In the commercial and industrial lighting world, luminaires with Amber LEDs fulfill a niche market need for both indoor and outdoor applications. In industrial facilities, luminaires with Amber LEDs are used in some cleanroom facilities. Amber LED luminaires can also provide low levels of illumination and wayfinding at night without disrupting the human circadian system in buildings with 24/7 occupancy, such as healthcare facilities.
In outdoor applications that support astro-tourism and prioritize stargazing, luminaires with phosphor converted (pc-) Amber LEDs or direct-emission (de-) Amber LEDs mitigate sky glow, since they don’t scatter as much light in the atmosphere as blue/white LED luminaires do. And, in sensitive habitats, Amber LED lighting may be less likely to attract wildlife. Sea turtle hatchlings, for example, are less attracted to de-Amber LED lighting (which has no blue light emissions) and are much more likely to enter the surf at night if light levels are kept low and there is no direct line-of sight to the LEDs.
The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) considered these applications as well as Amber LED performance in the new Draft 1 SSL V6.0 and LUNA V2.0 Technical Requirements, which were released for comment on April 7.
DLC technical requirements define performance thresholds for its qualified products lists (QPLs), which are used by 75 percent of North American utilities and energy efficiency programs to identify high-quality, energy efficient commercial lighting solutions eligible for rebates and incentives. In determining eligibility criteria for its QPLs, the DLC utilizes standards to ensure that LED luminaires qualified under the technical requirements can be reliably and consistently evaluated worldwide. Gaps in research and standards relating to non-white light that existed when the DLC developed its first version of LUNA in 2021 precluded including Amber products on the LUNA QPL at that time.
Since then, we are pleased to report that the standards gap is narrowing. With standardization of 1800K and 2000K correlated color temperature (CCT) bins (categories into which LEDs are sorted according to color characteristics), the DLC is now proposing pathways to QPL eligibility for very low CCT and Amber LED luminaires - not only for LUNA, but for indoor lighting on our Solid-State Lighting (SSL) QPL, as well.
The Draft 1 Technical Requirements propose to increase efficacy by an average of approximately 15 percent across all lighting categories that use white light, while creating new QPL eligibility pathways for indoor and outdoor luminaires that incorporate very low CCT and Amber LEDs. In addition, the DLC is proposing to introduce new turtle lighting requirements intended to support coastal applications where sea turtles nest. At the same time, the DLC recognizes that the benefits of Amber LEDs come with trade-offs in terms of efficacy and lighting quality. As such, Draft 1 proposes lower efficacy thresholds for Amber LED products, as well as adjustments to quality parameters.
As is the case with development of all our initiatives, the Draft 1 Technical Requirements are already the product of stakeholder involvement and that will continue over the next several months. The DLC follows a six-step process to craft comprehensive criteria that address the needs of our energy efficiency program members and industry partners alike. For these policies, we are providing two six-week public comment periods for industry and end-users to share their expertise. We plan to start accepting SSL V6.0 and LUNA V2.0 product applications from manufacturers next January after the second round of stakeholder comments this summer and release of a final version in the fall.
The DLC’s LUNA QPL builds on the SSL program’s listing requirements for efficacy, quality, controllability, and reliability, and adds requirements specifically aimed at reducing light pollution associated with outdoor lighting. Significant changes proposed in LUNA V2.0 pave the way for QPL qualification for Amber LED and low CCT luminaires, lamps and retrofit kits suitable for outdoor environments.
In addition to meeting all LUNA criteria and thresholds, luminaires in the proposed turtle lighting categories must use de-Amber LEDs and comply with additional requirements for maximum light output and constraints on high angle light. These requirements ensure that LUNA-listed turtle lighting products meet best practices designed to protect sea turtles. These proposed requirements are expected to facilitate compliance with sea turtle ordinances in over 100 Florida cities, towns and counties.
LUNA V2.0 would also require manufacturers submitting products for the LUNA QPL to report their products’ compliance with spectral requirements in the Hawaii and Maui County codes designed to protect wildlife such as sea birds. Among the provisions of these codes are that outdoor lighting must emit no more than two percent blue light and not have the same color as yellow traffic lights.
The DLC is accepting comments on the Draft 1 technical requirements through May 16. After considering stakeholder input, the DLC plans to release a second draft on July 21 (with a comment period ending August 29) and the final draft on October 13, with an effective date of January 2026. You can view the full technical requirements and download the comment form at: https://designlights.org/our-work/solid-state-lighting/ssl-v6-0-and-luna-v2-0-technical-requirements-draft-1/.
