You can employ men and hire hands to work for you, but you will have to win their hearts to have them work with you. William J.H. Boetcker

Monday, September 10, 2012

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.

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

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