News Updates for the Week of August 27

1.      Merger of Progress Energy and Duke Energy Created Largest U.S. Electric Utility - The July 2, 2012 merger of Duke Energy and Progress Energy created the largest electric utility in the United States (measured by number of customers). Now called the Duke Energy Corporation (Duke), the new company has over 7 million retail customers spanning six states. It also owns about 67 gigawatts of generating capacity across the eastern United States. This merger follows the recent merger between Constellation and Exelon, which created the third largest utility in the United States. http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=7650

 

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, based on SNL Energy.

 

2.      Romney Says He Will Introduce Energy Plan Next Week - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney told a luncheon gathering of about 125 people that his No. 1 priority as president would be "to take full advantage of our energy resources." Romney assured his listeners at the high-dollar fundraiser, that he tells Ohio audiences the same thing he tells Texas audiences about the importance of energy. He also said he would be introducing a comprehensive energy plan during a visit to New Mexico next week. 8/21 Houston Chronicle

3.      What Lamps Will Be Phased Out? - Results of a recent survey of energy-efficient lighting professionals across the country in December by Hudson, Wis.-based Precision-Paragon (P2), an online source for lighting retrofit systems and information, reveals the demand for energy-efficient lighting is growing, despite the sluggishness of the recovery of the general U.S. economy and the severe downturn in the construction industry. Although most respondents disclosed they don’t expect growth to occur until after the first quarter of 2012—predicting the second and third quarters will be the most lucrative—they are confident this year will be even better than last year. More than 80% of survey respondents predict increased opportunities for growth, both in the industry as a whole and in their individual companies. http://ecmweb.com/content/what-lamps-will-be-phased-out

4.      NEMA Asks DOE to Set Motor Efficiency Standards - The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rosslyn, Va., its members who manufacture electric motors and a coalition of other groups filed a petition August 15 with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommending both new and more robust energy-efficiency standards for the types of electric motors used in commercial and industrial applications such as pumps, conveyors, and fans. The petition seeks increased standards for some motors and a significant increase in the scope of motors that will be covered by efficiency standards. http://livewire.electricalmarketing.com/

5.     Bay Bridge to Outshine ‘That Other Bridge’ - Ea rly in 2013, the public will be allowed to revel in The Bay Lights, an art installation that will turn the classically gray Bay Bridge into a spectacular display of flashing, pulsating and moving lights. Created by artist Leo Villareal, the Bay Bridge’s west span will be dressed with more than 25,000 energy-efficient, individually controlled white LED lights that will play out mesmerizing patterns without repeating. The display won’t be a one-night or even six-month event. It will last from dusk to midnight every day for two years. The $8 million project was the brainchild of Ben Davis, the founder of San Francisco’s Words Pictures Ideas creative agency that branded the Bay Bridge east span. http://sfbay.ca/2012/08/19/bay-bridge-to-outshine-that-other-bridge/

6.      City Converts Streetlights to Energy-Saving LEDs - Going block by block, crews in bucket trucks are converting 70,000 city streetlights from sodium vapor lights to long-lasting, energy-saving LEDs. The bright side: Baltimore expects to reap an annual savings of $1.9 million on its electric bill and $275,000 in maintenance costs. Also, advocates say the lights produce less glare and are more focused, meaning less light pollution that drowns out the night stars and can disrupt ecosystems. The dimmer side: Critics say the new lights don't illuminate the area as well. The first phase of the three-year project is about 80 percent completed, with 8,000 new lights in place. Switching the 10,000 city-owned streetlights was the first step. Next up are the lights owned by Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. 8/17 The Baltimore Sun

7.      Connecticut Debuts New Energy Program - State officials have announced the launch of a new program to make sure state buildings use less power, at the same time a Connecticut-wide program to promote residential energy enters its second year. Connecticut's energy savings program for government buildings allows state agencies and municipalities to enter into performance contracting agreements with energy service companies. The program will allow state and local government buildings to get energy-efficiency upgrades with no money paid up front. The cost of the upgrades are paid for through the energy savings that the service companies guarantee to their government clients. 8/10 New Haven Register

 

