News Updates for the Week of July 9

1.      U.S. Economy Added 80,000 Jobs in June, Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 8.2 Percent - U.S. employers added only 80,000 jobs in June, a third straight month of weak hiring that shows the economy is struggling three years after the recession ended. The economy has added just 75,000 jobs a month in the April-June quarter. That’s one-third of 226,000 a month created in the first quarter. Job creation is also trailing last year’s pace through the first six months of 2012. 7/6 Washington Post

2.      DOE Report Compares the Life-Cycle Environmental Impacts of an LED Lamp with Incumbent Technologies - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a report that looks at the direct and indirect material and process inputs to fabricate, ship, operate, and dispose of LED lamps, compared with incandescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Entitled LED Manufacturing and Performance, it is the second part of a larger DOE project to assess the life-cycle environmental impacts and resource costs of LED lighting products in relation to comparable traditional lighting technologies. The report uses the conclusions of Part 1, Review of the Life-Cycle Energy Consumption of Incandescent, Compact Fluorescent, and LED Lamps, as a point of departure to produce a more detailed and conservative assessment of the manufacturing process and use it to compare the three lighting technologies, taking into consideration a wider range of environmental impacts. This report is the most comprehensive study of its kind for LED products, addressing both energy and environmental impacts, and is the first public report to consider the LED manufacturing process in depth. To download the PDF report www.ssl.energy.gov/tech_reports.html

3.      The U.S. Department of Energy Grants Ushio America Exemption for 700 Series T8 Lamps - The Office of Hearings and Appeals of the Department of Energy has granted USHIO AMERICA, INC. a 2-year exemption relief from the new efficiency regulations that go into effect on July 14, 2012 for certain T8 fluorescent lamps. As a result of this decision, USHIO along with GE Lighting (GE), Osram Sylvania, Inc. (OSI), and Philips Lighting Co may continue to manufacture its T8 700 Series general service fluorescent lamps (GSFLs) until July 14, 2014. www.ushio.com/support/LampRegulations.htm

4.      PG&E Seeks to Enhance Industry-Leading Energy Efficiency Programs in Proposed Application for 2013-2014 - Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today will file with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) a proposed two-year energy efficiency portfolio that, if approved, would enhance the company's industry-leading programs. The proposal would allow PG&E to invest $433 million per year-about the same as current levels-for two years to continue energy efficiency programs. PG&E proposes to continue its work with component manufacturers and retailers to develop, build and make available new, energy-efficient products for customers.  www.pgecurrents.com 7/2 PRNewswire

5.      Potential from Extending & Expanding Energy Efficiency Programs - Analysis included in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook 2012 shows that extending and expanding certain energy-related policies beyond the current sunset dates and current implementing regulations incorporated in the AEO2012 Reference case could reduce projected national energy consumption in 2035 by nearly 6%. http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/

6.      Release of ENERGY STAR Lamps V1.0 Specification Draft 2 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of the Draft 2 Version 1.0 ENERGY STAR Product Specification for Lamps (Light Bulbs). Once finalized, this specification will replace the existing Compact Fluorescent Lamps (V4.3) and Integral LED Lamps (V1.4) specifications. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments on this draft proposal to www.lamps@energystar.gov no later than August 24, 2012. When submitting comments, include “ENERGY STAR Lamps Second Draft Comments” in the subject line. In addition, EPA will host a webinar on August 8, 2012 to discuss the proposed Lamps Draft 2 specification.

7.      DOE Publishes a New Report That Breaks New Ground in Our Understanding of How Lighting Affects The Environment - Entitled Life-Cycle Assessment of Energy and Environmental Impacts of LED Lighting Products: LED Manufacturing and Performance. It compares the environmental impact of an LED lamp, an incandescent bulb, and a CFL from the beginning to the end of their life cycle–including manufacturing, operation, and disposal. This is the most comprehensive study of its kind for SSL products, addressing both energy and environmental impacts, and it's the first public report to consider the LED manufacturing process in depth. Copies are available at: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/2012_led_lca-pt2.pdf

8.      Acuity's Cheryl English Elected to IES Board of Directors - Cheryl English, Vice President of Government and Industry Relations at Acuity Brands Lighting, has been elected to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Board of Directors for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2012. In her role, English will provide strategic council to the Society’s long-term planning, operations, education and research priorities.

9.      Acuity Launches Web-based Design Tool That Calculates the Total Life Cycle Costs of Lighting Systems - Acuity Brands, Inc. has developed a leap-forward financial tool that allows users to determine the true economic value of a lighting system, greatly exceeding the simple data output found on many industry "payback" calculators. The Visual Economic Tool™ is a free, web-based, user-friendly design tool that uses recommended  industry practices to simultaneously estimate and compare the life-cycle costs of up to three lighting systems. http://www.visual-3d.com/software/economictool.aspx

 

      10.  Harnessing Potential: Renewable Growth - Here we examine the past, present and future of four major clean technologies—solar, wind, hydro and fuel cells—and the opportunities they present to electrical contractors (ECs). June 2012 Electrical Contractor