The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has distributed yet another letter regarding proposed changes to the Energy Star Lamps specification that will be adopted in the transition from V1.0 to V1.1 specifications due this fall. The clarifications impact decorative lamps. The EPA also has posted a center beam candle power (CBCP) calculation tool in the form of a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that manufacturers can use in characterizing MR16 directional solid-state lighting (SSL) products.
We covered some proposed changes in the decorative lamp category along with some changes in line-powered MR16 lamps back in late May. Based on comments on the May proposal, the EPA will add further details on lamps that will not be listed in Energy Star.
The agency has approached the changes because some consumers could misconstrue the energy-efficiency and light-distribution benefits of some decorative products that look much like omnidirectional A-lamps. The EPA will simply not recognize lamps with G18.5 and G19 bases that don’t deliver an omnidirectional beam distribution.
Still, to eliminate any ambiguity, the EPA is adding explicit verbiage specifying that the exclusion includes lamps with diameters between 41 and 78 mm (similar to A-lamps) with the exception of G16.5- and G25-based lamps. The agency will add further detail in section 14 of the specification on lamp dimensions regarding acceptable length-to-diameter ratios.
The EPA is asking for any additional feedback on the additions by August 6. You can find complete details including how to comment on the Energy Star Lamps website