Energy Efficiency Standards for Federal Buildings
EPAct 2005 establishes new energy efficiency goals for existing federal buildings. These standards increase by 2% each year in order to achieve a 20% increase in efficiency by 2015.
With these new standards come new benefits. Government facility managers now have the opportunity to reuse the budget dollars they save from increased energy efficiency.
Under the EPAct 2005 guidelines, federal agencies can now retain all savings from energy, water, and wastewater improvements, but must use these savings for energy, water, and wastewater improvements. Previously, all federal agencies, except for the Department of Defense, could only retain half of savings.
Efficiency Standards for Lighting Products
New efficiency standards created by EPAct 2005 became effective January 1, 2006, and include:
Illuminated exit signs, torchiere fixtures, traffic signals, pedestrian crosswalk modules, and medium screw-base compact fluorescent lamps. The standards will apply to these products manufactured on or after January 1, 2006.
Energy-saving magnetic fluorescent ballasts. Standards apply to ballasts manufactured on or after January 1, 2009, sold by a manufacturer on or after October 1, 2009, or incorporated into a luminaire on or after July 1, 2010.
Mercury vapor lamp ballasts. EPAct's guidelines state that mercury vapor lamp ballasts cannot be manufactured or imported after January 1, 2008.
EPAct2005 has set efficiency standards for medium base compact fluorescent (CFLs) products manufactured on or after January 1, 2006 that require them to meet Energy Star performance requirements based on the August 9, 2001 version of the Energy Star Program. Many of our CFL products have an Energy Star label which means they are compliant with EPAct2005 efficiency standards, but will not qualify for the commercial building tax deduction.
