The state of California is well-known for its strict environmental regulations which stem from the 1970s record air pollution levels to the brown-outs of the early 2000s. While often criticized for its rigid regulations, California has managed to improve air quality significantly since the 1980s and now aims to reduce the state’s energy consumption to avoid future energy crises.
The state’s Title 24 is a set of regulations also known as the California Building Standards that specify how buildings are constructed in the state. The California Energy Commission (CEC) is tasked with creating, revising, and amending the code. The Joint Appendix 8 of Title 24 (JA8) took effect on January 1, 2017.
JA8 standards focus on several key areas to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, including requiring all newly-constructed single-family homes, townhomes and dwelling units of new multi-family buildings to use high efficacy lighting.
To qualify as “high efficacy,” light sources must meet the requirements laid out in the updated code. JA8 regulations focus on performance and lighting quality to increase consumer implementation of high efficacy lighting and to give consumers more choices in lighting solutions.
Lighting products must apply for JA8 certification and compliance through CEC. Products must meet specific efficacy, power factor, correlated color temperature, color rendering index, lifetime, dimming, flicker requirements, and more. A partial list of JA8 qualifications requirements is available here.
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JA8 Qualification Requirements for High Efficacy Light Sources |
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Specification |
Requirement |
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Initial Efficacy |
≥ 45 lumens/Watt |
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Power Factor at Full Rated Power |
≥ 0.90 |
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Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) |
For inseparable SSL luminaires, LED light engines and GU24 LED lamps, ≤ 4000 Kelvin. For all other sources, ≤ 3000 Kelvin. |
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Color Rendering Index (CRI) |
≥ 90 |
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Color Rendering R9 (Red) |
≥ 50 |
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Rated Life |
≥ 15,000 hours |
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Minimum Dimming Level |
≤ 10% |
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Flicker |
≤ 30% for frequencies of 200Hz or below at 100% and 20% light output |
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Products that must meet JA8 requirements include:
Recessed downlight luminaires and enclosed luminaires must contain a JA8-complaint light source and meet the elevated temperature requirements. Light sources which automatically qualify as high efficacy must still meet JA8 requirements if installed in a ceiling recessed downlight or enclosed luminaire.
To obtain JA8 certification, manufacturers must test their products at an accredited test laboratory and submit the results to the CEC. To produce compliant LED lighting products, manufacturers must also keep in mind the LED driver, which is an integral part of any lighting system.
GRE Alpha offers a full lineup of products that are suitable for JA8-compliant lighting systems. All GRE Alpha dimmable modules can provide dim-to-zero performance, whereas most of the market’s dimmable options can only dim to about 5%.
High efficacy luminaires require high-efficiency components. GRE Alpha XLD series LED drivers can achieve high efficiency up to 92% to power JA8-compliant luminaires. Normally, efficacies over 90% are considered high in the market.
As we become more conscious of the need for energy efficiency, more and more states will likely follow California’s lead and adopt energy efficiency building standards. GRE Alpha strives to be a trailblazer in this challenge and designs products in anticipation of future energy needs.
About GRE Alpha
GRE Alpha® Electronics, Ltd. specializes in the design and manufacture of solid-state lighting power supplies and lighting control accessories which are the lifeblood of indoor and outdoor LED lighting systems. Unlike many in the LED industry, GRE Alpha focuses on a modular approach. Their products can be used either in conjunction with existing systems or with new setups.
With more than two decades of power conversion expertise and a commitment to innovation, GRE Alpha engages with industry pioneers to deliver highly efficient, installation-ready and agency-approved LED power conversion products for a wide variety of industry applications.
References
California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC), High Efficacy Lighting for Residential Applications.
California Energy Commission, 2016 Building Energy Efficiency Standards Fact Sheet
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