News Updates for the Week of October 31

1.      GSA Issues Net Zero Retrofit Challenge - The U.S. General Services Administration has announced its Net Zero Renovation Challenge, which aims to get the private sector to improve the energy performance of federal buildings through the use of energy service performance contracts.  In the challenge, 16 energy services companies who already provide ESPCs to federal agencies will retrofit plans for approximately 30 federal buildings across the country. These projects will be evaluated by a panel of independent experts based on energy savings, financial and technical innovation and applicability to other federal buildings. The winning entries will be awarded the ESPCs, as well as future ESPCs. Under such contracts, a private sector energy services company develops and installs energy improvements. The building owner–in this case the federal government–then repays the energy company for the capital expenditure over a maximum 25-year period from the resulting energy savings, allowing building owners to retrofit properties without any upfront cost to them. 10/21 Environmental Leader

2.      Next Generation Luminaires - The 2012 Next Generation Luminaires™ (NGL) Solid-State Lighting Indoor Design Competition was officially launched to recognize and promote excellence in the decision of energy-efficient LED commercial luminaires. Written Intents to Submit are due by December 16, 2011, and must be submitted online at www.ngldc.org Final submission forms are due by January 13, 2012, and physical product samples are due by January 18. Judging takes place in February, and results will be announced at LIGHTFAIR^® International in May. http://www.ngldc.org/

3.      TVA Revamped Energy Efficiency Website - The Tennessee Valley Authority has unveiled a redesigned website for tips and information about how consumers can conserve energy whether at home, at a business or in an industry. TVA supplies power to about 9 million people in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. http://www.energyright.com/business/lighting.html

4.      TVA, Local Utilities Double Energy Efficiency Cash Incentive to Businesses - The Tennessee Valley Authority and electric utilities in the Tennessee Valley are offering a 100% increase in cash incentive payments to businesses and industries that participate in the EnergyRight Solutions for Business and Industry program. Effective immediately, TVA will increase the cash incentive payment from 5 cents to 10 cents for each kilowatt-hour saved by businesses that enroll in the program. www.energyright.com

5.      DOE Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium - The 35 million streetlights in the U.S. – on every night–are one of the lighting applications attracting considerable interest for conversion to SSL products. These products can offer energy savings, reduced maintenance, and improved visibility-benefits that can tip the balance for cities concerned about the environment, safety, and the bottom line. This conversion is far from being a no-brainer, however. It requires careful product specification and evaluation. That's why a growing number of cities are evaluating LED street lighting products–and why, to help inform and harmonize their efforts, DOE last year launched the Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium, which has already grown to more than 300 primary members, including municipalities, utilities, and energy efficiency organizations. The Consortium has developed a Model Specification for LED Roadway Luminaires,

6.      Release of ENERGY STAR Lamps V1.0 Specification Draft 1 - This new specification is intended to replace the existing Compact Fluorescent Lamps and Integral LED Lamps specifications, as well as the qualification requirements for GU24-based fluorescent lamps previously detailed in the Residential Light Fixture specification. The first draft was developed with consideration of comments received in response to the Lamps Specification Framework released on March 22, 2011.

7.      Inventing a New Socket for LED Lighting - LED light source maker Bridgelux in a partnership with Molex early next year plans to start producing a new lighting component that dispenses with the classic screw base. Whether it becomes a de facto industry standard remains to be seen, but the product offers a glimpse into the design possibilities and technical challenges of solid-state lighting. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20117261-54/inventing-a-new-socket-for-led-lighting/

8.      The Global Lighting Manufacturers Industry Report - This report is an in-depth financial evaluation of the Global Lighting Manufacturing Industry. Using the unique Plimsoll method of analysis, each of the top 750 Global Lighting Manufacturers each other and compared to industry averages. Along with individual company information, this report also contains an assessment of the market, based on the companies analyzed. For more information click on: http://www.researchandmarkets.com/product/971b9e/the_global_lighting_manufacturers_industry_re