News Updates for the Week of December 27

1. U.S. Population Grew 9.7% in the Past Decade to 308,745,538, the Slowest Rate Since The Great Depression
2. Construction Unemployment Rate Jumps to 18.8% - Construction unemployment rate is highest for any industry, roughly double overall rate as federal projects remain only bright spot for hard-hit sector. The construction unemployment rate jumped to 18.8% in November as the sector lost another 5,000 jobs since October, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). 12/020 EC&M

3. Release of ENERGY STAR Luminaires Final Draft Version 1.0 Specification - Attached is a memo from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcing the release of the Final Draft Version 1.0 of the ENERGY STAR Program Requirements for Luminaires. This specification, also attached, is intended long term to replace the existing Residential Light Fixtures (V4.3) and Solid State Lighting Luminaires (V1.2) specifications. Stakeholders may submit comments on this draft to EPA no later than Friday, January 14, 2011. Comments should be submitted to luminaires@energystar.gov with “ENERGY STAR Luminaires V1.0 Final Draft Comments” in the subject line.

4. Philips Lumileds Leads LED Industry with Mass Production on 150 mm Wafers - Philips Lumileds is the first power LED manufacturer in mass production on 150 mm wafers and is now producing millions of GaN based LEDs weekly on the larger substrates. Each 150 mm wafer produces four times the number of LEDs as the current 3-inch wafers. The transition to a larger wafer size is broadly viewed as a critical path to providing the increasing volume of LEDs required by the lighting industry and ensuring a supportable and secure supply chain. http://www.philipslumileds.com/

5. Rouses Point, NY Promotes Energy Efficiency - In an effort to increase energy efficiency, the Village of Rouses Point is distributing CFL light bulbs to electric customers. The move is a joint effort with other villages across New York state as part of the Independent Energy Efficiency Program http://ieepny.com/ About 260,000 Energy Star-qualified light bulbs have been distributed since November. Any village residents who pay a utility bill qualify for two free bulbs and can pick them up at the Village Office. 12/19 The Press-Republican

6. Energy Projects Planned for Archbald, PA -Traffic lights at five Archbald intersections will switch from incandescent bulbs to light-emitting diodes next year under a regional initiative funded by the Pittston-based Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance http://www.nepa-alliance.org/ Archbald is one of 55 municipalities that will change their traffic lights as part of the project. 12/17 The Times-Tribune

7. HD to Build Energy-Efficient Prototype -The Home Depot has agreed to showcase a high-performance, energy-efficient store built through the Department of Energy’s Commercial Building Partnership, a program dedicated to accelerating energy-saving technologies into standard designs for commercial buildings. The new Home Depot store, slated for Rocklin, CA, will require up to 50% less energy than standard commercial buildings, according to the press release. Funding will come through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Completion is expected in mid-2012. 12/17 HCN

8. Existing-Home Sales Show Improvement - Data released today from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) show sales of existing homes increased 5.6% to a pace of 4.68 million in November. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.68 million is the highest since June 2010, which saw a pace of 5.26 million. Compared with November of last year, however, sales are 27.9% down from a 6.49-million pace. The optimistic projections are at the 5-million pace by spring of 2011. 12/22 HCN

9. Lighting Science Group Wins Bid to Relight Washington, D.C. - Lighting Science Group's high-performance PROLIFIC series LED street lights will soon line the streets of Washington, D.C. Compared with traditional high pressure sodium (HPS) street lights, the PROLIFIC LED series street lights are 50% more efficient, provide more uniform light distribution, increase light levels, and will save Washington, D.C. tens of thousands of dollars each year in energy and maintenance costs. The new light fixtures will be paid for from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds and will begin to be installed in early 2011. http://www.lsgc.com/