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New technical report complements ISO/CIE 20086 for energy efficient illumination

Energy efficient lighting schemes should ensure only the right light appears, where it is needed, and only while it is needed. Behind developing the right scheme lies not just equipment and lighting control systems but good design that balances available daylight and electric lighting.

Different images of small office rooms some with lights on and some in the dark.

As its name suggests, newly published SNZ TR ISO/CIE 3092:2024 Light and lighting — Energy performance of lighting in buildings — Explanation and justification of ISO/CIE 20086 is a complementary technical report to support NZS 20086.2022 and/or ISO/CIE 20086:2019. The 20086 standard gives a procedure to estimate the required energy and the energy efficiency of the electric lighting scheme.

Developed by an international committee of 23 countries including New Zealand, this technical report contains examples of implementing the calculations of NZS 20086:2022. The adoption of ISO/CIE TR 3092:2023 comes from differences in drafting practice between the European standards and New Zealand standards. New Zealand standards normally include information and examples of implementing the requirements of the standard. The combination of NZS 20086:2022 and an adopted version of ISO/CIE TR 3092:2023 effectively turns NZS 20086:2022 into a “complete” New Zealand standard.

Why a separate document?

As a separate document SNZ ISO/CIE TR 3092:2023 provides informative content to support the correct understanding, use and national implementation of the 20086 lighting standard. It also provides explanation of the lighting energy calculation methodology and working calculation example of integrated lighting control options. 

Including the detailed and informative background and context within the content of NZS 20086.2022 would result in an overloaded document - the result would have been confusing and cumbersome, especially where the original international standard ISO/CIE 20086 is referenced in local, regional, or national building codes across its international user base.

Technical details

SNZ ISO/CIE TR 3092:2023 needs to be used in with NZS 20086:2022 which defines the methods for estimating or measuring the amount of energy required or used for lighting in buildings. The method of separate metering of the energy used for lighting will also give regular feedback on the effectiveness of the lighting control. The methodology of energy estimation not only provides values for the Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator (LENI) but it will also provide input for the heating and cooling load estimations for the combined total energy performance of building indicator.

Together these documents are a key tool for organisations to improve their energy performance and help new technologies to evolve, both of which play a key role in sustainable development.

SNZ TR ISO/CIE 3092:2024 is available through the webshop – this can be added to online subscriptions in the click of a button.

SNZ TR ISO/CIE 3092:2024 Light and lighting — Energy performance of lighting in buildings — Explanation and justification of ISO/CIE 20086(external link)