1. China Trends Expands LED energy-saving Market with Partners - As an energy-saving new light source, LED marks the beginning of the low carbon era. With the growing maturity of its applied technology, LED also obtained all-round advantages. It's believed the market value of global LED lighting market during the year will be close to US$17.5 billion. China Trends Holdings announced earlier that, its subsidiary would cooperate with the subsidiaries of TCL Corp. and China Innovation, to work on the sections of R&D, production, sales and distribution of energy-saving LED products, achieving the mutual sharing on resources. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-trends-expands-led-energy-saving-market-with-partners-2010-09-20?reflink=MW_news_stmp

2. The Furniture Row Companies Shine with Energy-Efficient Cree LED Lighting - The Furniture Row Companies, one of the nation's largest family-owned specialty home furnishings and bedding retailers, is installing LED lighting from leading manufacturer, Cree, Inc. throughout its 330 Sofa Mart®, Oak Express®, Bedroom Expressions® and Denver Mattress Company® specialty furniture stores across the United States. To-date, nearly 13,000 Cree LRP-38™ LED spotlights have been installed, out of more than 80,000 planned. The 11-Watt Cree LED lights are replacing energy-wasting 90-Watt halogen bulbs. 9/10 Wall Street Journal

3. ACEEE Recognizes the Leading State-Led Energy Efficiency Programs - The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) announced on September 15 its first-ever awards for exceptional state-led energy efficiency programs. Among the top five programs are:
1) The Colorado Energy Star New Homes Program
2) The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for their Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Demonstration Program
3) NYSERDA again for their Wastewater Efficiency Program
4) State of Hawaii for its Lead by Example Program
5) Maryland Statewide Farm Energy Audit Program
http://www.aceee.org/press/2010/09/18-state-led-energy-efficiency-programs-recognized-best

4. Energy Efforts Lauded - A stimulus-funded $178,000 energy efficiency grant to Richmond Community College is among the projects highlighted in a recently released reported by the federal Department of Energy. According to the report, more than $90 billion of investments in clean energy were made nationwide with stimulus funds, including more than $852 million in North Carolina. 9/21 Richmond County Daily Journal For the full report: http://www.energy.gov/news/8768.htm

5. Ameren Unveils Educational Initiative - Ameren Illinois has unveiled their new Kids Act On Energy initiative, which is designed to help young people become e-SMART by learning about electricity and natural gas and how to use energy wisely and safely. The Web-based initiative – www.KidsActOnEnergy.com -- provides games, videos, energy facts and more for children. There are educational materials, teaching guides and tests for teachers, as well as valuable information that will help parents. www.ActOnEnergy.com

6. Housing Starts jump in August - According to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of total housing starts for August stood at 598,000, up 10.5% from the downwardly revised July estimate and 2.2% above the August 2009 rate of 585,000. Despite the growth, the numbers continue to reflect a struggling market in residential construction. Building permits increased 1.8% in August to 569,000 from the revised July rate of 559,000, and is 6.7% below August 2009 levels. 9/21 HCN

7. Existing-home sales move up in August - Existing-home sales increased 7.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million in August from an upwardly revised 3.84 million in July, according to the National Association of Realtors. The August rates are 19.0% below the 5.10 million-unit pace in August 2009. 9/23 HCN

8. NEMA Publishes EM 1-2010 - "Exit Sign Visibility Testing Requirements for Safety and Energy Efficiency." The standard, last published in 2007, was produced by NEMA’s Emergency Lighting Section. http://www.nema.org/stds/em1.cfm

9. NAESCO 27th Annual National Conference in Phoenix, AZ on November 9-10, 2010 -http://www.naesco.org/events/conference/annual/default.htm

10. Lighting for Tomorrow 2010 Winners - The winners of the 2010 Lighting for Tomorrow competition were announced and awards were presented at the American Lighting Association Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 20-22, 2010.
1) Kichler Lighting received two awards, one for its Design Pro LED Broad Roof LED Path & Spread Light and the other for its Design Pro LED Modular and Disc System.
2) Edge Lighting also received two awards for its Scope LED Pendant and Scope LED Monorail/Track Light.
3) Albeo Technologies Inc. with its Agito – Intelligent Task Light
4) Blackstone International Ltd. for its Sunter Architect LED Desk Lamp.
5) Cree LED Lighting also received an honorable mention for their CR6™ Downlight.
6) Philips Lighting for its EduraLED A19 Lamp.
7) Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. received an award for the Decora® CFL Slide Dimmer.
8) Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. also received an award for the Radio Powr Savr™ Occupancy/Vacancy Sensor with Maestro Wireless® Switch and
9) Legrand/ Pass & Seymour was recognized for the RT1 7-Button Timer.
http://www.lightingfortomorrow.org/2010/10winners.shtml

