Version 3.0 of the DLC’s technical requirements, which will take effect next year, will support the rapidly growing sector of controlled-environment agriculture
Medford, MA – The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) released today for comment the first draft of version 3.0 of its Technical Requirements for Horticultural Lighting. The new policy, scheduled to come into effect in January 2024, establishes new performance thresholds and other prerequisites that horticultural luminaires must meet in order to be listed on the DLC’s Qualified Products List (QPL) for horticultural lighting.
To support the advancement of high-quality, energy-efficient lighting in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), this major revision to the DLC’s horticultural technology requirements also introduces a draft surveillance testing policy with a proposed effective date of October 2024.
The DLC will accept comments on its draft Technical Requirements for Horticultural Lighting V3.0 until May 12, 2022. Comments should be submitted by email to https://www.bbier.com/ using DLC’s online comment form. Stakeholder input will inform the next iteration of the policy, which is expected to be rolled out this summer.
“As the number of controlled-environment farming operations in North America continues to increase, DLC is pleased to support the energy efficiency and lighting quality needs of this dynamic industry,” said Christina Halfpenny, DLC Executive Director and CEO. “These proposed changes will Strengthening DLC’s horticultural lighting program enables growers to keep up with cutting-edge technology, increase crop yields and minimize energy consumption.”
Horticultural lighting is one of the fastest growing segments of many utilities’ electrical loads, and the U.S. Department of Energy is recommending that growers convert their lighting to all LED technology, which would reduce electricity use by at least 40% and save operators an estimated $240 million Dollar.
Launched in 2018 as the industry’s first list of eligible energy-efficient horticultural lighting products, DLC’s horticultural QPL has grown 54% over the past two years, providing indoor commercial growers with greater product variety and greater savings opportunities . This searchable, filterable online resource now provides users with like-for-like comparisons of over 650 horticultural LED products, with more products being regularly reviewed and added.
At least two dozen North American utilities require CEA operators to use QPL products to qualify for energy efficiency incentives, while others have incorporated DLC technology requirements into their programs. Two states with hemp-specific energy efficiency regulations (Massachusetts and Illinois) offer a path to compliance through the DLC’s Horticulture QPL.
As proposed, the draft V3.0 Horticulture Technical Requirements will:
Raising the efficacy threshold for QPL products (increasing potential energy savings by at least 20%) while allowing the top 85% of products (in terms of photosynthetic photonic efficacy) to remain on the market;
· Introducing requirements to collect and report application information for marketed products to allow efficiency programs and QPL users greater insight into marketed products and to support the development of normative/midstream incentive programs;
· Introducing product-level dimming requirements for all products and reporting additional controllability details to enable additional energy savings, facilitate interoperability, and prepare for future demand response systems and programs; and
· Introduce a surveillance testing policy to actively monitor the validity of data and other information submitted to the DLC to protect the integrity and value of the QPL.
The DLC will provide more information on the proposed policy in a webinar on April 13 at 1 p.m. ET.
About the DesignLights Consortium: DLC is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving energy efficiency, lighting quality, and the human experience in the built environment. We work with utilities, energy efficiency programs, manufacturers, lighting designers, building owners and government entities to set rigorous standards for lighting performance that keep pace with technology. Together we create solutions for a better future with better lighting.
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