Department of Energy Announcement Roundup

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DOE
The SSL Quality Advocates Labelling System

Source: ARCHITECT Magazine
Publication date: January 5, 2009

By Andrew Slocomb West

The Department of Energy's SSL program, along with its lighting partners and Energy Star, finished 2009 with a bang by launching new programs to clarify LEDs and teaming with the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) to help designers become a part of the DOE programs, among other initiatives aimed at improving the lighting community's energy efficiency and sustainability.

  • The DOE and Energy Star have published the Program Requirements for SSL Luminaires, version 1.1, which lays out how to achieve Energy Star status for luminaires using SSL sources. The requirements are split into residential and non-residential applications, add several new lighting applications, refine the Lumen Maintenance Qualification, and are edited to be consistent with ANSI/IES nomenclature and definitions.
  • The DOE has released OpenStudio, a plugin for Google SketchUp that simplifies the application of EnergyPlus simulation software. OpenStudio models lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation, water, and other energy flows from within SketchUp.
  • Lighting-Facts.com was launched as part of the SSL Quality Advocates. The DOE hopes to use the program to help simplify the information on LED products by using a standard labeling system. A standard set of tests and processes create consistent information that will give consumers and specifiers an easy way to compare products.
  • The DOE has joined with the IALD in a memo of understanding that states the two will work together to promote lighting design and principles that improve lighting quality, efficiency, and sustainability; to develop and disseminate technical information to the lighting design community about testing and using SSL and other technologies to support Energy Star and SSL Quality Advocates; to create an exchange of ideas and information between lighting designers and DOE experts; and to encourage lighting designers to work with the DOE on lighting projects, including GATEWAY demonstrations and helping the DOE assess lighting quality.
  • New CALiPER Benchmark Reports were released in November. The reports set benchmarks for the performance of incandescent A-type and decorative lamps and halogen incandescent MR16 lamps compared with LED replacements. The benchmark reports analyze traditional and LED products for power usage, light output and distribution, efficacy, color temperature, and color rendering and can help designers better understand LED technology.