Energy Codes, Rebates & Incentives

ASHRAE / IESNA Standard 90.1.2007

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) jointly sponsor the ASHRAE/ IESNA Standard 90.1-2007, “Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings," which provides mandates for the following areas:

Area Controls

Each space enclosed by ceiling height partitions will have at least one control device to independently control the general lighting within the space. Each manual device will be readily accessible and located so occupants can see the controlled lighting.

Current Requirements

For the following spaces*, the control device must be an occupancy sensor, unless the area already has a multi-level lighting control:

  1. Classrooms (not including shop classrooms, laboratory classrooms, and preschool through 12th grade classrooms)
  2. Conference / meeting rooms
  3. Employee lunch and break rooms
*Connection to other automatic shut-off controls is not required for these spaces.

For all other spaces, the control device can be a manual control or occupancy sensor. The control device can operate a maximum of 2,500 ft(232 m2) for a space 10,000 ft(929 m2) or less, and a maximum of 10,000 ft(929 m2) for a space greater than 10,000 ft(929 m2). The control must be capable of overriding any scheduled shut-off for no more than 4 hours. Some specialty lighting within the space, such as display / accent lighting and lighting required for plant growth (non-visual lighting), requires a separate control device.

Exception:
Remote location shall be permitted for reasons of safety or security when the remote control device has an indicator pilot light as part of or next to the control device. The indicator pilot light must be clearly labeled to identify the controlled lighting.

Proposed Requirements for 2010

Any required automatic control will not be set to turn on lighting, except in the following spaces where automatic-on is allowed.
  1. Public corridors and stairwells
  2. Restrooms
  3. Primary building entrances and lobbies
  4. Areas where manual-on operation would endanger the safety or security of occupants

    Multi-level Lighting Controls

    These devices reduce lighting power by either continuous dimming, stepped dimming, or stepped switching while maintaining a reasonably uniform level of illuminance throughout the controlled space.

    The following spaces* can have multi-level lighting controls:

    1. Classrooms (not including shop classrooms, laboratory classrooms, and preschool through 12th grade classrooms)
    2. Conference / meeting rooms
    3. Employee lunch and break rooms

    * Connection to other automatic shut-off controls is not required for these spaces.

    Automatic Shut-off

    Interior lighting in buildings will be controlled with an automatic control device to shut off building lighting in all spaces.

    Applies to buildings larger than 5,000 ft(464 m2). The device can be:
    1. Timeclock control device (an independent program schedule will be provided for areas no more than 25,000 ft(2,323 m2) but not more than 1 floor)
    2. Occupancy sensor that turns off lighting within 30 minutes of an occupant leaving a space
    3. A signal from another control or alarm system that indicates when an area is unoccupied

    Exceptions:

    • Lighting intended for 24-hour operation
    • Lighting in spaces where patient care is rendered
    • Lighting in spaces where an automatic shut-off would endanger the safety or security of occupants

    Daylighting

    Lighting power will be reduced in areas where daylight can help illuminate the space.

    Proposed Requirements for 2010
    Specific daylit areas must be separately controlled by at least 1 multi-level photocontrol (including continuous dimming devices) that have the following characteristics:
    1. Light sensors for the photocontrol will be remote from where calibration adjustments are made
    2. Calibration adjustments will be readily accessible
    3. The multi-level photocontrol will reduce electric lighting in response to available daylight with at least one control step that is between 50 – 70% of design lighting power and another control step that is no greater than 35% of design power

    Exterior Lighting Control

    Lighting for most exterior applications will have automatic controls capable of turning off exterior lighting when sufficient daylight is available or when the lighting is not required during nighttime hours.

    Lighting not designated for dusk-to-dawn operation will be controlled by:
    1. Combination of a photosensor and a timeclock device
    2. Astronomical timeclock device

    Lighting designated for dusk-to-dawn operation will be controlled by an astronomical timeclock device or photosensor.

    All timeclock devices will be capable of retaining programming and time setting during loss of power for a period of at least 10 hours.

    Exception:
    Lighting for covered vehicle entrances or exits from buildings or parking structures where lighting is required for safety, security, or eye adaptation.
     

    Optional Control Incentives

    The ASHRAE/ IESNA Standard contains optional lighting incentives that can be satisfied by the following:
    1. Multi-level occupancy sensor (5% increase in Lighting Power Density [LPD])
    2. Manual dimming or programmable multi-scene dimming (5 –10% increase in LPD)
    3. Automatic daylighting controls where not required (10 – 20% increase in LPD depending on effective aperture and LPD requirement)

    For clarification of terms used on this page, please review the Lutron glossary of terms.