News Updates for the Week of September 24

1.      Number of LED Rebates Increases by 51% - Over the past year, rebate and incentive programs have caught up to the growing number of LED lighting solutions being used in the market today. Today, thousands of programs are available for LED solutions. An interesting trend is that while the number of rebates has steadily grown over the past year, the average rebate amount has actually gone down. For LED replacement lamps, the average rebate has decreased by 4% since January 2012. Incentives for LED recessed down lights have also decreased by 29% during the same time period. These reductions are mostly due to the cost of LEDs coming down over the last year, which means less incentive money is needed to make these solutions financially attractive. http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept12-1.html

2.      The Current US Lighting Rebate Climate - As we enter the final stretch of the calendar year, an increasing number of rebate and incentive programs are exhausting their funds. According to our North American Rebate and Incentive Database, 9% of all US commercial lighting rebate and incentive programs are currently out of funding. This situation is mainly due to increased participation in the programs. Locations that would have previously qualified for rebates may no longer be eligible because the rebate organization has no money left.

http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept12-2.html

3.      Forces of Change by Mark Lien - A recent DOE study projects that the LED market share will total just 9.5% by 2015 and 35.8 % in 2020. Innovation is often stifled because the concept is embraced but new ideas are not. Lighting products and applications will not be the same in 10 years. New industry leadersd will emerge with their success being in large part by how they define LED innovation. 8/’12 LD&A 

4.      Builder Confidence Continues to Rise - Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose for a fifth consecutive month in September to a level of 40 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. The three-point rise brought the index to its highest point since June 2006. Any number higher than 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor. 9/18 HCN

5.      Housing Starts Improve in August - Government data released Wednesday morning show residential construction climbing slowly out of an historically deep hole. Housing starts increased in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 750,000--that’s up 2.3% from the July rate and up 29.1% from the August 2011 rate. To put the numbers in an historical context, a full year with 750,000 starts would be the fourth lowest year since the government began keeping track of the statistic in 1959. However, an end-of-year figure of 750,000 would be an increase of 39%, 28% and 23% when compared with the years 2009, 2010 and 2011. 9/19 HCN

6.      Existing-Home Sales Rise 7.8% - Existing-home sales continued to improve in August, according to the National Association of Realtors. The NAR’s tally shows existing-home sales in August increased to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.82 million, up 7.8% from 4.47 million in July. Compared with a year ago, the rate of sales is up 9.3%.  9/20 HCN

7.      Half Of Chinese LED Chip Makers Predicted to Go Bust - Half of all LED chip making companies in China will go bankrupt owing to a slump in global demand and cuts in subsidies to certain manufacturers, according to a piece of research by Reuters. Analysts say oversupply and the economic downturn has depressed prices to below production levels, meaning large numbers of small companies have already closed their businesses. Under a new government resolution to reduce subsidies, these businesses may be left with no choice but to integrate or declare bankruptcy. Due to government support, global share of the market for packaged LED components rose from 2 per cent in 2010 to 6 per cent in 2011. But the boom years are coming to an end, with many of China’s LED chipmakers operating their factories at 50 per cent capacity. Around half of the 700 or so factories that received government help have been left idle. http://www.lighting.co.uk

8.      Energy Efficiency Initiative Putting NY on the MAP - The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has launched a $30 million initiative to accelerate the market utilization of emerging, cutting-edge energy-efficiency technologies. The Energy Efficiency Market Acceleration Program (EE-MAP) will fund research and development activities and demonstration projects to help leverage investments and promote business development opportunities for emerging energy efficiency technologies. This will be done in coordination with state agencies, authorities and electric utilities to improve industry access to investments made at public facilities. http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/energy-efficiency-initiative-putting-ny-map/2012-09-18

9.      NYSERDA Announces $1.1 Million Equipment Rebate Program to Help Small Municipal Governments Reduce Energy Use - The “Buy Green, Save Green Rebates for New York State Local Governments” program is available to encourage small municipal governments to replace inefficient appliances and equipment with energy-efficient models. The program begins Sept. 25, 2012. The rebates will pay 75 percent of the purchase price of eligible products, which include ENERGY STAR® refrigerators, dehumidifiers, commercial dishwashers, room air conditioners, imaging equipment (including copiers and fax machines; digital duplicators; printers, scanners and all-in-one devices; and mailing machines), as well as CFLs and LEDs in quantities of 10 or more.  www.nysappliancerebates.com 