8.      NORPAC, BPA, and Cowlitz PUD Partner on Largest Ever Northwest Energy Efficiency Project - The project is referred to as a "Chip Pre-Treatment Interstage Screen Project."  Executives from Weyerhaeuser, Nippon Paper Industries, Cowlitz County Public Utility District, and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) will gather today at the North Pacific Paper Corporation (NORPAC) facility to celebrate the largest industrial energy efficiency project in BPA history and one of the largest energy efficiency projects in the United States to date. When complete, the project is expected to save 100,000,000 kilowatt-hours per year. The first phase of the project was completed in June 2011 and the second and final phase is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013. BPA will fund about $21 million and Cowlitz County PUD will contribute up to an additional $3.9 million towards the project. The money contributed by both BPA and Cowlitz comes from their respective conservation funds, which provide financial incentives to their customers for the development and installation of electrical energy savings projects. NORPAC is funding the remaining $35 million of the $60 million project. 8/09 PRNewswire

 

9.      LIGHTFAIR International 2013 Call for Speakers Deadline: September 7 - Submit to speak at the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference OR suggest a speaker or topic that you’d like to see at LIGHTFAIR International (LFI^®). There are 16 tracks to choose from OR you can select OFF TRACK to submit your own idea. http://www.lightfair.com/convdata/lightfair/brochures/lfi2013-cfs-brochure.pdf

10.  Philips and Daintree Take Lighting to the Next Level with Open Standards-based Wireless Lighting Controls - Daintree Networks, Inc. and Philips recently announced an agreement to develop advanced lighting controls products for commercial buildings through the use of open standards such as ZigBee, helping customers to avoid vendor lock-in and ensure that their lighting systems are interoperable today and well into the future. Building owners and managers will have access to a full complement of ZigBee-based products. http://lightingcontrolsassociation.org/

11.  City Project Helps Cut Energy Costs - From small laundromats and gas stations to residential complexes, Milwaukee Energy Efficiency is signing on city businesses looking to save on the bottom line. The program has 27 projects funded across the city, such as helping gas stations switch to energy-saving LED lights for their canopies. The program, known as ME2, has attracted strong interest for projects that deploy LED technology because the paybacks on the investment is so quick. A maximum of $300,000 is available for a large project that would generate energy savings of at least 25%. 8/15 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

12.  The Search for Energy Takes a Turn Underwater - The fearsome tides that sweep out from the easternmost shores of the United States have for more than 80 years teased engineers and presidents like FDR, who have dreamed of harnessing their force to make electricity. And next week, a device that looks a bit like an eggbeater turned sideways will be lowered into the water here to catch the energy of the rushing water, spinning a generator that, come September, is scheduled to begin sending power to the grid. The first turbine generator unit has a maximum output of 180 kilowatts, which would power about 30 homes. That is one-sixth the output of a typical wind turbine. Workmen lower a turbine to be placed in waters off Eastport, Me.

 

13.  One World Trade Center Under Construction - Virtually every inch of the 16-acre site is under construction, and every day brings new changes to the site, whether it’s the first steel columns for One WTC being raised or the concrete footings being poured for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/progress.html

14.  UL Expands Capacity with New Lab - Underwriters Laboratories (UL), has opened a new 38,000 square-foot laboratory located in Allentown, PA. The Photometric Testing & Technology Center will be a testing and certification hub for all of North America. The lab conducts testing of lighting products to various global energy efficiency programs such as ENERGY STAR, DesignLights Consortium, Lighting Facts, Zhaga, California Energy Commission, CAP (MSHA) and National Resources Canada. The Allentown facility is also globally recognized as one of the first Zhaga-approved testing laboratories and offers testing to various IES standards, including LM-79. http://www.lightnowblog.com/

News Updates for the Week of August 20

1.      NEMA Publishes Best Practices for Operating Fluorescent Lighting Systems - Summarizes information and recommendations found in more detailed NEMA papers on individual topics, as well as additional information and recommendations. The information benefits customers seeking to ensure proper operation of fluorescent systems to maximize system reliability and operational economy. Download it free: http://www.nema.org/standards/pages/best-practices-for-operating-fluorescent-lighting-systems.aspx?

