About
ASAP

Portable Lighting Fixtures

Last Updated: December 2009
See the federal standards main page to view current status

THE PRODUCT: Portable lighting fixtures are moveable lights such as floor, table and desk lamps that use a plug-in power cord. Portable fixtures are typically controlled with a switch located on the fixture itself, as opposed to hard-wired fixtures which are connected directly to the home's electrical system and typically operated exclusively by a wall switch.

THE STANDARD: Standards for portable lighting fixtures were established in California in 2008, transitioning fixtures away from the use of inefficient screw-in incandescent lamps and towards an array of more efficient choices including compact fluorescent lamps, LED lighting or low and medium wattage halogen lamps. The standard includes a variety of compliance options for manufacturers, so an appropriate choice can be found for all consumer applications. For example, under the provision there are two main compact fluorescent options - a dedicated ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent fixture or including ENERGY STAR screw-in compact fluorescent lamps in the box with the fixture. The provision also builds upon current DOE and EPA ENERGY STAR standards for LED fixtures, providing guidance for an important emerging type of light.

Under the standard, portable light fixtures shall meet one or more of the following five requirements:

(i) Be a fluorescent light fixture that meets the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Energy Star Program for Residential Light Fixtures Version 4.2

(ii) Be equipped with only one or more GU-24 line voltage sockets, not be rated for use with incandescent lamps of any type (as defined in ANSI standards), and meet the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Energy Star Program for Residential Light Fixtures Version 4.2 including line voltage or low voltage;

(iii) Be an LED light fixture or a light fixture with an LED light engine and comply with the following minimum requirements:

(iv) Be equipped with an ANSI-designated E12, E17, or E26 screw-based socket and be prepackaged and sold together with one screw-based compact fluorescent lamp or screw-based LED lamp for each screw-based socket on the light fixture. The compact fluorescent or LED lamps prepackaged with the light fixture shall be fully compatible with any light fixture controls incorporated into the light fixture (e.g., light fixtures with dimmers shall be packed with dimmable lamps). Compact fluorescent lamps prepackaged with light fixtures shall meet the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Program for CFLs Version 4.0.

(v) Be equipped with one or more single-ended, non-screw based halogen lamp sockets (line or low voltage), a dimmer control or high-low control, and be rated for a maximum of 100W.

KEY FACTS: Estimated savings for products meeting the standard compared to improved incandescent lamps are about 22 kWh per year, resulting in a payback period of less than 1 year based on an estimated incremental cost of $2.50. ASAP assumes improved incandescent lamps are those just meeting new federal light bulb standards which become effective starting in 2012. ASAP estimates that half of all fixtures would meet the proposed standard absent new legislation since many consumers are already switching to highly efficient light sources and more will do so as the cheapest incandescent light bulbs are phased out.

Federal: DOE is not currently required to set standards for these products. Portable lighting fixtures are included in legislation being considered by the U.S. Congress.

State: Portable lighting fixtures are included in the ASAP 2010 Model State Standards bill and state bills based on this model such as one pending in Massachusetts.