11) The Battle of the Bulbs - Three House Republicans have introduced the Better Use of Light Bulbs Act, which would repeal the section of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 that sets minimum energy efficiency standards for light bulbs and would effectively phase out most ordinary incandescents. While the new standards won’t take effect until 2012, the authors argue that they are having a negative impact. Specifically, they say the standards have led lighting companies to close several incandescent light bulb factories in the United States and send jobs overseas — particularly to China. 9/24 NY Times

1.The DOE Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium - shares technical information and experiences related to LED street and area lighting demonstrations. The Consortium also serves as an objective resource for evaluating new products on the market intended for street and area lighting applications. Cities, power providers, and others who invest in street and area lighting are invited to join the Consortium and share their experiences. The goal is to build a repository of valuable field experience and data that will significantly accelerate the learning curve for buying and implementing high-quality, energy-efficient LED street and area lighting. Learn more: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/consortium_about.html

2. IES Publishes Position Statement on Effects of Exterior Lighting on Human Health - “The position of the IES is that typical exposures to exterior lighting after sunset have not been shown to lead to cancer or other life-threatening conditions.” http://www.ies.org/flash/PositionStatements/PS-03-10.swf

3. NEMA Publishes LSD 11-2010 – “White Paper on Outdoor Lighting Issues and Quality Lighting Applications” covers outdoor lighting issues and quality lighting applications. LSD 11 identifies specific lighting issues, defines correct lighting terminology, and provides straightforward technical guidance applicable to outdoor lighting installations in the United States. The publication is intended to be used by anyone dealing with the selection, installation, or management of outdoor lighting systems. http://ecmweb.com/news/nema-lsd-11-2010-20100913/

4. Lowe's Expands Energy Center to Help Energy Efficiency - Lowe's has announced a nationwide launch of its Energy Center in a move to help Americans to better manage their energy consumption, as colder weather creeps in and electricity bills creep up. The Energy Center is retail's first integrated energy solution, bringing products that measure, reduce and generate energy to one convenient location to meet consumers' individual energy needs, the company said. 9/15 Datamonitor

5. FTC Sues Lights of America Over LEDs - The Federal Trade Commission has filed suit to stop California-based lamp manufacturer Lights of America and its principals from allegedly exaggerating the light output and life expectancy of its light emitting diode (LED) lamps. The commission said that the company had made misleading claims saying for example that one of its LED bulbs could replace a 40-watt incandescent, which typically emits about 400 lumens. The F.T.C. found the bulb produced only 74 lumens of light. “The firm said that one of its LED recessed bulbs would last 30,000 hours,” the commission noted. “Independent tests, however, showed that the bulb would not last as long as claimed because it lost 80 percent of its light output after only 1,000 hours.” http://electricalmarketing.com/

6. GE Adopts Advanced Telemetry's 'EcoView™ Residential' Energy Management System - Advanced Telemetry www.AdvancedTelemetry.com developer of the EcoView™ smart energy management system for light commercial and residential applications, today announced that GE has adopted its "EcoView Residential" solution for select energy conscious home builders across North America. General Electric is working with a select group of home builders and developers to design homes that are not only comfortable, but also achieve at least a 20% reduction in household energy usage, indoor water consumption and overall carbon emissions as compared to industry-accepted average new homes. 9/14 MARKETWIRE

7. Philips Demonstrates OLED Module - Scientists from Philips Research have developed the first-ever organic light emitting diode (OLED) module that can be powered directly from a mains electricity supply. The prototype opens the door to OLED systems that can be directly plugged into standard power outlets without the need for bulky power management circuitry. This will reduce the bill of materials and simplify luminaire design for future OLED-based systems aimed at mass-market general illumination applications. http://electricalmarketing.com/

8. Litetronics Appoints Joe Colant as National Sales Manager - In his new role, Joe will be responsible for developing a national network of sales representatives, manufacturer’s representatives, and distributors and promoting and developing positive relationships with contractors, distributors and retail and commercial business owners.

9. Pepco Energy Services selected for $20.9 Million Energy Savings Performance Contract for Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport - Implementation of the project will enable the Maryland Aviation Administration to exceed the 15 percent energy reduction goals of EmPOWER Maryland. The $20.9 million project calls on Pepco Energy to design and implement a total of 13 energy conservation measures that will improve the overall energy efficiency of more than 30 airport buildings, including the main terminal, that covers more than 9 million square feet. Pepco Energy will also install more than 1 acre of solar power generation equipment. Construction will begin in September 2010 and is scheduled to be complete in December 2011. 9/16 PRNewswire

10. Lights of Philadelphia 2010 Lighting Exposition & Educational Conference – At the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA….presented by IES Philadelphia and the Electrical Association of Philadelphia. The Exhibit Hall is open to registered visitors: www.lightsofphiladelphia.org
• Wednesday, September 22nd from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
• Thursday, September 23rd from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm and discover the latest ideas in lighting products, technology and designs.

