California Lighting Challenge

As of October 2005, California builders have to meet a new set of energy-saving lighting restrictions known as Title 24. The new law mandates the extensive use of fluorescent lights and fixtures. While the biggest effect is on exterior lighting, the law also affects kitchen and bath lighting. Specifically, the mandate requires half of the total wattage in the kitchen to consist of "high efficiency" (i.e., fluorescent) lights. In addition, all bathroom lights must be hooked up to a motion sensor.

According to Jim Dyjak, a lighting consultant at Marrokal Construction in San Diego, the biggest initial impact will be a higher cost for lighting fixtures. "Receptacles have to be the plug-in types that only accept fluorescent bulbs. You can't use the screw-in receptacles that also accept incandescents," he explains. "Plus, ballasts have to be changed to be able to use dimmers. Overall, you're probably looking at an extra cost of about $150 per light, and probably at least a 50 percent increase in the average cost of doing lighting for a kitchen."

Builders and manufacturers have had a year to prepare for the new law. During that time, many builders have been integrating fluorescents into their lighting design schemes to meet the Title 24 mandate, while manufacturers have been developing new products, although the development process is by no means complete.

The Customer Connection
It's not clear how customers will react to the new requirements. In the bathroom, for instance, Dyjak is concerned some customers may not like one specific effect: the lights come on automatically. "We may have to address the issue of whether you can override that [requirement] under the new law," he says.

There are also possible aesthetic compromises. Today's fluorescents produce pleasing enough light in a sufficient variety of designs to keep most customers happy. "Most of our lighting is from recessed cans, and as long as the light comes from a dedicated fluorescent fixture, that's all that's required," adds John Davis, Marrokal's director of design. "Fluorescent light has come a long way - the color's been corrected with lamps that provide full-spectrum light, and you don't have the buzzing and hissing you used to have with the old fixtures."

But the question still remains whether they will be good enough to satisfy picky owners of upscale homes. The biggest challenge facing designers may be how to maintain the drama they like to add to expensive kitchens. "In many designs the lighting can make or break your project," says Dyjak. "You really need halogen lighting to give a room that 'pop' that brings the design to life."

Shedding Light on the Future
The next six to 12 months could find designers and builders scratching their heads as they experiment with different lighting formulas, with the goal of keeping customers happy while staying within the law. By then, manufacturers will have introduced a greater variety of fluorescent lighting products, and designers will have developed creative ways to meet the requirements. Time will tell.

Many building and design requirements - especially environmental ones - start on the west coast and work their way east. Lighting is just one of many issues you may have to grapple with in the future.