What’s New for the 2022 California Energy Code

The significant changes for outdoor lighting systems in the 2022 update to the Energy Code include:

• Lighting Zones 1-4 have new definitions according to U.S. Census designations for rural, urban cluster, and urban areas.
• Updates to lighting power allowances for general hardscape lighting in Table 140.7-A including reduction in lighting power allowances and using a single allowance for all hardscape surfaces instead of separate allowances for concrete and asphalt surfaces. Allowances follow IES RP-8 recommended practices.
• Updates to specific applications in Table 140.7-B, including addition of security camera application.
• All instances of the term “cutoff” have been updated to the term “shielding”; these terms refer to the same luminaire distribution features.
• See Section 11.6 for changes to the Multifamily Outdoor Lighting Compliance Manual.
• Reorganization of and improvement in phrasing of the outdoor lighting control requirements in §130.2(c) to enhance readability.