ALC promotes quality product through its industry-driven system for qualifying and ranking CFL quality, based on an accepted set of performance criteria and levels, a corresponding product marking system, and its online database for reporting and tracking of these quality products. It is envisioned that ALC's product quality rankings will eventually become de facto quality standards for consumers, regulators, and bulk purchasers in Asia, with three quality levels indicating good, better, and best.Suppliers can qualify their quality CFLs with  ALC using an online registration system. Registered CFLs will carry the markings of their qualifying levels, and will be listed in  ALC on line product database, which is accessible to consumers, regulators, utilities, bulk purchasers, and other users of CFLs.

ALC does not intend to recreate lighting standards.  ALC's three-tier system has been developed to work cooperatively with other lighting quality standard initiatives.The Best tier is currently based on the UK Energy Savings Trust 6 standard and will migrate to the EUP CFL standard once this standard is finalized.The "Better" tier is based on the Efficient Lighting Initiative (ELI) standard and arrangements are in place for a close ongoing working relationship with ELI.The Good tier represents an initial realistic entry-level performance standard for developing countries in the Asia region that provides quality, efficiency, and performance.This ALC system is voluntary, transparent, publically reviewed, consistent with the standards of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and is based on the IEC safety and performance test standards (60968 and 60969).

A report released in 2007 by the USAID ECO-Asia Clean Development and Climate Program found that as many as half the compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) produced in Asia are substandard – producing less light or burning out more quickly than advertised. Many lighting stakeholders are concerned that consumer dissatisfaction with shoddy CFLs will threaten the spectacular growth of energy saving CFLs in Asia, as well as consumer perception of energy efficient products.<br /> <br /> As a regional link to global initiatives for quality and efficient lighting,  ALC offers a path to higher quality and efficient lighting in Asia and will also encourage the production of quality lighting products in Asia for supply to the rest of the world.

ALC's primary source of funding comes from the major funders from the industry while the secondary source of funding is  derived from ALC's product registry, technical and marketing activities.

ALC is currently focusing on integrated CFLs and LEDs available in the Asian market.

Asia Lighting Compact (ALC) is an independent, non-profit organization formed through a joint public-private initiative. ALC's membership roll draws on stakeholders in the lighting industry, including: manufacturers of lighting products, national associations of manufacturers of lighting products, government energy, efficiency, and standards setting agencies, testing laboratories, research institutions, professional societies, and bulk purchasers of lighting products. The governing board of ALC is formed from this group of stakeholders.

ALC's membership is open to all stakeholders in the lighting industry, including: manufacturers of lighting products, national associations of manufacturers of lighting products, government energy, efficiency, and standards setting agencies, testing laboratories, research institutions, professional societies, and bulk purchasers of lighting products.

ALC Registry is open to the public, and is accessible to consumers, regulators, utilities, bulk purchasers, and other users of CFLs. However, the Registry's main purpose is to provide information to ALC members and other interested parties who purchase, can influence the purchase of, or specify large quantities of lighting products for commercial or institutional applications. Examples of these users include large retailers, efficiency programs (bulk purchasers), agencies, or institutions, as well as multilateral lending agencies.

ALC is not a trade association as it does not promote the sale of products manufactured by its members. ALC focuses principally on improving performance standards of CFLs and LEDs in Asia. It's an independent, non-profit organization formed through a joint public-private initiative. ALC's membership roll draws on manufacturers, national associations, as well as government energy, efficiency, and standards setting agencies, testing laboratories, research institutions, professional societies, and bulk purchasers of lighting products. The governing board of ALC is formed from this group of stakeholders, not just manufacturers.

Participation in ALC's standard working groups is by invitation, and participants are generally drawn from, or nominated by, ALC members. The composition of any particular ALC Technical Working Group is intended to represent the various ALC stakeholder groups and their views, as well as others, as appropriate. There is no cost to participate in a TWG, however, participants may have to fund their own participation costs, such as phone, travel, lodging, etc.

By aligning two of  ALC tiers with the existing UK EST and ELI standards, ALC will benefit from accreditation systems that are already in place. Further ALC specific monitoring and compliance activities will be developed and may include cooperation and data sharing with regulatory agencies within the region.

The Manila Compact was an agreement between CFL suppliers to develop a quality identification system for integrated Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) in Asia. The funding was provided under the umbrella of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP), as part of the joint efforts to promote energy-efficient lighting in Asia.
The MOU, signed in June 2008 by lighting companies, manufacturers, lighting councils and associations as well as supporting organizations, led to a new agreement called the Asia CFL Quality Charter, in which lighting suppliers in Asia agreed to develop performance levels to rate CFL quality, establish a system for product marking, and set-up a regional database for suppliers and consumers to identify which CFLs meet quality standards. It was decided by the participants of the Quality Charter that an independent, non-profit organization – ALC – is needed to implement these systems.

