California Title 24

California Adopts Tougher Residential Energy Efficiency Standards

Prompted by the fuel shortages of the past and continual concerns about energy costs, the California legislature produced and the governor recently signed California Title 24 which among other things requires the integration of more energy efficient lighting fixtures for residences.

As of October 1, 2001 all new building permits in California will need to meet these new standards. According to these new regulations, all recessed lighting fixtures shall be air tight, sealed and IC rated ( rated for direct insulation) . IC rated housing are designed to run cooler and are more energy efficient. In addition to this change, California Title 24 requires specific usage of energy efficient lighting measures to be taken in all rooms of new homes.

Specifically:

1. In kitchens, at least 50 percent of the installed wattage must originate from high efficiency fixtures.
2. All permanent lighting fixtures in the garage, bathroom, laundry, and utility room must be energy efficient or be controlled by a manual-on/automatic-off occupant sensor.
3. In all other rooms in the house, all fixtures shall use high efficiency lighting or be controlled by a manual-on/automatic of or dimmer switch.
4. All exterior lighting fixtures that are attached to the building, shall be equipped with either high energy efficiency lighting or be controlled by both a motion sensor and photo control cell.

High efficiency lighting fixture are defined in the title as meeting a minimum wattage per lumen ratio which currently translates into fluorescent light fixtures. All such fixtures must be designed to be constructed as to not allow for low energy efficient lighting.

Challenging the California decorative lighting business will be the creation of high energy efficient lighting that will produce the feel and design of what people have been used to.