 15-19W60W 11-14W40W 8-9W25W 5-7WTable 1:Equivalent energy efficient lamp for a particular traditional lampIET Wiring Matters | Winter 09 8| Energy Efficient Lightinghalogen lamps are availablethat consume less power thanstandard halogen lamps,typically up to 30%, that canbe used to retrofit into existingGU10 type fittings. LightEmitting Diode (LED) arraylamps are now available thatconsume a small amount ofpower and have a longer lifethan the compact fluorescenttypes. These can be used toreplace halogen lamps inexisting light fittings or can beinstalled as part of a new LEDfitting or arrangement. Thereare also LED lamps availablefor the replacement oftraditional incandescentlamps, typically up to 40W.Replacing an existing light fittingFor this scenario thereplacement of a light fitting indomestic premises would needto consider when the premiseswas built or created from amaterial change of use. If it ispost 6th April 2006 then thepremises is likely to alreadyinclude some dedicated lowenergy light fittings as thebuilding works would havelooked to comply with therequirements given inApproved Document L1A. Thededicated low energy lightfittings are likely to in be inareas such as the lounge,dining room, kitchen andhallways as these normallyhave lights switched on for themost hours in a day, so anyreplacement of these fittingswould need to be of thededicated low energy type soas to retain the energy efficientstatus. Replacement of a lightfitting that is not an energyefficient type could be carriedout but it should be recognisedthat the continual maintenancewith regards to replacement oflamps may not be possible duethe phasing out programme ofincandescent lamps.For older domestic premisesthat did not need to meet theprovision of energy efficientlight fittings, the BuildingRegulations does notspecifically state that thereplacement of a light fittinghas to be with an energyefficient type as therequirements relate toextensions to a dwelling, wherea dwelling is created from amaterial change of use or anexisting lighting system isbeing replaced as part ofrewiring works. Replacing alight fitting is not replacing alighting system and it isunlikely that the occupierwould be in a worse positionwith regards to their energyusage. However, the occupiershould be encouraged to havean energy efficient light fitting.Rewiring a lighting circuitFor this scenario the rewiring ofa lighting circuit in a dwellingwould need to comply with theconservation of energy andpower requirements related to afixed building service asdetailed in Approved DocumentL1B (Figure 2). The appropriatenumber of fixed internal energyefficient dedicated type lightfittings should be installed inthe main living areas wherelighting is on for the mostnumber of hours. Any fixedexternal lighting that forms partof the rewiring work as suppliedby the fixed electricalinstallation should also complywith the requirements forexternal lighting.Installing lighting as part ofbuilding works for an extensionto domestic premisesFor this scenario theinstallation of additional fixedinternal and/or external lightingin a dwelling due to buildingwork, such as an extensionwould need to comply with theconservation of energy andpower requirements related toa fixed building service asdetailed in ApprovedDocument L1B (Figure 2). Fora newer dwelling that includesa number of energy efficientlight fittings, reasonableprovision of energy efficientlighting is expected in theextension so that the occupiercontinues to obtain thebenefits. For an older dwellingthat does not have any energyefficient light fittings then therewill be an obvious benefit ofinstalling energy efficient lightfittings as part of the buildingwork. The guidance doesImage courtesy of PhilipsIET Wiring Matters | Winter 09 recognise flexibility, so it couldbe reasonable to install energyefficient fittings in main livingareas that did not previouslyhave any rather than theextension to fulfil therequirements. However asalready highlighted there are anumber of energy efficientlighting solutions available ,therefore energy efficientsolutions should be agreedwith the occupier, especially ifthe phasing out of traditionallamps is highlighted as part ofthe selection process.Code for sustainable homesThe technical guidance for theprovision of energy efficientlighting in approved documentL1A for new dwellings is theminimum standard. In April2007 the Governmentintroduced the Code forSustainable Homes which is anational standard for thedesign and construction ofsustainable new homes. TheCode sets minimum standardsfor energy and water use forhomes within England. From1st May 2008 it wasmandatory for a new home tohave a rating against the code.The Code supports thegovernment target that all newhomes will be zero carbonfrom 2016. The associatedtechnical guidance documentincludes requirements for theprovision of energy efficientlight fittings that exceed thecurrent requirements ofBuilding Regulations.Additional informationThe energy saving trust is an independent organisationthat promotes action on energy saving issues(www.energysavingtrust.org.uk).The following publicationsrelating to energy efficientlighting are available;n Energy efficient lighting guidance for installers and specifiers (CE61)n Low energy domesticlighting (GIL20)n Cost benefit of lighting(CE56)n Energy saving lampsshould be marked with theenergy saving recommendedcertification mark. This meansthey have been independentlytested to verify their overallquality and energy efficiencyclaims.n A guide to energy savinglight bulbs is available from theLighting Association website(http://www.lightingassociation.com/pdf/EST_lighting_English_Final09.pdf)n Aurora has a useful tool forshowing the benefits of usingenergy efficient lamps alongwith a range of energy efficientlighting solutions.www.aurora.eu.com/EnergyCalculator.aspxwww.aurora.eu.com/lowenergyn Information on the Codefor Sustainable Homes isavailable from theCommunities and LocalGovernment website(http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/buildingregulations/legislation/codesustainable/)n Building Regulationsapproved documents alongwith the government proposalsfor the development of Part Lare available from thegovernment planning portal(www.planningportal.gov.uk).n Local Authority BuildingControl (www.labc.uk.com)