Title 24 Updates on Regulations
On January 15th, as part of a 2-part seminar (see related story), CSA seminar attendees were also enlightened on Title 24 Lighting Standards and Title 20 Appliance Efficiency Regulations. Roy Flahive, CSA Executive Director, presented a comprehensive overview of electricity, the history of CSA’s relationship with the California Energy Commission (CEC), and implementation of the Title 24/Title 20 requirements affecting the on-premise sign industry. The goal of the presentation was to help those present understand the issues, rational, and intent of the Lighting Standards.
The California Electrical Code (CEC) contains electrical design and construction standards. Provisions contained in the CEC provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property, and public welfare, and to protect against hazards that may arise from the use of electricity by regulating and controlling the design, construction, installation, quality of materials, location and operation of electrical equipment, wiring, and systems. This volume is pre-assembled with the National Electrical Code (NEC) of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) with necessary California amendments – The NEC requires compliance with Title 20 and Title 24.
Since 1978, California residents are required to meet the energy efficiency standards contained in Title 24, Part 6 of the California Code of Regulations.
California’s Energy Efficiency Standards Have Saved Billions
The Energy Commission’s energy efficiency standards have saved Californians billions in reduced electricity bills since 1977, along with moving the State much closer to their Renewable Energy goal “Support California’s ambitious, yet achievable, Renewables Portfolio Standard by certifying eligible renewable energy generators, verifying all renewable energy procured by utilities and ensuring progress by publicly owned utilities, and promoting renewable energy in California.”
These standards conserve electricity and natural gas and prevent the state from having to build more power plants. The Commission accounts for the savings by using forecasting models for residential and commercial energy consumption. The savings are calculated by determining the energy savings associated with a more efficient building standard or appliance. Savings accumulate over time as older equipment and appliances are replaced with newer, more efficient models and older buildings are retired and replaced with new construction. Savings are calculated by multiplying cumulative savings in each year by the average residential or commercial electricity rates in that year.
The success of standards and other energy efficiency efforts is a significant factor in California’s per capita electricity use remaining flat over the last 40 years while the rest of the country’s use continues to rise significantly.
For additional information, see the California Energy Commission Accomplishments.
Now CSA’s Executive Director, Roy Flahive, has worked within the sign industry for more than 40 years. He is well-known and highly respected, having sat on numerous boards, including those of ISA, San Diego Area Lighting Advisory, and UL’s Industry Advisory Committee. He recently led CSA in engaging the California Energy Commission and the California utility companies in their ongoing work on Title 24 regulations. Most recently, Flahive represented Western States Sign Council (WSSC) while on the CSA board, and in that capacity, helped to coordinate joint WSSC/ CSA initiatives. Notably, Flahive has twice been elected President (Chairman of the Board) of CSA.