The Australian, State, Territory and New Zealand Governments have released a discussion paper on the future regulation of LED Lighting products.
With rapid changes to the LED lighting market, it is timely to consider developing minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and a number of other policy options for the technology.
An LED MEPS has the potential to improve performance and consumer confidence, which could lead to greater uptake. MEPS could also increase the overall energy savings achieved by the transition to LEDs through removing less efficient LEDs from the market.
Possible policy options include:
- No action
- Introduce MEPS for LED Lamps and Luminaires
- LED MEPS to also include a range of performance parameters
- Include optional extreme conditions performance specifications in the Australian and New Zealand Standard and/or MEPS
- In the MEPS include a preferred range of rated luminous flux values to be used on lamp packaging, along with a requirement for lumens per Watt to be included on packaging in order to assist consumers in selecting replacement lamps
- Suppliers be required to include efficacy and performance information on LED product packaging and/or the LED product to enable customers to choose a suitable and efficient model
- Australia adopt and implement the New Zealand specification of voluntary ENERGY STAR labelling for high efficiency CFL and LED products to provide guidance on high performance lamps
- Develop and apply the Australia / New Zealand Energy Rating Label to all lamp technologies available for specified range of lamp applications to provide customers with comparative information on lamp efficacy
- If a regulated MEPS is not implemented, Australia and New Zealand establish the Lighting Facts scheme (or similar program) for LED products to provide consumers with accurate lamp performance information
- An Australian - New Zealand LED test standard be developed with reference to available international test standards including CIE S 025
- Implement a consumer education campaign about LED lighting (in cooperation with the lighting industry and retailers)
The Equipment Energy Efficiency Program (E3) Committee is seeking views and dialogue with industry, consumers and other stakeholders to assist in addressing information gaps to ensure that any further regulatory proposals and cost-benefit modelling facilitates informed decision-making. Final policy options would be subject to detailed investigation through a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS).
Public consultation sessions will be held in early September 2015, alongside consultation on the recently released Commercial Lighting product profile.
Consultation sessions will be held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland.
See the Energy Rating Website to download the report and for more information on consultation including how to register.
