Energy Watch

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