2.      DOE Releases CALiPER Application Summary Report on LED AR111 Lamps - The U.S. Department of Energy has completed Series 17 of testing through the DOE Solid-State Lighting CALiPER program. A summary of the results is now available for download on the DOE SSL website at www.ssl.energy.gov/reports.html Report 17 analyzes the performance of a group of six LED products labeled as AR111 lamps, a niche product. Results indicate that this product category is lagging behind other types of directional LED lamps—the LED lamps tested are unlikely to be effective replacements for halogen AR111 lamps, primarily because of color quality and luminous intensity distribution characteristics. Detailed test results for Series 17 will be available soon through the searchable online CALiPER system: www.ssl.energy.gov/search.html

3.      Nonresidential Construction Spending Expected to Increase Through 2012 with Stronger Growth Projected for 2013 - Even with the myriad of obstacles preventing a full-scale recovery for the overall U.S. economy, the design and construction industry appears to have reasons to be at least modestly optimistic in the coming months and into next year, according to the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) mid-year Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters. http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB095480

4.      Lighting Research Center to Host Led Lighting Institute September 18-20, 2012 - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center (LRC) will hold a three-day, hands-on seminar September 18-20, 2012, to teach industry professionals how to incorporate LEDs into lighting applications. The LED Lighting Institute will include updated technical content based on the latest industry developments. http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/education/outreachEducation/LEDInstitute.asp

5.      Analysis of the North American Lighting Equipment Market - This research service covers the state of the North American lighting equipment market, examining drivers and restraints for growth, and discussing major trends. Following from these, growth for market segments is forecast. In addition, an in-depth analysis of the competitive landscape including vendors' market shares is performed. The base year is 2011, with forecasts running through 2016. Revenue forecasts are provided. The market is divided into four segments: lamps, ballasts and control gear, fixtures, and lighting controls. These segments are further divided into product types and vertical markets, which also are analyzed in detail. http://www.researchandmarkets.com/publication/4qixx8/analysis_of_the_north_american_lighting_equip  

6.     Satco Receives Exception for 700 Series T8 Lamps from U.S. DOE - Satco Products, Inc. received notification last month from the U.S. Department of Energy that their application for relief exception, which would allow Satco to continue the manufacturing and sale of 700 series T8 lamps for an additional two years, was granted. This allows Satco to join Philips, GE, OSI and USHIO to manufacture 700 Series T8 general service lamps until July 14, 2014.

7.      New IES Website for Consumers - www.IESLightLogic.org  Light Logic aims to help consumers learn about residential lighting best practices, design, energy efficiency and all topics regarding lighting a home.  

8.      ASHRAE 90.1 Addendum BH Proposal - Comments by Larry Spielvogel, PE: Do you believe the many proposed changes in LPD both up and down? Are they reasonable and justifiable? For example, the ASHRAE 90.1 Addendum BH proposal reduces the lighting in mechanical/electrical rooms from 0.95 to 0.42 watts per square foot, while a pharmacy area gets four times as much. Can you justify that in a room with detailed electronic equipment controls and 34 kV switchgear with huge potential safety risks? 

9.      New MDM Report Forecasts Electrical, Electronics Distribution Sector Growth in 2012 - Revenues for wholesale distributors in the electrical and electronics sector were $372.1 billion in 2011, an increase of 7.4% compared to 2012. MDM forecasts that revenue will grow by 6.5% in 2012, according to the newly released 2012 Wholesale Distribution Economic Report published by Modern Distribution Management. This sector represented 8.0% of total wholesale distribution industry revenues in 2011. Total revenues of wholesale distributors grew by 13.2% to $4.7 trillion in 2011, continuing to regain market share after the debilitating recession. The wholesale distribution industry is forecast to grow by 6.8% in 2012. http://www.tedmag.com/news/news-room/distributor-news/New-MDM-report-forecasts-electrical,-electronics-distribution-sector-growth-in-2012.aspx 

10.  Advanced Batteries for Energy Storage Will Represent a Market of Nearly $30 Billion by 2022 -According to a new report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, the market for advanced batteries will roughly double each year over the next 5 years, reaching $7.6 billion in 2017. Over the ensuing half-decade, growth will level off to a still-robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31 percent, and revenues in the sector will reach $29.8 billion in 2022. http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/advanced-batteries-for-utility-scale-energy-storage-applications 

11.  DOE Announces FY 2013 SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunity - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science announced a funding opportunity on August 13, 2012, for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. Under this opportunity (DE-FOA-0000760), DOE seeks applicants for funding directed toward FY13 Phase I and Fast-Track (combined Phase I and Phase II) projects. Topics for this funding opportunity can be found at http://science.energy.gov/sbir and include solid-state lighting. Qualified small businesses with strong research capabilities in science or engineering in any of the research areas sought in the announcement are encouraged to apply.