1. Ten Ways to Save Money by Going Green - If you're worried about the environment, here are 10 "green" moves you can make that also have a payback—they'll help the earth and your wallet.

1) Stop the energy leaks from your home
2) Change your light bulbs
3) Stop heating an empty house
4) Rethink your appliances
5) Stop leaving your computers and home entertainment
systems on standby overnight
6) Make the most of your green taxpayer incentives
7) Tackle your hot water heater
8) Drive a more-efficient car
9) Get a home energy audit
10) Buy an e-book reader
9/03 Wall Street Journal

2. BCAP Compliance Planning Assistance Program - In response to unprecedented federal funding through the Recovery Act, states are working hard to adopt and implement the model energy codes. With new funding comes new challenges, as states must achieve 90 percent compliance by 2017. BCAP’s CPA Program will provide 15 states with on-the-ground assistance to assess the current gaps in energy code enforcement and compliance. The BCAP Team will develop practical, targeted action plans that meet federal goals while accommodating state and local needs and concerns. The following states have been approved for the CPA Program, although not all have committed to participating yet: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia.

http://bcap-ocean.org/compliance-planning-assistance-program

3. Light Bulb Factory Closes; End of Era for U.S. Means More Jobs Overseas - The last major U.S. factory making ordinary incandescent light bulbs will soon be closing. When it does, the remaining 200 workers at the Winchester, Va., plant, about 70 miles west of Washington, D.C., will lose their jobs. What made the plant here vulnerable is, in part, a 2007 energy conservation measure passed by Congress that set standards essentially banning ordinary incandescents by 2014. The law will force millions of American households to switch to more efficient bulbs. But the move also had unintended consequences. Rather than setting off a boom in the U.S. manufacture of replacement lights, the leading replacement lights are CFLs, which are made almost entirely overseas, mostly in China. 9/08 Washington Post

4. GE Teams with Major Utilities, Builders, and Communities to Increase American Home Efficiency by 70% - A team of technologists from GE’s Industrial Solutions, Appliances, Lighting, and Research divisions is investing $5 million with the DOE to employ a mix of energy efficiency and clean power measures to reduce energy usage for new and existing homes. GE and its project partners will assemble a comprehensive package of home energy solutions, which will be demonstrated in several test houses located in various cities throughout the western U.S., including Phoenix; Sacramento; and San Diego. GE is part of DOE’s Building Industry Research Alliance (BIRA). http://ecmweb.com/news/increasing-home-efficiency-20100902/

5. Energy Industry Companies Make the Inc. 500 List of Americas Fastest Growing Private Corporations - Several leading firms in the energy industry recently earned a spot on Inc. magazine’s prestigious 2010 Inc. 500 list, including Standard Solar, Global Wedge, GreenLogic, Vycon, Mercury Solar Systems, Cenergy, link Alteris Renewables, and Rising Sun. To access the entire list, which includes company profiles and an interactive database that may be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, visit http://www.inc.com/500

6. SMUD, City of Sacramento to Offer Energy Rebates for Small Businesses - City officials and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District next month will roll out a new rebate program for small businesses looking to install solar panels and invest in other energy upgrades. Funded by a $500,000 federal stimulus block grant from the DOE, the program also will provide energy audits for small business hoping to lower energy costs and reduce their carbon footprints. Currently, SMUD offers rebates of up to $10,000 for business customers and residential customers for energy efficiency design projects. The rebate program is SMUD's first that specifically targets energy retrofits for small businesses. 9/08 The Sacramento Bee

7. Deere Sells Wind Energy Business - Moline, Ill.-based Deere & Co. has signed an agreement to sell John Deere Renewables, its wind energy business, to Exelon Generation Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exelon Corp. Deere said the $900 million sale, including earn-out provisions, will result in an after-tax charge of about $25 million in its fourth-quarter results. 9/01 HCN

8. Legrand Hires Rochford - Susan Rochford is now Vice President, Energy Efficiency, Sustainability & Public Policy for Legrand North America. At Legrand, Susan is passionate about putting a stop to energy waste. “We're committed to designing “energy smart” products and systems that provide significant savings in dollars and energy. As well as contribute toward LEED certification.” In this capacity, she will work closely with all the Legrand North America entities to identify, design and deliver sustainable products and solutions to meet the needs of the customers they serve.

9. LEP vs. LED - LUXIM’s LiFi® brand of Light Emitting Plasma™ is a new class of solid state high intensity light sources and is positioned to complement the emerging LED technology: http://www.luxim.com/

• Consider LED for low and mid-illuminance applications, such as 100 watt, 150 watt, and even 250 watt replacement solutions.