10.  Newly Remodeled New Jersey Energy Data Center Website - The NJEDC is funded by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and is a data collection and processing tool for New Jersey policy makers, businesses, educators, and citizens. The website includes links to electricity, natural gas, petroleum, energy efficiency and renewable energy data for the State, as well as many other energy-related links. The purpose of the site is to help promote public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment. http://www.njenergydatacenter.org/

11.  Five Connecticut Colleges Sharing $1M Loan to Boost Energy Efficiency - Connecticut's Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority is making a $1 million loan to help a group of Connecticut colleges become more energy efficient. The money will be used to launch "Campus Efficiency Now," a program that will allow participating schools that are members of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges to implement energy-saving measures with no upfront costs. The money will be repaid by the five schools participating in the program--the University of Hartford, Mitchell College, Connecticut College, University of Saint Joseph and the University of New Haven--using the energy savings yielded over five years. 9/19 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional

12.  Oregon Becomes Energy Special Improvement District - Oregon City Council has established the city as an energy special improvement district, a move that will enable businesses to draw on a federal grant to make energy efficiency improvements and repay the money as a special assessment with property taxes. Businesses taking advantage of the district can get financing for their improvements from a $15 million U.S. Department of Energy Better Building Program grant awarded to the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and the city of Toledo in 2010. 9/18 McClatchy-Tribune Regional News

13.  Local Governments Launch Ambitious Energy Efficiency Program - Under the auspices of California's largest statewide joint powers authority, 14 California counties and 126 cities are today launching the nation's largest PACE program, an innovative financing tool to help commercial property owners reduce their buildings' energy and water use. The CaliforniaFIRST program, which is a program of the California Statewide Communities Development Authority, allows commercial property owners to use municipal bonds to finance energy efficiency, water efficiency and renewable energy upgrades–which the owners repay through a special assessment on their annual property tax bill. http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/09/18/4272526/local-governments-launch-ambitious.html

News Updates for the Week of September 17

1.      DOE Consortium Releases Draft Model Spec for Review - The U.S. DOE’s Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium has released a draft Model Specification for Adaptive Control and Remote Monitoring of LED Roadway Luminaires. The estimated 26.5 million streetlights in the U.S. consume as much electricity each year as 1.9 million households, and generate greenhouse gas emissions equal to that produced by 2.6 million cars. Switching these streetlights to LED can save energy and money, and incorporating remote monitoring and adaptive lighting control systems can increase those savings substantially. The draft specification is posted online for public review and comment by Consortium members, manufacturers, and other interested lighting professionals. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/consortium.html

2.      LightShow East in Washington, DC at Washington Convention Center on October 3-4 -  Admission to the show is FREE to qualified attendees, plus 24 FREE seminars for today's lighting pros. LightShow East has assembled a power-packed lineup of speakers from around the country to provide the latest information on lighting trends, resources and regulations. All seminars are AIA approved and NCQLP registered. http://www.lightshoweast.com/Attend/RegistertoAttend/tabid/953/Default.aspx

3.      Worldwide Intelligent Lighting Controls Market to Surpass $4.3 Billion by 2020 - According to a new report from Pike Research, the global market for intelligent lighting controls will enjoy steady and robust growth over the rest of this decade, rising from $1.5 billion in 2012 to more than $4.3 billion in 2020. In particular, new wireless technologies, along with reductions in prices for LED lights and dimmable ballasts, have made retrofit projects considerably more attractive. As LEDs become more mainstream, lighting controls–in the form of standalone devices or systems integrated into light fixtures–will help maximize their benefits. http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/intelligent-lighting-controls-for-commercial-buildings

4.      2012 Energy Star Products Partner Meeting Location: St. Paul, MN Date: October 22–24 - The 2012 meeting will be held over three days, and as in past years will be a combined meeting covering ENERGY STAR lighting, appliances, water heaters, electronics, and other topics. The meeting will also provide opportunities to interact with a range of program stakeholders in various formats, including independent one-on-one meetings. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=partners.pt_meetings

5.      Defining Lighting Quality Based on User Satisfaction by Craig Dilouie - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) offers a free tool for office building owners and managers and industry practitioners.  The Light Right survey is a great way to capture occupant satisfaction in regards to the building's lighting system. The survey can be used:

• As a diagnostic tool that can help the building owners or tenants determine if a new lighting system would be desirable from the occupant's point of view. 
• If a new lighting system is going to be installed, administering the survey before and after the remodel can be valuable to ensure that the occupant's visual needs have been met. 
• As a tool to compare between different lighting systems.

