California Title 24, Part 6 outlines energy efficiency standards for residential and non-residential buildings. These standards were established in 1978 as a way to address California's growing energy consumption. The standards essentially comprise California's state energy code and are updated by the California Energy Commission periodically to allow consideration and possible incorporate of new energy efficiency technologies and methods. The most recent update will take effect on October 1, 2005.
The 2005 Energy Efficiency Standards incorporate many outdoor lighting and controls changes over the 2001 standards.
They specify lighting power allowances for:
- Hardscape, vehicular & pedestrian
- Ornamental lighting
- Building entrances, facades, and canopies
- Outdoor sales areas
- Signs
They define four types of outdoor lighting zones.
There are some new criteria for cutoff luminaires, and they institute new standards to give owners the ability to turn of 50% of outdoor lighting on facades and in parking lots and outdoor sales areas.
Specifically, Section 130 lays out requirements for lighting controls and equipment in all buildings, with additional requirements for high-rise residential hotel/motel guest rooms. These guidelines address lamp efficacy standards, require motion sensors, and lamp types.
Section 131 requires mandatory lighting controls. Area controls and controls to reduce lighting are prescribed. The section addresses daylit area, interior lighting systems and exterior lighting.
Section 132 defines requirements for lighting circuiting, while Section 146 outlines Prescriptive Requirements for Lighting using the lighting power density approach to calculate power allowances. Power density values can be calculated using the complete building method or the area category method.