Legislation Would Set Energy Efficiency Standards for Outdoor Pole Lighting
Legislation that would set national energy efficiency standards for pole-mounted outdoor lighting was recently approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The legislation also includes language concerning external power supplies for security and life safety alarms.
In 2007, the Department of Energy (DOE) estimated that outdoor lighting consumes more than 178 tera-watt hours annually, which is the equivalent of 42 coal-burning power plants (600 MW).
The first set of standards would take effect three years from the date of the legislation becoming law and also would limit sky-glow and outdoor light trespass concerns.
The DOE would undertake a rulemaking and would issue a second set of standards effective Jan. 1, 2016, and a third set of standards could also be set with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2021.
The legislation also would prohibit the manufacture or import of general-purpose mercury vapor light bubs beginning Jan. 1, 2016, and set certain efficacy levels for high-output double-ended quartz halogen lamps.
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