http://lightingcontrolsassociation.org/defining-lighting-quality-based-on-user-satisfaction/

6.      Nova Scotia Mandates All LED Street Lights - The Province of Nova Scotia, Canada has announced it is converting to all LED street lighting, a project which will be completed by 2023. This move has made it the first jurisdiction in North America to mandate the use of energy-efficient LED roadway lighting. Energy Minister Charlie Parker finalized amendments to the Energy-Efficient Appliances Regulations yesterday. The estimated cost of installing the 120,000 street lights was $100 million and the energy savings upon full conversion would be $18 million per year. The regulations are available: www.gov.ns.ca/energy/public-consultation  http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/9/8

7.      Duke Energy to Cut Energy Waste with Peer Pressure - Duke Energy received regulatory approval this week to offer a novel energy-efficiency program based on a potentially vast but untapped energy resource: one's emotional need to fit in. Later this year, Charlotte-based Duke will begin mailing its residential customers monthly energy reports showing how their energy usage compares with "peers" who live in similar homes. A low ranking among neighbors could be what it takes to lower the thermostat, turn off the lights or invest in getting air ducts cleaned out and sealed. In common parlance, it's known as peer pressure. And it apparently influences electricity-consumption habits just as it shapes taste in clothing, popular music and SUVs. More than 75 utilities in the nation now send these customized shame sheets to some 14 million customers. 9/12 The News & Observer

8.      An Argument Over Wind - The American Wind Energy Association expelled Exelon as a member because the company opposed a renewal of the credit. The association says that if the tax credit expires, some 37,000 jobs will be eliminated next year and that deliveries of new turbines will spiral to zero. But Exelon says the tax credit is distorting energy markets because the credit itself is larger than the average value of electricity produced in the Midwest. 9/15 NY Times

9.      Choosing the Right LED Product for Industrial Applications - The math is easy. If you’re using HID (high-intensity discharge) or HPS (high-pressure sodium) fixtures, your lighting energy costs are probably in the range of $1 per square foot per year--meaning that your 200,000 square foot facility likely costs $200,000 annually. The way to reduce that massive energy expense is to upgrade to industrial LED lighting, which can reduce lighting energy use up to 90%. This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of the industrial LED alternatives—from plain LED fixtures to Intelligent LED Lighting Systems. Download is available at: http://ecmweb.com/whitepapers/white-paper-choosing-right-led-product-industrial-applications

10.  NEMA LSD 63 - NEMA published "Measurement Methods and Performance Variation for Verification Testing of General Purpose Lamps and Systems." NEMA LSD 63 establishes variations that can be expected when independent verification testing, generally based on small samples of lamps or ballasts, is performed to estimate product performance characteristics and for comparison to manufacturer’s ratings. http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Measurement-Methods-and-Performance-Variation-for-Verification-Testing-of-General-Purpose-Lamps-and-Systems.aspx#download

11.   ASSIST Publishes Recommendations for Detectability of Flicker in LED Sources - The Alliance for Solid-State Illumination Systems and Technologies (ASSIST) recently released a new publication that addresses the issue of LED light source flicker. The methods offered in the publication can be used by LED lighting manufacturers to develop systems that minimize the effects of flicker. http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/assist/recommends/flicker.asp

News Updates for the Week of September 10

1.      Romney Sees North American Energy Independence by 2020 - A crucial component of Mitt Romney’s Plan for a Stronger Middle Class is to dramatically increase domestic energy production and partner closely with Canada and Mexico to achieve North American energy independence by 2020.

• Empower states to control onshore energy development; 
• Open offshore areas for energy development; 
• Pursue a North American Energy Partnership; 
• Ensure accurate assessment of energy resources; 
• Restore transparency and fairness to permitting and regulation; and 
• Facilitate private-sector-led development of new energy technologies.

      http://www.mittromney.com/sites/default/files/shared/energy_policy_white_paper_8.23.pdf

2.      DOE Releases Cost Model for Manufacturing of LED Packages - The Modular LED Cost Model (LEDCOM) provides a simplified method for analyzing the manufacturing costs of an LED package. The model focuses on the major cost elements and includes preliminary raw data and manufacturing process flow, which provide a starting point and can be customized by the user to model different processes, materials, and equipment. The tool enables those involved in the manufacturing of LED packages–from material and equipment suppliers, to epitaxy growers, to wafer processors, to chip manufacturers and packagers–to evaluate the relative impact of changes made at different points in the manufacturing process on the final LED package cost. To download the LEDCOM tool, visit: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/ledcom_cost_model.html