12.  Combined Heat and Power for Commercial Buildings - Commercial combined heat and power (comCHP) systems, which are small to medium distributed energy generation systems that produce electricity while also capturing heat that would otherwise be treated as waste, are garnering increased interest from policy makers, utilities, and building owners in a growing number of countries. The technologies behind many comCHP products have been under development for more than a decade. Today, the market is beginning to gain momentum and an increasing number of companies are introducing increasingly standardized commercial products. This Pike Research report analyzes the global market potential for comCHP systems for a range of building applications–hospitals, universities, hotels, casinos, airports, etc.–using technologies including internal combustion engines, fuel cells, Stirling engines, and Organic Rankine Cycle. http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/combined-heat-and-power-for-commercial-buildings

13.  A 20-Year Low in U.S. Carbon Emissions - Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from January through March were the lowest of any recorded for the first quarter of the year since 1992, the federal Energy Information Administration reports. The agency attributed the decline to a combination of three factors: a mild winter, reduced demand for gasoline and, most significantly, a drop in coal-fired electricity generation because of historically low natural gas prices. 8/19 NY Times

News Updates for the Week of August 13

1.      3M's New LED Light Bulb Designed to Burn for 25 Years - 3M Co. is coming out with what it says is a better LED light bulb -- and its first-ever consumer bulb -- at the end of August.  The high-tech bulb looks like a traditional incandescent but boasts a 25-year lifespan and a $25 price tag. The bulb is being manufactured at the 3M plant in New Ulm, MN, with materials sourced from around the globe. Toward the end of August, shoppers will find the bulb on shelves of select Walmart stores. http://www.twincities.com/ci_21223376/3ms-new-led-lightbulb-designed-burn-25-years

2.      LEED-Certified Building Stock Swells to Two Billion Square Feet Worldwide - The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that the total footprint of commercial projects certified under its LEED green building program surpassed two billion square feet. An additional seven billion square feet is currently in the pipeline across the globe as registered projects. As the most widely recognized and used green building program, LEED is certifying two million square feet of commercial building space each day in more than 130 countries. Today, nearly 50,000 commercial projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising nine billion square feet of construction space. Additionally, nearly 23,000 homes across the U.S. have earned certification through the LEED for Homes program, with nearly 86,000 additional units in the pipeline. That's more than 159,000 registered and certified projects in LEED. http://www.tedmag.com

 

3.      Lighting Facts Institutes QA Testing, Requires Annual Product Updates - Beginning October 1, the LED Lighting Facts program will begin charging a fee for annual product listings. It has already begun quality assurance testing, which results in a green double-check mark on the label upon verification. The biggest change is that Lighting Facts will now require that manufacturers update the status of their listed products annually. Any product that has been on the list for more than one year will have to be updated to assure whether it is available on the market and to give the opportunity to update performance changes that have taken place since the listing.  In the coming weeks, Lighting Facts will hold a number of webinars to educate LED lighting manufacturers and users regarding the changes. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/8/2

 

4.      National Grid Small Business Incentive Program - National Grid offers incentives for up to 70% of the cost of the installation of qualified energy efficient equipment and can finance your share of the cost.  Some of the cost-cutting, energy efficient equipment available through this program includes:

·         Lighting upgrades (Now includes LED lights)

·         Lighting occupancy sensors

·         Walk-in cooler efficiency measures

·         Site-specific custom projects

https://www1.nationalgridus.com/SmallBusiness

 

5.      Boulder County's New Energy-Efficiency Loan Program - The EnergySmart loan program, which is being administered by Elevations Credit Union, officially kicks off Wednesday.  Elevations business energy loans offer financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades for businesses in Boulder County and the City/County of Denver. Loan details:

·         Fixed rates starting as low as 2.75% APR

·         36, 60, 84 or 120 month terms

·         Businesses can apply for a loan between $1,000 and $150,000

·         Property must be located in Boulder County or Denver County, Colorado

·         Before loan can be issued, an Energy Advisory will work with you to ensure your project meets loan eligibility criteria and any available rates. https://elevationscu.com/business-loans

6.      Hundreds of Dearborn Streetlights to be Replaced with LED Fixtures -Dearborn City Council on Monday approved $158,079.40 in funding for the energy efficiency project.  The project is funded through the U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, and joins a previous city appropriation for $242,223.78 to be used to replace 318 streetlights.  Since the approval of the original project with DTE Energy in April, the pricing per light fixture was reduced from $761 to $529.31. Therefore, the entire order–which will replace 778 fixtures total will cost a total of $400,303.18. http://dearborn.patch.com/articles/hundreds-of-dearborn-streetlights-to-be-replaced-with-led-fixtures

7.      Wide Differences Found in NYC Buildings’ Power Use - NYC Mayor Bloomberg may target inefficient buildings next.  The first comprehensive study of energy use by New York City’s largest buildings shows some to be power hogs, using up to five times as much electricity, natural gas, heating oil and steam as others of comparable size or purpose. And there is ample room for improvement. The report http://www.nyc.gov/html/gbee/html/plan/ll84_scores.shtml to be released on Friday by the city’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, estimates that if poor-performing buildings in the city improved their efficiency and reached just the median level of energy use in their categories, the city’s energy consumption would decline by at least 18 percent and greenhouse gas emissions would be cut by 24 percent. 8/2 NY Times

 

8.      DOE Releases L Prize Lumen Maintenance Report  - The U.S. DOE has published a report, Lumen Maintenance Testing of the Philips 60-Watt Replacement Lamp L Prize Entry, after completing 18,000 hours of lumen maintenance testing. Using the latest data, key findings include: http://www.lightingprize.org/pdfs/lprize_60w-lumen-maint-testing.pdf

·         Very little change in light output

·         Chromaticity remains well within the L Prize requirements

·         Most recent data projects lumen maintenance will be 97.8% at 25,000 hours

http://www.lightingprize.org/60watttest.stm   

9.      Mississippi Universities to Cut Energy Costs - Eight public Mississippi universities will be cutting energy costs with a $725,000 grant from the Department of Energy. The Tennessee Valley Authority, an electric company that services 36 counties in Mississippi, is adding $150,000 to the grant over a three-year period.  Mississippi is not the only state that will receive money from the Department of Energy. The department is spending $7.9 million across 13 states to help cut energy costs. Mississippi, however, received the most money from the grant. http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/aug/08/universities-cut-energy-costs/

10.  Osram Develops LED Module for Historic Street Luminaires - Osram has developed an LED module to enable rapid upgrading of historic street luminaires. The decorative street lighting (DSL) module can be used for a wide variety of luminaires, independent of the original manufacturer. The module is prepared upon request so that fitting is as simple as replacing lamps or sockets. Osram also notes that the integration of modern control units with intelligent light management can ensure further energy savings. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/8/3

 

11.  Enterprise LED Lighting 2012 Research Report - Groom Energy and Greentech Media announced the release of a new commercial and industrial LED lighting research report, "Enterprise LED Lighting 2012: Commercial and Industrial Market Trends, Opportunities and Leading Companies." An update to their previously published 2010 report, the study revises earlier forecasts upward, now sizing the 2012 North American market at $630 million, growing at 40 percent per year and expected to surpass $2 billion in annual revenue by 2016. The report also introduces its Enterprise LED Lamp and Fixture Price Index, which aggregates latest pricing for a broad range of LED lamps and fixtures. The index shows that prices for enterprise class LED light fixtures have declined by 24 percent in the two years since the first publication of the report. To review an abstract or to purchase online, visit www.groomenergy.com or http://www.greentechmedia.com

12.  LED Vs. Everything Else: Interior & Exterior Instructed By Stan Walerczyk, L.C., C.L.E.P. -

An 8-Hour Distance Learning Seminar; Earns 0.8 CEU / 8 PDH; New Program Starts October 1

Presented online in a series of four live two-hour time modules, this seminar is designed to educate you about both the best types of applications for utilizing current LED lighting technologies, as well as how these technologies compare to other options available for the same lighting scenarios.