• Use LEP™ in high illuminance applications such as streets, parking lots, big-box retailers, distribution centers and factories.

• Wherever there is a 400 watt metal halide or HPS system (which is really 465 watts) consider replacing with LUXIM's LiFi for comparable light output using just 266 watts—a savings of 43%!

• In addition, all LiFi products can be dimmed to 20% with either analog or digital controls.

Something to Think About

Flashback: EnergyWatch October 1998

National Contracts: Corporate America Says “What’s the Hurry?”

As deregulation gains momentum, many major corporations say they are in no hurry to sign a national contract due to uncertainty about:
• effects of deregulation
• politics of deregulation
• rules that will emerge to govern electricity business

When it comes to buying electricity, major corporations want:
• suppliers with proven track records
• financially stable suppliers
• simple / short term deals
• flexible contracts

- From the 9/98 Energy User News

Yes, back in 1998, deregulation of the utility industry was all the rage. And in October of that year, with the help of my son David, we started the EnergyWatch newsletter. This is what it looked like then and that was the lead story. Time sure passes quickly when you are having fun.

To be honest, I started EnergyWatch to force David to stay current on energy issues since he decided to get in the lighting business right out of college. It was a great start for him as now he runs the sales force of the FSG branch in New Jersey as they focus on energy projects, very successfully, I might add.

Over the years, it has been my pleasure to keep you all current on the energy issues of the day as well. We will continue to remind over 3,000 of you when the monthly EnergyWatch newsletter is posted on my website: www.attardimarketing.com. Moreover, many of you have requested more current information and that will start today with the launch of www.energywatchblog.com, almost 12 years to the date of the launch of EnergyWatch.

We intend to post current energy issues to watch weekly or if it is appropriate, when it happens. The focus will continue to be energy and specifically lighting when you need to know it.

This will be an interactive blog so we encourage you to comment at any time. Let me know what you think. Add it to Your Favorites, check on it frequently and thanks for your many years of friendship and support.

Monthly Special Feature…

CFL Lamp Index Gives Back Prior Gains for Second Quarter 2010 -http://www.nema.org/media/pr/20100825a.cfm

NEMA’s compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) index posted a reading of 210.1 during the second quarter of 2010, negating the 3.1 percent year-over-year gain during the previous quarter. CFL shipments decreased 4.2 percent on a quarterly basis following increases of 14.0 and 1.8 percent for the previous two quarters. Meanwhile, shipments of incandescent lamps decreased 2.8 percent on a year-over-year basis, as the index slipped to 57.0. This reading indicates shipments are less than 60 percent of 2006 levels.

Although sales of both lamp types remain at lower levels compared to last year, CFLs continue to gain market share at the expense of incandescent lamps. The share of CFL lamps increased to a new high water mark of 26.7 percent while A-line incandescent lamps fell for the second consecutive quarter, decreasing to 73.3 percent.

Significant Growth for Sodium Vapor Lamps During Second Quarter - http://www.nema.org/media/pr/20100826a.cfm

Shipments of sodium vapor high intensity discharge (HID) lamps increased 3.9 percent to 92.6 in 2010Q2, the highest level in two years. The index reading was 17.1 percent above the same period last year. Metal halide HID lamp shipments decreased 4.0 percent to 82.5 from the previous quarter, but were still 0.5 percent above the same period last year. The mercury vapor HID index declined 9.5 percent to 49.2, indicating shipments were less than half of the average 2006 level.

Market shares for sodium vapor and metal halide HID lamp types increased during the quarter. Sodium vapor lamps showed a 35.4 percent share of sales while metal halide lamps registered a 60.5 percent share, a slight difference versus the 34.5 and 60.4 percent figures, respectively, registered in calendar year 2009. The share of mercury vapor lamps slipped to 4.1 percent from 4.8 percent during the previous quarter.

NEMA's T5 Fluorescent Lamp Shipments Show Double Digit Increase - http://www.nema.org/media/pr/20100831a.cfm

NEMA’s T5 lamp shipments index registered a reading of 152.0 during the second quarter of 2010, a 41.1 percent increase from a year ago. The index reclaimed lost ground from the previous quarter, rebounding by 19.8 percent. T8 lamp shipments also showed robust growth, increasing 12.7 on a year-over-year basis. Conversely, shipments of T12 lamps declined 2.6 and 7.9 percent for the quarterly and year-over-year comparisons, respectively.

The share of T12 lamps in the linear fluorescent market also declined. T12 lamps accounted for 26.3 percent of sales, 5.1 percentage points below the 2009 average of 31.4 percent. T8 lamps increased to a 65.0 percent, a half point below its all-time high. The portion of the market held by T12 lamps grew to a new high of 8.7 percent. These market share trends are likely to continue due to the July 1, 2010 completion of the phase-out of T12 magnetic ballasts.