Lighting Controls and Technical Reference Manuals: Updates to Enhance Energy Savings

Technical Reference Manuals (TRMs) are used by energy efficiency programs across North America to help standardize energy savings calculations. They provide the basis for prescriptive measure savings and help program managers plan, implement, and evaluate their program’s achievement toward goals. TRMs help in ensuring regulatory compliance and cost effectiveness, but to make the biggest impact, they need to be updated on a regular basis. Many of them may not account for the latest lighting technology, so we took a deep dive into lighting controls in technical reference manuals and what updates we should make. 

The DLC partnered with Energy Futures Group to research TRMs in North America to evaluate their availability, key assumptions, and best practices for networked lighting control (NLC) and luminaire-level lighting control (LLLC) measures. Our goal was to find more ways to improve savings and encourage more installations of this technology to save energy in the commercial and industrial sectors. The study explores the prevalence of TRMs, the extent to which interior NLC and LLLC measures are incorporated, and the significant variations in key assumptions across different jurisdictions. 

We also created a TRM workpaper that outlines calculations, controlled wattage recommendations, control savings factor (CSF) values, measure life values, and more. DLC Members can use this workpaper to add or update TRMs to accelerate the adoption of NLC and LLLC measures and improve the consistency of those measures across North America. 

While the workpaper and report are exclusive to DLC Members (utilities and program administrators), we hope sharing this excerpt will encourage more collaboration between utilities, regulators, and industry stakeholders so that TRMs across the continent can be more consistent and encourage more prescriptive measures for NLCs and LLLCs.  

KEY FINDINGS: 

• TRM availability is limited. TRMs exist in 36 jurisdictions, but 25 lack publicly available TRMs. Among the existing TRMs, 26 (72%) have been updated within the past two years. 

• NLC and LLLC measures have a low prevalence. 58% of TRMs include at least one NLC measure, but only 28% (ten total) distinguish LLLC as a separate measure. Distinguishing NLC and LLLC measures creates a significant opportunity to expand adoption. 

• TRM assumptions vary. Control Savings Factors (CSFs), operating hours, and measure life assumptions vary widely, affecting energy savings estimates and incentive structures. 

• NLC-HVAC Integration measures are missing. No TRMs currently include NLC-HVAC integration measures, despite research indicating significant energy savings potential. 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UTILITY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS AND REGULATORS:  

• Standardize TRM Methodologies. Adopt uniform approaches for NLC and LLLC measures to improve consistency in energy savings estimates. Use the TRM workpaper in Appendix C as a guide. 

• Expand NLC and LLLC Inclusion. Prioritize TRM updates to explicitly define and incorporate these measures in the 26 jurisdictions identified with improvement opportunities. 

• Regularly Update TRMs. Implement review cycles every 1-2 years to align with advancements in technology and market conditions. 

• Leverage Best Practices. Learn from leading TRMs, such as the Illinois TRM’s structured approach to operating hours and LLLC differentiation. 

• Enhance Collaboration. Facilitate engagement among utilities, regulators, and industry stakeholders to refine TRM methodologies and share best practices. 

To maximize the impact of energy efficiency programs, TRMs must be continuously updated and standardized to keep pace with changes in lighting and HVAC technology.  The full report provides a roadmap for improving the consistency, transparency, and effectiveness of NLC and LLLC measures within TRMs. Taking the steps to update TRMs will scale the adoption of NLC and LLLC at a pace that can make a difference for energy savings and decarbonization. 

This TRM research also factors into the playbook we released earlier this year. The playbook describes ways that DLC Members can get more savings from NLC through various “plays”.  Which plays are available to them depends on their local TRM. If TRMs support NLC and LLLC, there are more options available to achieve energy savings. When TRMs do not support NLC or LLLC well yet, the most impactful thing to do is to update the TRM for better NLC support. Our TRM research and workpaper help make these updates easy for DLC Members.   

If you are interested in membership, please reach out to Karla Winter or visit our membership benefits page.  

DLC Members can attend exclusive member meetings every other month; can share ideas with other program administrators in our Program Planning Working Group; can provide technical guidance to the DLC through our Technical Committee; and receive unlimited access to our qualified products lists and other resources.