2024 U.S. Commercial Lighting Energy Code Updates

Understanding U.S. energy regulations and standards

Energy regulations play a key role in helping reduce energy consumption. They set the mandatory requirements for new building construction and major renovations.

The nation’s top building energy codes and standards—Part 6 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 —are used by every U.S. state as the basis for local building energy codes. These codes contain the mandatory lighting requirements that architects, designers, engineers and builders must meet for commercial and residential new construction or major renovation projects.

The IECC addresses both residential and commercial buildings, while ASHRAE provides further regulation for commercial buildings only.^[1] U.S. building codes are typically updated every three years, with provisional updates proposed in between.

While overall building energy standards are not federally regulated, the Department of Energy has continued to implement specific laws that apply to energy regulation. On August 1st of 2023, the DOE required retailers to sell light bulbs that produce at least 45 lumens per Watt, effectively banning incandescent bulbs. Moreover, 25 U.S. governors have committed to eliminating emissions from buildings in their states.^[2]

Take a moment to look at your state’s regulations: U.S. Energy Code Regulations by State Tool.

What’s new in 2024 for non-residential building energy requirements?

In September 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy announced:

The impact of energy regulations

In practical terms, energy regulations aim to reduce energy consumption. The goal is to reduce human impact on climate change. The latest global trend focuses on achieving net-zero emissions status. That means running entirely on renewable energy.

Many states have outlined plans and dates for achieving net-zero emissions status. The U.S. has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with California setting the goal of achieving 100% renewable zero-carbon energy by 2045.^[3]

Potential drawbacks of energy regulation are real, too. 
Hasty regulating without considering all potential use-case scenarios and consequences can have inefficient and problematic outcomes.

“Use of occupancy sensors in a daylit space can mean that lights come on when they are not needed,” lighting designer Christine Culver noted in an article about occupancy sensor controls, adding that some lighting controls require location-specific commissioning, have higher power requirements and “are prone to false-on triggers.”

Certain energy regulation problems are well known throughout the industry. For example, one California study found that reducing water flow caused backups or pipe problems.  Other problems, according to a report by American Home Shield (AHS), which was created in 1971 to protect homeowners from the inconvenience and cost of unexpected breakdowns, include flushing, noise and water pressure. Low-flow toilets “rely on a pressure-assisted system that makes a distinctive ‘whooshing’ sound which tends to be louder than a regular toilet flush.” AHS also discovered that these reduced water flow toilets may not force waste far enough down the drain, which can lead to clogged pipes and other plumbing problems. “Because they use a reduced volume of water and may apply less pressure than a regular toilet,” AHS notes, “low-flow toilets do not always flush waste as well as their standard counterparts. A second or third flush is sometimes needed to ensure heavy waste has cleared the bowl, requiring the consumption of more water and rendering the toilet less efficient.” The article cites additional problems in older homes—because “[t]he older the house, the greater the chance your plumbing may require adjustment or replacement in order to be compatible with low-flow toilets. This can lead to installation taking more time and being more expensive than anticipated.”

Furthermore, strict lighting power allowance regulations can mean limiting the amount of light that may be preferred for certain types of spaces that are not addressed as thoroughly in the energy codes.

States leading the way on energy policy

Four states have codes that override and exceed Federal energy regulation:

1. The California Building Standards Commission (Title 24)
2. Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES)
3. New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC)
4. Washington State Energy Codes (WSEC)

California’s Title 24 currently imposes the most stringent set of regulations. On the other end of the spectrum, states like Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama are less restrictive. These states currently abide by the IECC’s 2015 standards.

Commercial lighting standards for 2024

Regulatory changes for 2024 will bring the following four terms to the forefront of commercial lighting regulation discussions. These are the most significant energy regulation updates set for 2024 across the country.

The IECC expects major changes for commercial buildings to include:

• Additional efficiency credits
• Introduction of Total System Performance Ratio
• Interior LPA reductions
• Egress lighting off when unoccupied
• Fan energy reductions
• Variable air volume (VAV) turndown requirements
• Parking Garage Ventilation
• 5% increase in renewable energy for the largest three floors
• Revised HVAC efficiency tables

The ASHRAE 90.1 standard also includes the following updates:

• Horticultural lighting requirements 
• Clarifications to lighting controls requirements
• Simplified building energy calculation method
• Exterior lighting requirements
• Interior Lighting Power Allowance (LPA) requirements

Above information on energy regulation updates from the NECC U.S. department of energy.^[4] The detailed information on IECC lighting updates can be found on the ICC website.