ALC has setup a LED committee that consists of members of various energy efficiency regulatory bodies within Asia. ALC and GLF (Global Lighting Forum) will shortly be signing a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the role of each within LED standard settings. GLF will focus on the global platform and ALC will implement the GLF set LED standards within the Asian context.

The benefits of becoming an ALC member are significant, numerous and varied, depending on a member's particular industry group or agency.

ALC's expressed purpose is to

• Promote regional and global harmonization of lighting standards
• Promote product quality
• Facilitate information exchange among national lighting associations
• Promote dialogues between industry and governments, and facilitate mutual recognition of test results.

The first and foremost benefit in becoming an ALC member is the regional scope of the organization and the wide-ranging composition of its membership. ALC's members represent stakeholders in the Asia lighting industry, including: manufacturers, national associations, government energy, efficiency, and standards setting agencies, testing laboratories, research institutions, professional societies, and bulk purchasers of lighting products.

As a regional link to global initiatives for quality and efficient lighting, ALC offers a path to higher quality lighting in Asia, as well as production of quality lighting products in Asia for supply to the rest of the world. Members share and contribute to the success of ALC's mission – benefiting the region through elevated product quality and reduced environmental impact in the form of less greenhouse gas emissions and waste.

See belolw what ALC has to offer for:
Governments in the region

For government agencies, ALC works to protect the market from poor quality products by endorsing a harmonized CFL standard and marking system. ALC provides the role of an impartial third party to assure consumers, governments, and utilities of product conformance to important international standards.  ALC can be a useful source of information for sourcing products for national and local efficiency procurement programs. It can also support the efforts of national standards bodies by providing them with information necessary in the establishment of performance standards that are in line with existing internationally accepted standards. Furthermore, ALC helps countries reach national goals – in terms of product quality, energy conservation, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

For Manufacturers

For suppliers, ALC represents a low-cost marketing opportunity for quality products. Products that qualify for ALC Quality Registry will be seen by ALC members and other interested parties who purchase, or influence the purchase of, large quantities of lighting products for commercial or institutional use. ALC's efforts to promote harmonization of standards and mutual recognition of test results across Asia can help to lower production and qualification costs for suppliers of quality products. The use of ALC marks by suppliers can provide assurance to utilities, governments and consumers that products meet international standards. ALC helps companies transition to a low-carbon economy, and ALC's mission aligns with corporate sustainability policies.

For Buyers and Retailers

For buyers and retailers,  ALC plays an important role in Asia of an impartial third party that provides assurance that products conform to international quality standards. In turn, sellers of lighting products can assure their customers of the quality of lighting that they will use in their homes and offices. By harmonizing product quality, ALC helps harmonize markets and lift barriers to entry in the region. By participating in ALC and purchasing products with ALC quality marks, lighting buyers are able to move forward towards their own corporate sustainability and environmental protection goals.

For National Associations

For national trade bodies,  ALC can provide a forum for exchanges of valuable ideas and practices for harmonization of standards. Participating in  ALC helps national trade associations provide greater access for their members to news and information on international and regional standards development and practices.  ALC does not intend to recreate lighting standards or to compete with national or international lighting associations. Further, ALC's purpose is to promote and support regional and international efforts to harmonize test procedures and data-sharing, and to foster ways to mutually recognize test results for lighting products across nations. In this way, ALC helps to extend the reach of national associations.

For International Organizations

The work of ALC ties in closely with numerous multilateral initiatives on climate change mitigation and energy efficiency. As a neutral third party in Asia, ALC can help assure multilateral agencies that the lighting products they are using or promoting in their initiatives are of high quality and help conserve energy. Partnering with  ALC makes it easier for international organizations to include lighting in energy-efficiency initiatives in Asia, and to engage with other major lighting stakeholders in the region.

For Consumers

According to a 2007 report by the USAID ECO-Asia Clean Development and Climate Program, as many as half the compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) produced in Asia are substandard – producing less light or burning out more quickly than advertised.ALC helps protect Asian consumers by promoting the adoption of high-quality energy-efficient lighting products that are still sold at an affordable price. By doing so, ALC also helps reduce carbon emissions from the fastest-growing region of the world, creating a cleaner environment for people across Asia.

Please take 5 minutes to fill in the application form and submit online (link here). Details of cost of membership are provided in the form. A member of  ALC team will contact you to process your request.

ALC is a not for profit public-private initiative based in Singapore. The result of a regional initiative, ALC concentrates on Asia, our membership and partnerships comprises of diverse stakeholders within energy efficient lighting.
Our major source of funding is from its sponsors. Income derived from our activities such as membership dues and product verification are channeled towards our operational expenses.
Our board of directors and our members are situated in various countries, principally Asia.
We conduct our activities and dialogue principally by teleconferences and email. Face to face board meetings and the annual general meeting is organized once a year around a major regional lighting event.