UL Green Leaf Mark and the CEC

The California Energy Commission (CEC) adopted sign lighting regulations on January 1, 2010, which can be found in the 2008 Building Energy-Efficiency Standards, Title 24, Part 6, Section 148 of the California Code of Regulations. The 2008 Sign Lighting Standards address both indoor and outdoor signs and include mandatory automatic control requirements for all illuminated signs. In addition, the Standards set limits on installed lighting power for internally and externally illuminated signs. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and UL Environment (UL-E), working with the California Energy Commission (CEC) and sign-industry representatives, developed the program to assist sign manufacturers in testing and certifying products for their compliance to a variety of energy-efficiency requirements, including those within Title 24 of the California Energy Commission's Building Energy Efficiency Standards.

There are two methods to comply with the 2008 Sign Lighting Standards:

• Watts per Square Foot: sets maximum power per sign area
• Specific Technology: uses only energy-efficient lighting technologies

Internally illuminated signage may not exceed 12 Watts/Square Foot and externally illuminated signage may not exceed 2.3 Watts/Square Foot. There are wattage calculation instructions for neon, fluorescent, HID, LED, incandescent, and changing message board signs.  If using the Specific Lighting Source approach, signs illuminated exclusively with efficient lighting sources (e.g. electronic ballasts, high efficiency lamps, efficient power supplies, and efficient transformers) comply with the energy requirements, regardless of the power consumed. Extensive details of the program and requirements can be found here.

UL48 Sign Manufacturers now have the option to apply the UL-E Green Leaf Mark to signs that demonstrate compliance to one of the lighting power alternatives described above.

 The UL Safety Mark and the UL-E Energy Verified Mark will always appear together on signs covered under this new program. The program is available to UL48 Electric Sign Listees now, and those interested can apply by calling UL-E's customer service personnel at 888-4UL-GREEN, by sending an email at ulenvironment@ulenvironment.com, or by visiting.

As part of the UL Verification Service, the manufacturer is responsible for conducting and documenting the compliance assessment process on a Master Compliance Record (MCR) for all products intended to bear the Green Leaf mark, and there are a minimum of two audits per year minimum. LED sign and digital billboards manufacturer Watchfire has laid claim to its signs being the first in the industry to receive Energy Efficiency Certification from UL.