NYSERDA’s Approach for Commercial Lighting Market Transformation

Priscilla Richards, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Keywords

Abstract

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) commercial lighting market transformationprogram aims to increase high quality, energy-efficient lighting in small- and medium-sized remodeling and renovation projects by influencing the practices of electrical contractors, lighting suppliers, and retailers. To begin, NYSERDA issued a program opportunity notice (PON) in the fall of 1999 to solicit proposals for design and implementation of lighting market transformationprograms for delivery in the New York Energy $mart^SM program area. The PON defined small- and medium-commercial spaces as less than 10,000 square feet and identified small retail, small office and convenience stores as examples. The PON also defined guidelines and tools as published information and processes providing easy-to-use explanations, advice, or designations that appropriately address the complexities involved in the design and selection oflighting equipment and systems. NYSERDA required proposers to target electrical contractors, lighting suppliers, and retailers and to use existing lighting guidelines and tools as instrumental parts of their market transformation efforts. NYSERDA also strongly encouraged proposers to involve the National Electrical Contractor Association (NECA) chapters, the National Association of Electrical Distributors , the National Association of Independent Lighting Distributors and other appropriate local chapters or associations inprogram design and implementation activities. This paperaddresses NYSERDA’s program design and early results including: defining high quality, energy-efficient lighting, reasons for selecting midstream market participants and incorporating existing tools and guidelines, involvement ofNECA, progress of selected program(s), and anticipated indicators formeasuring market impacts.