You can participate in the seminar from your office, home, or anywhere you have access to the internet and a phone. You'll have opportunities to interact with your instructor and colleagues in real time during the four live teleconferencing sessions, as well as in the time between sessions. AEE Seminars registrar@aeecenter.org

News Updates for the Week of August 6

1.      U.S. Added 163K Jobs in July; Jobless Rate Rises - Promising rise in job gains after three months of disappointing results is offset by slight increase in the unemployment rate, from 8.2 percent to 8.3 percent.  The broadest measures of the U.S. employment situation show continuing difficulties in the job market.  More people, for example, left the labor force, either retiring or giving up the search for work. Of those people remaining in the civilian labor force, a slightly larger portion are unable to find work - hence the uptick in the unemployment rate.  About 12.8 million people in the U.S. are unemployed.  8/3 Washington Post

2.      Recycling of LEDs - LEDs are environmentally friendly during their lifespan, but can be even more beneficial to the environment if recycled. Over 95% of an LED bulb is recyclable and there are waste management companies that will collect and recycle LEDs for a small fee.  As LEDs do not contain significant amounts of any harmful components, they are classed as RoHS compliant. RoHS stands for the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, which came into effect in the UK on 1^st July 2006. These restrictions prevent the sale of equipment containing harmful levels of mercury, lead, cadmium, PBB, PBDE and hexavalent chromium. Due to this compliance, LEDs can be disposed of and recycled in the same way as an ordinary light bulb. http://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=249

3.      Design and Fashion Will Drive LED Market - Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) will soon dominate the lighting market. Few (if any) market watchers would disagree with that statement. In fact, analysts at A.T. Kearney predict that LEDs could capture as much as 90% of the lighting market by 2020. If energy efficiency does not drive the LED market, what will? “It will be the flexibility for lighting designers to light objects and space in a unique way,” Dorsheimer and Baribeau write. The paper, A Light Read, was published by Canaccord Genuity http://www.canaccordgenuity.com/  an institutional investment banking firm based in Boston. http://www.forbes.com

4.      DOE Considering Changes to LED Lighting Facts Program - The U.S. Department of Energy’s solid-state lighting group has been working on the further development of its LED Lighting Facts program, which created a standardized graphic that specifies certain performance characteristics of LED lighting products as a way to help consumers and designers understand how a particular product compares with more traditional lighting products. In an e-mail message sent today, the group said it is making some changes to the data available on the LED Lighting Facts label and has considered additional steps to require retesting of the products, but has decided to delay some of those new rules to find a way to avoid piling yet another costly testing requirement on solid-state lighting (SSL) manufacturers. The DOE also said the LED Lighting Facts program will be combined with its CALiPER program for testing SSL performance. http://livewire.electricalmarketing.com/

5.      CFLs: A Buck a Bulb in South Dakota - A partnership between Xcel Energy, a South Dakota utility company and home improvement retailers will offer CFLs for as little as a dollar each. The program, announced on July 23, is designed to help residents save energy and money. Participating retailers include Nyberg’s Ace Hardware, Robson True Value, Home Depot, Menards and Tea Ace Hardware. Xcel Energy, which operates in eight states, also offers $10 off certain LED bulbs as part of the program. 7/26 HCN

6.      Cree Raises Industry Standard with New 170 Lumen-Per-Watt Prototype LED Light Bulb - Less than one year after showcasing the 152 lumens-per-watt concept LED bulb, Cree, Inc. delivers a new performance benchmark with the 170 lumens-per-watt (LPW) prototype LED light bulb. LED lighting at this level of performance is only made possible by advancements across all elements of the LED lighting system – lighting-class LEDs, optics, drivers and thermal management. LEDs based on Cree’s SC³ Technology Platform enable this industry-leading R&D lighting result. The SC³ Technology Platform is built upon Cree’s advanced silicon carbide technology and features advancements in the LED chip architecture and phosphor. http://www.cree.com/news-and-events/cree-news/press-releases/2012/july/170-lpw

7.      GE Lighting Introduces Fully Dimmable Compact Fluorescent Bulb - General Electric Lighting introduced a dimmable compact fluorescent bulb on Thursday that mimics the performance of old incandescent bulbs. The bulb, with a re-engineered ballast, can be dimmed smoothly to 5 percent of its full power and light, just as the old incandescent bulbs do. The CFL spiral is available in 14-watt and 26-watt versions, producing the light of 60-watt and 100-watt incandescent bulbs, respectively, and rated to last 10,000 hours. The bulb is also available as a dimmable reflector flood light in 15-watt and 26-watt versions, rated to last 8,000 hours. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/08/ge_lighting_introduces_fully_d.html

8.      DTE Energy to Expand Lighting Retrofit Special Incentive Program -  Due to strong demand for its limited-time incentive offer on fluorescent lighting retrofits, DTE Energy  has announced that it is expanding its program and extending the deadline to apply.In an effort to meet the demand of business owners investing in newer energy-efficient technology, DTE Energy is offering increased cash incentives on additional lighting measures through August 31, 2012. The incentive bonus is an element of DTE Energy's Energy Efficiency Program for Business, a program designed to help DTE Energy Commercial and Industrial customers improve the energy efficiency of their businesses. Originally introduced in May, the increased incentives are available for retrofitting T12 fluorescent lamps to higher efficiency T8 systems. www.dteenergy/saveenergy/ 8/2 PRNewswire via COMTEX

9.      PA DEP Offers Grants to Small Businesses to Reduce Energy Costs - Small-business owners in Pennsylvania working to prevent pollution and save money may now apply for a Small Business Advantage Grant through the Department of Environmental Protection. Businesses can apply for 50-percent matching funds of up to $9,500 to adopt or acquire energy-efficient or pollution-prevention equipment or procedures. The grant-supported project must be in a Pennsylvania facility owned by the applicant and must save the business at least 25 percent, plus $750 annually in energy or pollution-related expenses. Applicants may be manufacturers, retailers, service providers, mining operators or agricultural businesses. Eligible projects include HVAC and boiler upgrades, high-efficiency lighting, solvent recovery systems, waste recycling systems and auxiliary power units deployed as anti-idling technology for trucks. The application deadline is Sept. 26. Visit www.dep.state.pa.us and click on the "Small Business Advantage Grant" button.

10.  Japan Puts Green Growth at Heart of Economic Recovery Plan - The Japanese government has today confirmed it will put green growth at the center of plans to revive the country's flagging economy over the next eight years, after formally approving a new growth strategy. The document, which updates a previous growth plan approved in 2010, sets a goal of delivering three per cent a year nominal economic growth, equating to two per cent a year real growth through to 2020. In order to deliver on the new growth target, the government is promising an increased focus on fast-growth sectors, including renewable energy, green vehicles, farming and healthcare. http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2195510/japan-puts-green-growth-at-heart-of-economic-recovery-plan

11.  NTL Electronics Announces One-Year Sales of 3 Million LED Retrofit Lamps in India - Typically replacing incandescent and compact-fluorescent lamps (CFLs), NTL Electronics India Ltd has revealed that it sold 3 million LED retrofit lamps between the beginning of July 2011 and the end of June 2012. NTL Electronics is a major Indian lighting vendor with the equivalent of more than $110 million in sales and that is pushing to expand its presence in the solid-state lighting (SSL) market. NTL Electronics put its recent performance in perspective by noting that Strategies Unlimited (a sister business within PennWell Corp. to LEDs Magazine) estimated the global sales of retrofit lamps in 2011 to be just under 40 million. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/7/23

12.  2nd Day of Power Failures Cripples Wide Swath of India - On Tuesday 7/31, India suffered the largest electrical blackout in history, affecting an area encompassing about 670 million people, or roughly 10 percent of the world’s population. Three of the country’s interconnected northern power grids collapsed for several hours, as blackouts extended almost 2,000 miles, from India’s eastern border with Myanmar to its western border with Pakistan. The failure of supply and distribution of power to keep up with India’s rapid economic growth as perhaps the most important reason for the power failure. India's power supply has been fully restored after a two-day blackout. 7/31 NY Times