3.      L.E.D.’S to Become More Energy-Efficient in the Next Five Years - A new report released by the United States Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Britain-based analysis group N14 Energy Limited http://www.pnnl.gov/news/release.aspx?id=940 suggests that L.E.D. could have a far-reaching edge over conventional lighting systems as the technology and manufacturing methods advance in the next five years. By 2017, L.E.D. bulbs will have 50 percent less environmental footprint than today’s L.E.D.’s and 70 percent less impact than today’s C.F.L.’s, the report estimates. http://www.ecoseed.org/low-carbon/15552-l-e-d-s-to-become-more-energy-efficient-in-the-next-five-years

4.      Lighting Equipment Demand Strengthened During Second Quarter of 2012 - NEMA’s Lighting Systems Index has shown a positive performance in the first half of 2012, as it gained 2.9 percent on a quarter-to-quarter basis from the first to second quarters of 2012. On a year-over-year basis the index increased by 6.6 percent, indicating that aggregate lighting equipment demand has improved appreciably since the recovery began; however it remains well below the levels observed during the previous economic expansion. All five categories of lighting systems products included in the index registered solid gains compared to the second quarter of 2011. http://www.nema.org/News/Pages/Lighting-Equipment-Demand-Strengthened-During-Second-Quarter-of-2012.aspx

      5.   August Jobs Report: Hiring Slows, Unemployment Falls - The labor market lost momentum last month as job growth fell to a disappointingly slow pace. The unemployment rate also fell, as more people stopped looking for jobs. The economy added 96,000 jobs in August, down from 141,000 jobs in July.  Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 8.1%, from 8.3% in July. Economists polled by CNNMoney were expecting 120,000 jobs to be added in the month, and the unemployment rate to remain unchanged. The unemployment rate fell largely because 368,000 people stopped looking for work, many of them young people. Just 63.5% of the working-age population was either employed or actively looking for work--a 30-year low. Check the unemployment rate in your State: http://money.cnn.com/interactive/economy/state-unemployment-rates/?iid=EL 9/07 CNNMoney 

6.      Lutron Joins Government, Industry Leaders to Discuss Energy Reduction Goals - Lutron Electronics recently participated in a roundtable discussion focused on President Barack Obama's Executive Order 13514 http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/2009fedleader_eo_rel.pdf which mandates that the federal government lead the industry in energy efficiency advancements. Andy Wakefield, Lutron's director of government solution, joined White House, agency and industry leaders in the roundtable where it became clear that industry/government collaboration will prove a driving force behind the success of this initiative. http://www.tedmag.com

7.      Philadelphia Eagles Called A Green-Energy Leader For Stadium Retrofit - The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Green Sports Alliance cited the Eagles franchise as one of 20 leaders in the green-energy movement. The Eagles are retrofitting Lincoln Financial Field with solar panels, wind turbines and a biodiesel/natural gas generator that can produce 100 percent of the stadium's energy needs. The project, which is being installed by NRG Energy Inc. of Princeton, will give the Eagles "the most extensive on-site renewable system of any U.S. sports stadium." http://www.tedgreenroom.com/

8.      Energy-Efficiency Grants Available to Maryland Farmers - Farmers have until Sept. 28 to apply for up to $200,000 in energy-efficiency grants from the Maryland Energy Administration. The MEA will distribute grants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000, which will cover up to 75 percent of the cost of the upgrades. Under the program, $1 million will be available to farms and agriculture businesses to help plan, implement and complete upgrades to energy systems. Improvements can be as simple as replacing light bulbs in barns and buildings. 9/1 The Frederick News-Post

9.      AEP Exhibit Educates Consumers About How to Be More Energy Efficient - AEP Ohio is taking its energy-efficiency campaign on the road, in the form of a 38-foot vehicle equipped with interactive devices that can tell visitors how much energy they've been wasting. It's one stop in AEP Ohio's statewide tour and part of the company's $10 million advertising campaign to encourage its consumers to reduce energy usage. The half-million-dollar-plus vehicle is outfitted with touch screens that guide visitors through questions about their energy usage. Since 2009, 10 million CFL and LED bulbs have been purchased through the program. 9/06 The Columbus Dispatch