Starting January 1, 2024, the State of California will begin to prohibit the sale and distribution of mercury-containing lighting, specifically fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that meet certain criteria.
On and after January 1, 2024, a screw or bayonet-base type compact fluorescent lamp sale or distribution as a new manufactured product is prohibited.
On and after January 1, 2025, a pin-base type compact fluorescent lamp or a linear fluorescent lamp sale or distribution as a new manufactured product is prohibited.
Assembly Bill 2208, chaptered in September 2022, initiated a phase-out of low-pressure, mercury-containing, electric- discharge light sources in which a fluorescent coating transforms some of the ultraviolet energy generated by the mercury discharge into visible light. The specific definitions are written into the law:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient. xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB2208
For associations with lighting responsibilities, the time to plan for a fluorescent light bulb/ CFL conversion has passed. You may find that replacement lamps—especially CFLs—are no longer available as stores and suppliers phase out the fluorescent bulbs in favor of Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs. If you have not already started working with your maintenance staff or lighting maintenance vendor on planning for change, it should now be a high priority for your board and community manager. However, don’t let a vendor pressure the association into a proprietary solution. Be sure to look at the variety of options and talk to more than one vendor if you are unsure of the guidance you are receiving.
LEDs have a wide selection of color temperatures from warm white (more yellow) to more intense daylight that is designated in degrees Kelvin.
But What About the High Cost of LEDs?
As LEDs are used in greater numbers, the cost to purchase falls. The fastest way to bring down the cost of LEDs is to use plug-and-play bulbs and purchase them in cases of 100 (assuming you have a place to store them). This can cut the cost of a $20 or more lamp by 40 to 50 percent. Plug-and- play lamps eliminate the high expense of rewiring fixtures and start an association saving money by reducing electric consumption sooner.
“For associations with lighting
responsibilities, the time to plan for a fluorescent light bulb/CFL conversion has passed.”
When fixtures must be repaired because of broken sockets or other damage, convert from pin-type sockets to the standard E-26 light bulb base. These bulbs are normally less expensive than the two- and four-pin plug-in lamps. The E-26 description refers to an Edison screw-in bulb and the number 26 is the diameter in millimeters, which is about one inch. Use the flood type of screw-in bulb or flat LED lighting when replacing a recessed fixture to spread the light into the room. This approach provides greater coverage of lighting, especially in kitchens and restrooms.
One exception to waiting to convert to E-26 sockets is where recessed lights are in outdoor areas or have horizontal pin plug lamps.
may be better for the association to have an electrician convert the recessed or “can”
In many cases, there are easy-to-use plug-and-play replacement LED lamps for screw-in and plug-in CFLs. The same replacement type of solution is available for linear fluorescent tubes up to 4 to 8 feet in length. The primary capability of a plug-and-play LED is the ability to plug into a ballasted or non-ballasted CFL or tube connector without having to re-wire the fixture.
Why LEDs?
In addition to feeling good that you are saving energy and reducing potential mercury contamination, you are saving the association money. LEDs operate at about half the cost of CFLs.
LEDs have a longer life than fluorescent lamps – potentially 10,000 to 50,000 hours.
light to LED recessed E-26 or “canless” lighting. In outdoor areas, the canless lights do not have an open space like the plug-in lamp and are better at preventing spiders and other insects from getting into the light housing, which increases maintenance cleaning costs. How many hot CFLs have been broken when the recessed light fixture was being cleaned?
Either way, these installations require a State-licensed and insured electrical contractor to safely complete the electrical recessed lighting retrofit. Select the color temperature setting prior to installation. Colors normally range from Soft White (3000K), Bright White (4000K), and Daylight (5000K). The 4000 Kelvin color temperature is a common selection as it is balanced between yellow and blue-white light.
Once converted to LEDs, you may need to update your reserve study. Depending on the type of LED light, many have 5-year, 10,000-hour or 50,000-hour ratings. The 10,000-hour rating equates to about 2 years and 2 months at 12 hours per day and the 50,000-hour rating equates to more than 11 years of life. Your experience will vary.
www.caioc.org 35
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