Lighting advances and the impact of EPACT.

As of October 1994, all 50 states must adopt some form of legislation to implement energy-efficient codes and regulations that are equal to or better than the minimum standards stipulated in ASHRAE '90 of 1989. So states the Energy Policy Act (EPACT), which was signed into law in October 1992.

EPACT is a wide-ranging attempt to promote energy efficiency nationwide. While a small portion of this 440-page "act to provide for improved energy efficiency" relates to lighting regulation, EPACT is expected to have enormous impact on the lighting industry. According to the Department of Energy, 19 percent of all electricity consumed in the United States is used for lighting. In commercial buildings, the figure can be as high as 50 percent. It has been estimated that if all American businesses upgraded to energy-efficient lighting, the demand for electricity nationwide could be reduced by 10 percent.

The new legislation mandates complex performance standards in an effort to promote energy efficiency. Indeed, many of the industry's most commonly used lamp types fail to meet EPACT's requirements and will no longer be manufactured. By removing certain high-volume lamps from the marketplace, EPACT forces end users to find alternative products. EPACT's new labeling requirements will help users replace obsolete fixtures with energy-efficient lamps that meet their needs.

New Standards

Flack + Kurtz, Consulting Engineers, is a forerunner in the use of energy-efficient lighting design. The firm's use of innovative technologies in the awardwinning National Resources Defense Council set new standards in the industry and paved the way for the implementation of energy-conscious federal legislation like EPACT. The provisions of EPACT that pertain to lighting and electrical systems establish characteristics for such technologies as:

* Fluorescent lamps and metal halide light sources vs. incandescent;

* Daylight when available;

* Photocells to control light levels when daylight wanes;

* Electronic ballasts;

* Zoned-occupancy sensors;

* Direct/indirect fixtures for ambient illumination;

* Clerestory walls for daylight penetration of interior spaces;

* Louvers for glare control and uniform illumination;

* Reflectors

Some Flack + Kurtz projects that demonstrate how these technologies are used to meet and exceed EPACT's codes include:

Sony Corporation: A rehab was conducted of the interior offices of Philip Johnson's 35-floor, 750,000 square-foot skyscraper, formerly AT&T's corporate headquarters. Creating an energy-efficient environment proved to be a challenging task due to the dark finishes and color palette chosen by the client. Through the use of electronic ballasts, a variety of energy-efficient lamps, and indirect lighting, light levels of 1.5 watts per square foot were achieved. ASHRAE standards call for less than 2.4 watts per square foot.

Fuji Corp.: A voluntary retrofit was undertaken by building owner/manager Dean Witter Realty to reduce operating overhead. While the system's light output equaled that of the original system, the energy usage was reduced from 136 to 57 watts per fixture. Fifty-two percent of Fuji's capital expenditure was recouped through Con Edison's rebate program, with the remaining 48 percent paid back in energy savings in less than two years.

National Audubon Society: This was the prototype for energy-efficient lighting design. The lighting components used on this project (pendent fixtures with parabolic reflectors, the choice of high-color rendition lamps with tri-phosphors, electronic ballasts, occupancy sensors) reduce energy consumption by 79 percent and generate a 75-percent saving in utility costs.

In addition to impacting the design and manufacture of lighting components, EPACT legislation also promotes changes in building codes for new construction and major renovation. By November 1994, state governments must amend existing laws to incorporate ASHRAE/-IES lighting standards for commercial buildings.

While EPACT applies only to new buildings, New York codes apply to other kinds of construction, including additions and some renovations. Several building types are exempt. These include historical buildings and buildings with no HVAC.

For the most part, EPACT's provisions will have limited impact in New York as the state's codes tend to be more stringent than those contained in the national legislation. The New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code, first published in 1979 and amended in March 1991, establishes minimum standards for energy efficiency that go well beyond those stipulated in EPACT. As a result, lighting designers face the three fold challenge of devising lighting schemes that: 1) provide adequate and effective illumination; 2) meet strict energy-efficient conditions; and 3) do not compromise the company's corporate image.