Feedback Sought on Commercial Lighting Energy Standard
Feedback is invited on an updated energy standard for lighting in large buildings such as offices and industrial
buildings.
The standard aims to balance the energy efficiency opportunities of new lighting technology with lighting performance
that is user-focused and fit for purpose, says Bryan King, Chair of the Standards New Zealand committee that drafted the
changes.
The standard was last updated in 2007. Since then, LED luminaires (light fittings) and electronic control gear, coupled
with astute lighting design, have significantly lowered energy use in large buildings. The lighting power density limits
in the previous standard no longer reflect current practice.
Updating the standard and its NZ Building Code citation will further encourage energy performance improvements, says Mr
King.
“The committee was acutely conscious of the need to balance lowest reasonable energy use with appropriate levels of
lighting performance at an affordable cost,” he says.
“The proposed standard is product agnostic and is not prescriptive, so new technology innovations are not precluded and
legacy technologies are not banned if their use meets the energy performance limits.”
The update includes changes to accommodate LEDs, tightening of lighting power density limits, simplifying application
and defining building spatial functions more precisely.
This means building owners will better future-proof their investment, while building tenants will benefit from lower
lighting energy bills.
The draft standard is called NZS 4243.2 Energy Efficiency Large buildings – Lighting.
The 2017 amendment will supersede NZS 4243.2:2007. It was commissioned by EECA.
Comments on the draft standard can be made through the Standards New Zealand website until 14 February 2018.
See the draft standard on
ENDS