Regarding lighting equipment and light bulbs and other equipment, for which it is particularly necessary to improve the rational use of energy, the Act on the Rational Use of Energy requires relevant manufacturers, etc. to ensure that their products satisfy the standards for energy consumption efficiency by targeted fiscal years, and also stipulates the matters to be indicated on products concerning energy consumption efficiency. Those standards are formulated in light of the performance of the currently commercialized products with the highest energy consumption efficiency rate (called "top runners"), the future prospects of such products’ technical development and other elements.

1. Lighting equipment

The conventional energy conservation standards for lighting equipment only covered fluorescent lighting equipment, but LED lighting equipment was newly added in the coverage of the new standards, setting FY2020 as the target fiscal year. The conventional standards considered the energy consumption efficiency as the "brightness of the light source of lighting equipment (total luminous flux)" per electricity consumption, but the new standards are based on the "brightness of lighting equipment (equipment luminous flux)" per electricity consumption. See the website of METI (below) for concrete standard values and other details.

There is a requirement to affix a new indication of "brightness of lighting equipment (equipment luminous flux)" in lieu of the conventional indication of "total luminous flux." Note that the equipment luminous flux is smaller than the total luminous flux for the same fluorescent lighting equipment.

2. Light bulbs

The conventional energy conservation standards for light bulbs only covered fluorescent lamps and LED lamps, but incandescent bulbs were newly added in the coverage of the new standards, while setting FY2027 as the target fiscal year. The energy consumption efficiency continues to be considered as being the "brightness of the light source of a lamp" per electricity consumption as under the conventional standards. See the website of METI (below) for concrete standard values and other details.

3. Future schedule

Promulgation: April 12 (Fri.), 2019
Enforcement: April 15 (Mon.), 2019
METI sets a grace period of one year until March 31, 2020. Accordingly, the conventional indications may be continuously affixed until that date.

(Reference) METI has publicized on its website the Judgment Standards for Manufacturers, etc. of Energy-Consuming Equipment Concerning the Enhancement of the Energy Consumption Efficiency for Lighting Equipment (Public Notice of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No.54 of 2010) and the Judgment Standards for Manufacturers, etc. of Energy-Consuming Equipment Concerning the Enhancement of the Energy Consumption Efficiency for Light Bulbs (Public Notice of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 235 of 2013).

Division in Charge

Energy Efficiency Division, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy