Lighting

For Consumers

Overview

Lighting accounts for around 10% of electricity usage in households, and 18–40% of in commercial premises.

The good news is that we can achieve significant energy savings (and reductions on our electricity bills) by replacing inefficient lights with efficient CFL or LED alternatives – CFL and LED light bulbs are better value for money than incandescent and halogen light bulbs. They use around 75 per cent less electricity to produce the same amount of light and last significantly longer before needing to be replaced.

A small change makes a big difference. For example, by replacing 10 halogen light bulbs to an efficient alternative you can expect to save around $650 over 10 years on your electricity bill.

New regulation

In April 2018, Energy Ministers agreed to further improve lighting energy efficiency regulation by phasing out inefficient halogen lamps (light bulbs) in Australia and introducing minimum standards for LED lamps in Australia and New Zealand in line with European Union (EU) standards.

The phase out will remove a range of the remaining incandescent light bulbs and halogen light bulbs from the Australian market, where an equivalent LED light bulb is available.

Energy Ministers also agreed to align the timing of Australia’s LED regulation with the EU regulatory process. As finalisation of the EU regulation was later delayed by 12 months (published December 2019 to come into effect in September 2021), the Australian regulations are expected to come into effect in 2022-2023.

Download the Decision Regulation Impact Statement for Lighting.

Update – January 2021

Work on relevant Australian Standards is progressing, led by Standards Australia. This consists of:

Revising AS 4934.2 Incandescent lamps for general lighting services Part 2: Energy performance and marking requirements to inform the new Determination for incandescent and halogen lamps.
Developing a new LED test standard. This will likely be designated AS/NZS 5341 LED lamps – Test methods – Energy and functional performance when published.

An updated Determination for incandescent and halogen lamps (that would replace the current Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Incandescent Lamps for General Lighting Services) Determination 2016), and a new Determination for LED lamps, will be developed under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Act 2012. These draft Determinations will be released for stakeholder comment prior to finalisation.

A technical working group with membership from relevant stakeholders is being formed to assist in developing the LED Determination.

Given there are still several steps to be taken before the Determinations can be finalised, exact timing of when the Determinations will come into effect have yet to be finalised. Note: the date of effect will be 12 months from when the updated and new Determinations are made by the Minister.

FAQs: Information for lighting suppliers

What products will be affected?

What implications will this have for the supply of lamps within scope?

For halogen and incandescent lamps subject to the current 2016 Determination:

The 2016 Determination will apply up until the day before the new Determination comes into effect.

For LED lamps, and halogen and incandescent lamps covered by the new Determinations:

All new products manufactured in, or imported into, Australia from the new Determination date of effect would be required to be registered and comply with the requirements of the relevant new Determination before they could be supplied, offered for supply, or used for a commercial purpose.

Could I sell products imported and registered before the date of effect of the new Determinations?

Yes. Products that do not comply with the relevant new Determination would be covered by grandfathering provisions in the GEMS Act. The length of the grandfathering period is yet to be determined and will be subject to consideration by stakeholders prior to being finalised.

The following scenarios apply after the date of effect of the new Determinations and while the grandfathering period is in effect, if products that do not comply with the new Determination are identified in compliance monitoring activities:

For halogen lamps that were subject to the 2016 Determination, GEMS inspectors may require evidence of registration and compliance with the requirements of the 2016 Determination and the date of importation of the products.
For incandescent and halogen lamps that were not within scope of the 2016 Determination, but will be phased out under the new Determination, GEMS inspectors may require evidence of the date of importation of the products.
For supplies of LED lamps within scope of the new Determination that are non-compliant products, GEMS inspectors may require evidence of the date of importation of the products.

Products that can comply with the relevant new Determination must be registered from the date of effect, regardless of when they were imported or manufactured. The Energy Rating Team is considering ways it can assist suppliers in managing this transition.

For example, a LED lamp that is within scope and complies with the new LED Determination, even when imported prior to the date of effect, must be registered in order to continue to be supplied from the date of effect of the new LED Determination.

Some extra low voltage halogen products registered under the 2016 Determination are expected to be subject to the same requirements under the new Determination (e.g. MR16 halogen lamps). In cases where the GEMS requirements do not change, the existing registration will continue until the registration expiration date. Once the existing registration has expired, a new registration may be applied for.

When is the last chance to register a product subject to the incandescent lamp 2016 Determination?

Registrations under the 2016 Determination would need to be made no later than 14 days before the new Determination comes into effect.

Provided all necessary information has been supplied correctly, this should be enough time for the registration to be processed.

However, registered products that meet the 2016 Determination (but do not meet the requirements of the new determination) must also be imported into Australia before the date of effect of the new Determination.

Can I sell unregistered / non-compliant products imported after that date?

Lighting products

At a glance...

	MEPS	Energy Rating Label	Australia	New Zealand
Ballasts for Fluorescent Lamps	Yes	Other*	GEMS Determination	Requirements
Compact Fluorescent Lamps	Yes	Other*	GEMS Determination	Requirements
Incandescent Lamps	Yes (Australia only)	Other*	GEMS Determination	-
Light Emitting Diodes	No	No	Under consideration	Under consideration
Linear Fluorescent Lamps	Yes	No	GEMS Determination	Requirements
Street and Public Lighting	Yes Voluntary	No	-	-
Transformers & Converters for Halogens	Yes	Other*	GEMS Determination	-
* Whilst no Energy Rating Label is required, GEMS labelling requirements do apply. For more information see the relevant GEMS determination.

Lighting retailers

Specialist lighting retailer training

Lighting retail stores are well positioned to assist customers to make lighting choices that result in more efficient energy use and good light quality for their homes.

The specialist lighting retailer training package consists of a retailer guide and suite of residential case studies designed to help retailers support their customers to choose efficient lighting solutions that meet their needs.

Specialist lighting retailer training

Lighting installers

Training Guide: The Basics of Efficient Lighting

The Basics of Efficient Lighting reference manual is a joint initiative of the E3 Program and the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA).

The manual introduces the basic concepts of light and lighting, and explores the key requirements of a lighting system and what standards need to be met. It also explains what is meant by sustainability and energy efficiency and how good lighting design can contribute to these.

Basics of Efficient Lighting

The Phase Out

It is estimated that the phase out of incandescent light bulbs is saving the average household 300 kWh and $75 per annum.

Lighting and health

What are the health implications to be considered when lighting your space?

Light globe conversion table

The light globe conversion table compares the light output of equivalent traditional incandescent light bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), mains voltage halogen lamps and light emitting diodes (LEDs).