News Updates for the Week of January 3

1. Lowe's Offers LED Bulb with Energy Star Rating - Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe’s says it is the first national retailer to offer consumers an Energy Start-rated LED A-Line bulb. The GE Energy Smart 9-watt LED bulb became available through Lowes.com Dec. 22. The $34.98 bulb offers a unique omni-directional light output meant to replace a 40-watt incandescent bulb. 12/28 HCN

2. New Home Sales Increase 5.5% in November - Sales of new single-family houses in November 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 290,000, according to estimates released jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development -- a 5.5% increase over October. However, the figure is 21.2% below the same month last year. 12/28 HCN

3. Tax Bill Keeps Energy Credits in 2011 - Homeowners looking to make upgrades on Uncle Sam's penny have another year to do so, thanks to an extension of the home energy-efficiency improvement tax credits. The extension, which was included in legislation that renewed Bush-era tax cuts, allows individuals to receive tax credits for installing qualifying energy-efficient windows, doors, water heaters, roofs, insulation, heating and air-conditioning units and biomass stoves at principal residences. However, those who aim to take advantage of larger savings must act quickly, as the extension calls for a significant reduction in tax-credit amounts from this year. For more information on the energy-efficiency tax credits, visit http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm

4. The Role of Lighting in Green Building Certification by Darlene Bremer - The interest in and, in some cases, the mandated requirement of implementing sustainable building practices is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. One driver of the demand for increased sustainability comes from estimates that buildings, by themselves, consume more than 40 percent of the world’s energy and contain unrecycled materials, while producing more than 40 percent of all global waste and greenhouse gases. What concerns electrical contractors within the framework of green building certification and/or green building standards and codes, however, is energy efficiency, which inevitably involves lighting in terms of both performance and quality. http://www.ecmag.com/?fa=article&articleID=12159

5. 2010 IES Progress Report Available Online - Posted on December 21, 2010 by Craig DiLouie. The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America has published the results from the 2010 IES Progress Report, announced at the 2010 IES Annual Conference in Toronto, Ontario, November 7 – 9. The Progress Report is available online and will also appear in the January 2011 issue of LD+A. http://www.ies.org/PDF/LDA/2010-Progress-Report.pdf

6. Billions in Savings Projected - Ohio's energy-efficiency rules are projected to save Ohioans $368 million from 2009 to 2011, according to a new study. The analysis by the Institute for Energy Efficiency at the University of California-Santa Barbara indicates that those savings will grow to $19 billion for Ohio utility customers by 2025.Ohio utilities are expected to spend $340 million in the next two years in additional energy-efficiency programs. That will include rebates for energy-efficient appliances, weatherization programs, educational campaigns and energy-efficient lighting. 12/28 The Akron Beacon Journal

7. ABI Reaches Highest Score Since 2007 - After stepping back in October reversing into the negative territory, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) rose more than three points in November to reach its highest mark since December 2007. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine- to12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Washington, D.C., reported the November ABI score was 52.0, up from a reading of 48.7 the previous month. This score reflects an increase in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). Regional averages: Northeast (51.1), Midwest (50.9), South (50.5), West (48.7). 12/28 EC&M

8. Cooper Makes U.K. Acquisitions - Cooper Industries Plc announced the acquisitions of Mount Engineering Plc, a producer of adaptors and reducers for hazardous environments, and Apex Lighting Controls Ltd., a manufacturer of Energy Management lighting controls. The acquisition of Apex Lighting Controls reaffirms Cooper’s commitment to expand the range of energy-efficient lighting products. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Cooper-Makes-UK-zacks-3338912894.html?x=0&.v=1

9. Lighting: LEDs Change the Game By Chad Watters - http://www.facilitiesnet.com/

Part 1: LEDs: Popular for Exterior Applications

Part 2: LEDs Improve Lighting Performance, Reliability

Part 3: LEDs: Cost Inhibits Widespread Specification

Part 4: LEDs: Maintenance Considerations, Lamp Replacement