U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Federal Energy Management Program

Covered Product Category: Exterior Lighting

Updated July 2012

FEMP provides acquisition guidance and Federal efficiency requirements across a variety of product categories, including: outdoor wall-mounted luminaires, outdoor pole/arm-mounted area and roadway luminaires, outdoor pole/arm-mounted decorative luminaires, fuel pump canopy luminaires, bollards, and parking garage luminaires, all of which are FEMP-designated product categories. Federal laws and executive orders mandate that agencies meet these efficiency requirements in all procurement and acquisition actions that are not specifically exempted by law.

This product category overview covers the following:

• Meeting Energy Efficiency Requirements
• Defining the Covered Product
• Buyer Tips: Choosing the Right Technology
• Complying with Contracting Requirements
• For More Information

Meeting Energy Efficiency Requirements for Exterior Lighting

The following table describes the efficiency requirements that exterior lighting must meet.

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Defining the Covered Product

This FEMP-designated product category applies to exterior lighting applications used for general illumination.

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Buyer Tips: Choosing the Right Technology

Typical light sources vary across the six categories of FEMP-designated exterior lighting product categories, and often include high-intensity discharge sources (which include high-pressure sodium [HPS] and metal halide [MH]). Other technologies include fluorescent, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), induction, and, more recently, light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Each of these lighting technologies has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, which may make it more or less attractive depending on the application.

Table 2. Common Exterior Lighting Technologies
Features	Solid-state lighting (i.e., LED)	High Intensity Discharge		Fluorescent		Induction
		High Pressure Sodium	Metal Halide	Linear/U-Lamp	Compact
Luminaire Efficacy Rating (LER)
Source/System Efficacy
System/Lamp Life
"White Light" Source	Yes	No, amber	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Light Level Options	Inherently Dimmable	Bi-level only	Bi-level only	Can be dimmed	Can be dimmed	Bi-level via multiple lamps
Controllability	Yes	Bi-level	Bi-level	Yes	Yes	Bi-level
Initial Cost	$$$	$	$	$	$	$$
Notes	LEDs are point light sources that can provide better uniformity compared to single lamps.	Lamp re-strike takes 1–4 minutes.	Lamp re-strike takes 1–15 minutes.	Fluorescent lamps require closer spacing for the same illumination levels compared to other sources. Temperature sensitive		Induction lamps are "large" sources, which makes effective use of the lamp's light more difficult due to limitations of reflector geometry and optics.

- Good	$ - Lower
- Better	$ $ - Mid-range
- Best	$ $ $ - Higher

The key to making an informed and cost-effective choice for each exterior lighting application is gathering the most accurate and relatable data on the performance, cost, and reliability of the products. If LED technology is identified as a viable option, pay attention to the performance criteria for comparing LED lighting with other technologies and products. Because LED technology is still developing, make sure you've gathered the information you need to make good decisions.

Products with verified performance are commonly listed when they meet specific criteria. A good resource is the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) LED Lighting Facts® program. LED Lighting Facts showcases LED products for general illumination from manufacturers who commit to testing products and reporting performance results according to industry standards. The program also provides information essential to evaluating products and identifying the best options. The site offers a search mechanism that allows users to sort on a variety of performance criteria. The DesignLights™ Consortium (DLC) is another good example of a program that lists products in certain luminaire categories that have verified performance. The DLC also has a search capability and has additional performance requirements to ensure high-quality products.

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Complying with Contracting Requirements

These requirements apply to all forms of procurement, including construction guide specifications and project specifications; renovation, repair, maintenance, and energy service contracts; lease agreements; acquisitions made using purchase cards; and solicitations for offers. Energy efficiency requirements should be included in both the evaluation criteria of solicitations and the evaluations of solicitation responses.

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 23.206 requires Federal agencies to insert the clause at FAR section 52.223-15 in solicitations and contracts that deliver, acquire, furnish, or specify energy-consuming products. FEMP recommends that agencies incorporate efficiency requirements into both the technical specification and evaluation sections of solicitations. Agencies may claim an exception to these requirements through a written finding that no ENERGY STAR–qualified or FEMP-designated product is available to meet the functional requirements, or that no such product is life-cycle cost effective for the specific application. Additional information on Federal requirements is available.

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For More Information

The following resources provide additional information surrounding the purchase of efficient products:

• ENERGY STAR
  800-372-7827

• Illuminating Engineering Society

• General Services Administration
  GSA Advantage!
  816-926-6760

• Defense Logistics Agency
  Access to DLA websites requires enhanced security measures. Civilian Federal agencies may have difficulty accessing these sites.

• Lighting Retrofit Workbook
  A how-to guide for outdoor lighting developed by the National Park Service and DOE.

• Outdoor Solid State Lighting Technology Deployment
  FEMP encourages Federal agencies to accelerate the evaluation and deployment of outdoor SSL technologies, and offers a variety of resources and case studies.

• DesignLights Consortium
  Resources for energy-efficient commercial lighting design and information, including specifications and qualified products.

• LED Lighting Facts
  Showcases LED products for general illumination from manufacturers who commit to testing products and reporting performance results according to industry standards.

• Exterior Lighting Guide for Federal Agencies
  Handbook with overviews of exterior lighting technologies, as well as tips for evaluating light sources, performing a lighting audit, and pairing lamps with lighting controls.

• Commercial Building Energy Alliance (CBEA) Specifications: These customizable specifications can be used to solicit requests for proposals (RFPs) from vendors and are based on actual procurement documents used by businesses that participate in CBEA. Default efficiency requirements may be higher than FEMP minimum requirements—modify if necessary to suit your needs.

  • CBEA High Efficiency Lighting Specification for Site Lighting (Parking Lots)

  • CBEA High Efficiency Lighting Specification for Parking Structures