Lighting Power Allowance

The Lighting Power Allowance (LPA) is the maximum allowed watts per square foot. In California’s Title 24, the LPA is being reduced from .65 to .6 watts per square foot in 2023. New changes for allowances also include wall display, task lighting, and decorative lighting (Title 24 Part 6, Table 140.6-D). However, while most LPA requirements have decreased in energy, some have also increased. The 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) will be available in the second quarter of 2024.

Open Office Occupancy Controls

Occupant sensor controls are typically used in open-plan office spaces, cafeteria dining spaces, and fast-food dining spaces. Under regulations like Title 24, controls must be configured so general lighting can be controlled in “zones,” with floor areas not greater than 600 square feet, and occupant sensors required in offices larger than 250 square feet. General lighting in each controlled zone should turn off after 20 minutes of occupants leaving a particular zone.

Automatic Daylighting Controls

Automatic daylighting controls refer to a photosensor and switch or dimming control unit.  The photosensor is mounted to the interior wall, ceiling, or light fixture within the daylighting zone. It sends a signal to the control unit when the preset lighting threshold is reached to reduce electrical light levels in a particular zone.

Daylighting zones include: 

• primary side-lighting
• secondary side-lighting
• top-lighting

Primary and secondary side-lighting zones are illuminated by windows, while top-lighting zones are illuminated by skylights.

Automatic Receptacle Control

Automatic Receptacle Control, also known as plug-load control, is required to reduce building energy use. The government control limits energy consumption at electrical receptacles during non-occupied times, which reduces what the government deems “unnecessary energy usage and cost and supports sustainability.” In addition, some states require these receptacles as part of code requirements.

Receptacle controlling methods include:

• Schedule-based or timer-based receptacles that can switch off at programmed times
• Occupancy-based sensor which must turn off electrical outlets within 20 minutes of all occupants leaving a space
• System-based signal from another control or alarm system which must turn off electrical outlets within 20 minutes after determining that the area is unoccupied.

Demand Responsive Lighting Controls

Demand Responsive Lighting Controls utilize control mechanisms to dim lighting levels during periods of high grid-wide demand, primarily to aid utilities in maintaining grid stability. According to the Demand Responsive Lighting Control Declaration of California’s Title 24, (Part 6, Section 110.12(a)1B)

Demand-responsive lighting controls are now required for any building with an installed general lighting load of 4000 Watts or more. Also, photovoltaics and battery storage are required for most commercial buildings.^[5] Title 24 Part 6 also updated its outdoor lighting control requirements and now includes a new section for indoor lighting control interactions. 

Another important update to Title 24 Part 6 is the category of multi-family buildings, which previously included requirements from both residential and non-residential code, which has now been simplified for clarity. The California Energy Commission projects these updates to reduce CO2 emissions by 10,000 metric tons compared to the previous code.^[6]

Energy credit measures for lighting

“Tax credits and tax deductions both decrease the total that you’ll pay in taxes, but they do so in different ways. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of the money you owe, while a tax deduction will decrease your taxable income, leading to a slightly lower tax bill.”^[7]

IECC 2024 is adding additional efficiency credits to align with the new credit option included in ASHRAE 90.1 in 2022. Credits are likely to be available for the following:

• Dimming and tuning
• More occupancy sensors
• Increase in daylight areas
• Light power reduction

Federal tax deductions are also available for new construction and retrofit buildings through incentives such as IRS 179D (for commercial and high-rise buildings) and 45L (for multifamily developers). The 179D tax deduction and its recent changes allow owners, designers, and builders to benefit from significant tax deductions to their energy efficient commercial buildings. Review our guide to the 179D tax incentives for a better understanding of how these deductions work.

More updates to energy regulations are to come to achieve and exceed the goal of becoming energy efficient and carbon-neutral.

Sources:

ICC. California Energy Code.

Inside Lighting. Unpacking Energy Codes for Lighting Controls Applications.