Q. What is an emerging lighting technology?

A: Emerging Light Technologies are end-user equipments that are not assigned a Default Lamp Circuit Power or Default Operating Factors under the Commercial Light Energy Savings Formula. This include all types of LED’s, T5 adaptor, Voltage Reduction Units and Induction Lamps.

Q. How can I get my emerging lighting technology approved by the Energy Savings Scheme?

A: The Scheme Administrator does not approve products. The Scheme Administrator accepts products for use by an Accredited Certificate Provider with respect to a specific energy savings project. There is no pre-acceptance of products and each Accredited Certificate Provider or Applicant will need to apply independently to the Scheme Administrator.

For IPART to accept a technology with respect to a certain activity it must be confident that the products comply with the relevant safety and EMC standards. The Accredited Certificate Provider or Applicant will then need to provide evidence of performance characteristic to be used in the certificate calculations.

See     Emerging lighting technologies

Q. Why do I need to provide evidence for power supplies for emerging lighting technology?

A: The Scheme Administrator needs to be confident that the claimed energy savings will actually occur by upgrading the existing lighting in a premise to an emerging lighting technology. Independent evidence such as an Australian Certificate of Approval for the power supply of an emerging lighting technology will provide IPART with more confidence in your activity. 

Q. If another Accredited Certificate Provider already has a product accepted for use in the scheme can I apply to use the same technology without providing the documents required?

A: No. Each applicant will need to apply to use Emerging Lighting Technologies independently of what has previously been accepted. A product is assessed with respect to the Accredited Certificate Provider and the activity. So what has been accepted for one Accredited Certificate Provider might not accepted for another. Furthermore, the testing and certification process to get a technology accepted can add significant cost to an Accredited Certificate provider’s application, such that their competitive advantages would be lost if there was pre-acceptance of products.

Often the manufacturer will have all the necessary documentation available, such that applying to use a certain products will be straightforward.

Please note we do not publish a list of products being used in the Scheme.

Q. How can I get my product tested and certified?

A: Test reports submitted to IPART need to be from an accredited laboratory or equivalent. There are a number of these laboratories across Australia which can located by an online search. For photometric testing to evidence lumen output and Lamp Circuit Power Light Lab International and Queensland University of Technology have been popular choices.

Safety certification normally takes place through Fair Trading NSW, an equivalent department in another state, or a recognised certification body. EMC compliance is regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

See:

•  NATA
•  Light Lab International
•  Queensland University of Technology
•  Fair Trading NSW
•  ACMA

IPART is not involved in any testing or certification of products but relies on the recommendations made by other authorities.

Q. Do I have to replace the halogen transformer with the lamp replacement?

A: Under the Default Savings Method (DSF) there are 3 categories of 50W ELV halogen downlight replacements (as described in Tables 1-3 in the Rule) with different requirements:

• replacement with a 35W halogen lamp only. No replacement of transformer is necessary but a lower DSF is applied
• where the existing transformer is magnetic, replacement with a 35W halogen lamp and an electronic transformer will be eligible for a higher DSF
• replacement with alternative type of technology (i.e. LED), and replacement of transformer.

Under the Commercial Lighting Energy Savings Formula it is not necessary to replace transformers when replacing halogen downlights. However, you will not be able to create as many certificates for lamp only replacements.