Why Energy Star is different from DLC

Time：2016-01-12　Views：2845　Compile：SUNPER

The Energy Star and DLC are different as evident by the following information outlining their major differences.

The Energy Star

It is a commonly known program that was started by the US Environmental Protection Agency EPA. It aims mostly on using education as well as labels to help individuals and businesses save money by selecting the products that are safer for environment use. Manufacturers may opt to participate in this program and in return have the label of the Energy Star. Below is a short history of the Energy Star.

To begin with, it started in 1992 and its primary use was to reduce air pollution. In the year 2005, the Department of the Energy DOE as well as EPA broadened the projects mission by including the promotion of the energy efficient products as well as buildings. This was in the quest to reduce energy consumption as well as lower all forms of pollution. By the year 2006, there were over 40,000 types of the Energy Star products available in the market. 4.5 billion have been sold in the last twenty years. The Energy Star has since become an international standard as this program is currently used all over the world.

It is common to see the blue Energy Star label on some light bulbs and in other appliances. This label helps one to know if a particular product meets the efficiency standards set by the EPA and DOE. Thus, any product having this label is likely more environmentally friendly than other similar products having no blue label. In order to get the label, the products are usually tested by a third party in an EPA-certified laboratory prior going to the market. These items are also tested periodically in order to ensure no changes have been made to them. In simple terms, it is not so simply to get the Energy Star designation.

DesignLights Consortium DLC

DLC is similar to the Energy Star program. The only difference is that it is a regional group that concentrates particularly on energy efficiency in the lighting industry. It is part of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships NEEP. Initially, it focused on both the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast areas. The main aim of the DLC is to have an energy efficient lighting system in the building sector by simply influencing the public policy as well as spreading strategies and education. Much of the innovation and progress have been seen in the lighting market. All these is due to efforts made by DLC.

DLC history

DLC was started in 1998 by the NEEP members who realized that energy efficient did not have the right light quality. This was when the DLC started the knowhow series that guided the electrical contractors as well as lighting distributors on how they would outfit the commercial spaces. This was done using efficient lighting that was functional, attractive and up to code. In 2006, the DLC informed distributors about the benefits of the High Performance HPT8 fluorescent lighting systems.

In 2010, the DLC created a Qualified Products list of the commercial grade LED lights. It only included top quality and energy saving luminaries. By 2012, programs from more than 30 states and 3 Canadian provinces joined the DLC. Nowadays, these groups join hands to push the lighting market towards innovation and energy efficiency. Just like in the Energy Star, the products must meet requirements in order to have the DLC’s logo. Manufacturers have to apply as well as pay a certain fee to have their products tested by a DLC-approved third party.

The differences between the two include the following

The main difference between the two is in the Energy Star rates of consumer products and that of DLC rates. In simple terms, you cannot see one product bearing two labels of the two. One product must have a label of either DLC or Energy Star but not both of them. The government-sponsored Energy Star has right to claim jurisdiction over a certain product. Thus, if the Energy start wants to cover a particular light category, the DLC has to drop it even it was already rating it. However, if such happens, the DLC must be notified and given a period of 270 days to eliminate it wholly.

You may not find Energy Start label on lamps such as LED high bay and LED flood lights. It is only DLC label that is available for these lamps. According to the rules, the Energy Start is suitable for the LED commercial lighting while DLC is good for the LED industrial lighting.

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