CEC, Title 20 & Title 24; What does it all mean?

​​Not too long ago, 2020 was imagined having flying cars and futuristic technology that was off the charts. However, there are many who are still using a product that has not changed much since it was manufactured for commercial use in the 1800s; the incandescent light bulb. Not only do incandescent bulbs have a short lifespan and low efficiency, they are also bad for the environment – producing a tremendous amount of carbon dioxide. California, a front-runner in environment preservation, has proactively stepped up again and put an end to the use of incandescent bulbs within their state. The California Energy Commission (CEC) has established new standards for lighting with a focus on a commitment to reduce energy costs and environmental impact. Two of these standards include Title 20, or the Appliance Efficiency Program, and Title 24 (JA8), also known as the California Building Standards Code.
 
TITLE 20
Title 20, or the Appliance Efficiency Program, sets minimum efficiency levels for energy consumption in consumer electronics and household appliances – along with other standards related to water consumption and plumbing equipment. Title 20 is not only a requirement to sell in California, but the product must also be registered with the CEC prior to entering the market.
 
TITLE 20 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

• CRI, or color rendering index, must be greater than 80.
• Power factor must be greater than 0.7.
• Must have an hour rated life greater than 10,000 hours (25,000 for MR16s).
• A-lamps much be ENERGY STAR® V2.0 omnidirectional light distribution.
• Decorative lamp shapes must be ENERGY STAR V1.1 light distribution.
• Must meet compliance score* (See chart below).
• MR16 lamps must be either greater than 80 LPW or greater than 70 LPW with a compliance score greater than 165 (LPW = Lumens per watt).
• If the lamp is dimmable; dimmable to 10%.
• Reduced flicker.
• Noise is less than 24dB at 100% and 20%.
• If comparing to incandescent equivalent, must be lower than 3000K, or warm white.
• If comparing to incandescent, must be dimmable.
• If comparing to incandescent, lumens must be greater than 310 for an E26 base (medium) or greater than 150 for an E12 base (candelabra) or an E17 base (intermediate).

 
What does this mean for the consumer? Basically, the CEC has ensured that lighting products sold in California are brighter, more energy-efficient and longer lasting. This aligns with California’s environmentally friendly mission by creating less waste from discarded bulbs, emitting 80% less greenhouse gases and using significantly less energy when compared to incandescent, halogen and CFL bulbs. 

TITLE 24 (JA8)
Title 24 (JA8), or the Building Energy Efficiency Standards, is focused on reducing wasteful and unnecessary energy consumption in new construction and existing buildings. Title 24, unlike Title 20, is not required in order to sell products in California. However, it is required for new construction projects.
 
TITLE 24 (JA8) PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

• CRI, or color rendering index, must be greater than 90.
• CCT, or correlated color temperature, must be under 4000K.
• R9 must be greater than 50.
  • R9 refers to a light sources ability to accurately reproduce strong red colors.
• 6,000-hour lumen maintenance must be greater than or equal to 86.7%.
• Rated life must be greater than or equal to 15,000 hours.
• Must dim to 10% of light output.
• Flicker less than 30% for 200 Hz or below at 100% and 20% levels.
• Noise less than 24dB at 100% and 20%.
• Marking (either JA8-2016 or JA8-2016-E) on lamp.

 
What does this mean for the consumer? Title 24 provides assurance that lighting products purchased will be more efficient and last longer. Also, lighting products must maintain their original brightness further into the life of the product. While Title 24 is not required in order to sell products in California, it is required for any new construction projects. This is yet another way California is making strides towards being a leader on environmentalism. 

COMPLIANCE SCORE CHART*

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​If you’re in search of a CEC Compliant product, look no further than Lighting Supply. We have a fantastic selection of CEC Compliant products including light bulbs, downlights, motion sensors, and emergency lighting. For more information, give our Customer Service team a call at 877.231.2852 or leave a comment below.

ARTICLE REFERENCES
www.energy.ca.gov
https://www.tcpi.com/california-energy-commission-blog/