You can employ men and hire hands to work for you, but you will have to win their hearts to have them work with you. William J.H. Boetcker

Monday, January 17, 2011

News Updates for the Week of Jan. 17

1. Energy Efficient Lighting for Commercial Markets - Lighting currently represents about 17.5% of all global electricity consumption. The U.S. alone accounts for approximately 20% of this amount at an annual cost of over $40 billion. As energy efficiency becomes increasingly important for controlling costs, improving energy independence, and reducing environmental impacts, governments and organizations have looked to lighting as the “low hanging fruit” of energy efficiency. This Pike Research report describes the key technology and market trends that are driving the use of LED and other high-efficiency lighting in the Commercial, Industrial and Outdoor Stationary sectors. The report analyzes the performance requirements for a number of lighting applications and assesses the suitability of various current and future lighting technologies for these applications. It also includes a 10-year forecast for lamp and luminaire sales in the U.S. across 10 different lighting technology categories in seven major building types and application sectors. In addition, the report includes SWOT analyses of 16 key industry players. http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/energy-efficient-lighting-for-commercial-markets

2. CFL Campaigns Help Lower Electricity Bills for Countries Most in Need - Worldwide demand for lighting is projected to grow by 4.5 percent annually through 2014, with the highest growth rates in emerging markets. However, an estimated 70 percent of global lighting sales comprise inefficient incandescent light bulbs, according to the Global Environment Facility. Fortunately, a global shift from incandescent light bulbs to more efficient lighting alternatives, including compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), is underway and stands to cut the world's energy demand for lighting by 18 percent. http://ase.org/efficiencynews/cfl-campaigns-help-lower-electricity-bills-countries-most-need

3. Retrofit Industry Boosts BPI Certifications - The number of contracting companies earning Building Performance Institute (BPI) Accredited Contractor status has doubled for the second year in a row, according to the Malta, N.Y.-based BPI.By the end of 2010, BPI had issued 20,236 certifications nationwide, 10,637 of which were earned in the past year. 1/12 HCN

4. Solar Company That Got $58M Leaving Massachusetts - A solar panel manufacturer that benefited from $58 million in state aid to open a factory at a former Massachusetts military base is closing the plant and laying off 800 workers. Evergreen Solar Inc. announced Tuesday it is shutting down the Devens plant by the end of the 2011 first quarter. Evergreen CEO Michael El-Hillow said dropping prices and competition from heavily subsidized solar manufacturers in China made the plant "no longer economically feasible." The company will continue to run facilities in China and Midland, Mich. Evergreen reported losses of $265 million in 2009, and $54 million through the first nine months of 2010. 1/12 AP

5. Pennsylvania Embraces HELP - The Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) helps qualified Pennsylvania homeowners take advantage of lower-rate, fixed-term loans for whole home energy efficiency projects. The new Conservation Audit and Performance Protocol (CAPP) Loans can be used for qualifying activities such as insulation and air sealing, as well as other Energy Star improvements involving heating and cooling equipment. Unsecured loans up to $15,000 are available under CAPP for three-, five- or 10-year terms at an interest rate of 2.99%, the lowest rate HELP has ever offered for unsecured loans. http://www.keystonehelp.com/index.php

6. Lodi Electric Utility Offering Energy Efficiency Financing to Entrepreneurs - Lodi Electric Utility is offering the financing project, and participating customers could earn up to $50,000 in an unsecured, interest-free loan. Qualifying businesses must be in good standing with the city of Lodi for the past 18 months and not have any late payments, said Rob Lechner, manager of customer service and programs for the city of Lodi. Businesses conducting HVAC replacements, process equipment change-outs, lighting retrofits and other energy-efficient upgrades could qualify for the program. The city of Lodi is the first municipality in California to offer such a program, Lechner said. 1/12 Lodi News-Sentinel

7. Low-Cost Energy Loans Available – Carrboro, NC businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 50 employees can now apply for low-cost loans for energy-efficient upgrades. The Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund provides loans of $1,500 or more at 3 percent interest over 10 years for new upgrades to heating and cooling systems, lighting, insulation, roofs, appliances, water heaters, windows and motors. www.townofcarrboro.org/ecd/EERLF.htm 1/10 The Chapel Hill News

8. 2011 BOC Technical Webinar Series: Lighting Solutions for IEQ and Energy Performance -

New Lighting Standards: February 9, 2011, 1:00-2 :00PM Eastern . SPEAKER: Andrew Pultorak, LC, Lighting Design Lab, Seattle, WA. New federal standards for lighting products will become effective in 2012. Common lighting products such as general purpose medium screw base incandescent bulbs, some incandescent reflector (IR) bulbs, and T-12 lamps are affected by these new standards. This webinar will cover useful information that facility professionals need to know about changes to the availability of commercial lighting products for their facility. Others listed at: http://www.theboc.info/m-live-webinars.html

9. Webcast: CALiPER Round 11 Test Results - On February 8, 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy will host a 90-minute live webcast presenting a summary of CALiPER Round 11 testing. In this webcast, Mia Paget from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will report on Round 11 testing, which covered 35 LED and benchmark products. Round 11 products included roadway luminaires, linear replacement lamps, high-bay luminaires, and small replacement lamps (MR16, PAR lamps, A-lamps, and a candelabra lamp). Paget will address product performance results, manufacturer claims, and the subtleties that come into play when evaluating LED products. The webcast will begin promptly at 1:00 pm ET and will include a 60-minute presentation, followed by a 30-minute question and answer session with attendees. To learn more, or to register for the webcast, visit http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/events_detail.html?event_id=4769

10. Advanced Monthly Retail Sales for December Show Gains - The U.S. Census Bureau reported this morning that U.S. retail and food services sales for December were $380.9 billion, up 0.6% from the previous month. Even better news came from the comparison to last year -- December sales were up 7.9% from December 2009. And Total sales for the October through December 2010 period were up 7.8% from the same period a year ago. 1/14 HCN


11. Construction Unemployment Hits 20.7% in December - Employment in construction declined by 16,000 during the month of December 2010 as the industry's unemployment rate hit 20.7%, according to analysis of federal employment figures released in early January by the Associated General Contractors of America. Even as the industry continues to suffer from weak private-sector demand the benefits of the temporary stimulus program appear to be winding down, association officials note. 1/14 EC&M

12. NEMA Publishes American National Standard for Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment - This standard, produced by the ANSI Committee 136 for Roadway and Area Lighting, was last revised in 2003. It offers step-by-step guidance for use in troubleshooting HID lighting fixtures by technicians in the field. It addresses the commonly encountered problems of lamps that are on continuously, cycle on and off, do not start, or burn dimly. www.nema.org/stds/c136-26.cfm 1/14 EC&M

13. What to Do if a CFL Bulb or Fluorescent Tube Light Bulb Breaks in Your Home: Detailed Recommendations - To minimize exposure to mercury vapor, EPA recommends that residents follow the cleanup and disposal steps on this website: http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html Download and print:

  • a three-page PDF version of this overview and the detailed recommendations
  • a two-page color brochure on how to safely clean up and recycle compact fluorescent bulbs
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