News Updates for the Week of May 27

1.      New Energy Secretary Moniz is All About Energy Efficiency - During his first speech after being sworn into his new post, Moniz said energy efficiency would be one of his top priorities.  New Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz vowed Tuesday to help advance a big bipartisan energy efficiency bill that’s moving through Congress and make conservation a major priority using his existing authorities. The Energy Department posted Moniz’s 11-minute speech on YouTube: http://grist.org/news/new-energy-secretary-moniz-is-all-about-energy-efficiency/

2.      New DOE Report Estimates LED Savings in Common Lighting Applications - DOE has released a much-anticipated new report that estimates the savings from using SSL in applications where LEDs compete with traditional sources. Entitled Adoption of Light-Emitting Diodes in Common Lighting Applications, the report not only estimates how much energy is being saved due to current levels of LED penetration, but also projects what the savings would be if those markets switched completely to LEDs from incandescent, halogen, high-pressure sodium, and certain types of fluorescent sources. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/led-adoption-report_2013.pdf

3.      Two-Part Webinar on Adaptive Street Lighting Controls - On Tuesday, June 11, and Wednesday, June 12, DOE's Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium (MSSLC) will host a two-part series of 90-minute live webinars on the use of adaptive street lighting controls. Industry experts anticipate that by 2020, the majority of all streetlights sold in the U.S. will be LED, and a growing number of these will be equipped with adaptive control components. Each webinar will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (10:00 a.m. Pacific) and will include a 60-minute presentation, followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session with attendees. For more information, or to register, visit the DOE SSL website

4.      How Cree Perfected the 20-Year Light Bulb - This North Carolina maker of light emitting diodes aims to kill off the incandescent light bulb. LED performance is a big reason Cree now boasts $1.3 billion in sales and $70 million in earnings. Its market cap of $7 billion has doubled in less than a year; investors foresee broad adoption of LEDs once federal lighting standards force the phaseout of 40- and 60-watt incandescents in 2014. Nationwide, of roughly 6 billion lightbulbs in American homes, 3.6 billion are incandescents. Lighting sucks up roughly 14% of America’s electricity; replacing all those Edison bulbs with LEDs could cut that demand in half. See the Cree ad burying the incandescent bulb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZik9qwSyHE 5/22 Forbes

5.      Market Revenue for Drivers in LED General Lighting Applications to Triple from 2012 to 2015 - A new report, “LED Driver ICs–World–2013” from IMS Research, now part of the IHS global consulting firm. According to a press release publicizing the report, the market governing LED driver integrated circuits (ICs) for lighting will surge to $666 million in 2015, up from $214 million in 2012, as shown in the figure. Growth will moderate somewhat during the following years, but revenue is expected to continue to expand, reaching $810 million in 2018. http://www.imsresearch.com/

6.      New Ohio Efficiency Resource Fund to Help Upgrade Buildings - The new Ohio Efficiency Resource Fund provides otherwise hard-to-get financing for small and medium-sized businesses to make energy-efficiency improvements, with no upfront costs and no risk. This innovative approach bridges the funding gap that has stymied small- and mid-sized retrofit projects--thousands of buildings statewide. Here's how it works: The Fund signs an Efficiency Services Agreement (ESA) for up to 10 years with a building owner, purchases the new equipment, and hires contractors to design, install, measure, and maintain the energy-saving improvements. As a result, the customer sees a reduction in its total utility bill, while the building becomes more functional, productive, and comfortable. The Fund recoups its investment by billing customers for their actual realized efficiency gains. Since the useful life of the energy-efficiency equipment continues well beyond the life of the contract, customers continue to save for years to come. 5/23 PRNewswire

7.      NJ AEE CEM Course & Exam (Registration Deadline extended to May 31) - The NJ Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers (NJAEE) announced the following dates for the 5-Day preparatory course and exam for Certified Energy Manager (CEM®) Professional Certification. Date: June 17-21, 2013 - from 8:00 – 5:00. The exam is offered on the 5th day, Friday, June 21. Location: Rutgers EcoComplex in Bordentown, NJ http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6743773809

8.      Consumers Energy Awards $4.3 Million to Help Michigan Businesses and Schools Save Energy and Money - Consumers Energy’s Business Solutions program to fund 835 projects in the first quarter of 2013 to help Michigan businesses and schools become more energy efficient. Business Solutions is one part of the company's comprehensive energy efficiency program, launched in accordance with Michigan's energy reform law. www.consumersenergy.com

9.      Leviton Receives NAED Industry Award of Merit - Leviton received the 2013 Industry Award of Merit at the National Association of Electrical Distributors' (NAED) national meeting in Boston on May 6. As part of NAED's Annual Achievement Awards, which recognize individuals and companies that embody the industry's highest standards, Leviton was honored for the company's active role in promoting and supporting the wholesale electrical distribution industry. "This award is a true testament to our valued relationships with Leviton's loyal distribution channel alliances," said William Marshall, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Leviton. http://www.leviton.com

10.  AEE Training Programs for Energy Professionals - www.aeeprograms.com/realtime

High Bay Lighting Advances: How to Choose the Right Technology	Fast Track CEM Preparatory Course for Energy Managers
Instructed by Stan Walerczyk, L.C., C.L.E.P. 4-Hour Distance Learning Seminar Earns 0.4 CEU / 4 PDH Presented in two 2-hour live online sessions New Program Starts June 10	Instructed by Clint Christenson, C.E.M. 12-hour Distance Learning Seminar Earns 1.2 CEU / 12 PDH Presented in six 2-hour live online sessions New Program Starts June 20

11.  Solar’s Great Recovery: Photovoltaics Reach $155 Billion Market in 2018 - The solar photovoltaic (PV) market is poised to rise from the ashes of its 2011 crisis to grow to $155 billion in 2018, as market forces engineer a turnaround to a healthy 10.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), says Lux Research. In the most likely scenario, the PV market will grow at a modest clip to 35 GW in 2013 before rapidly ramping up to 61.7 GW in 2018. Lux Research analysts used a detailed levelized cost of energy (LCOE) analysis in 156 separate geographies, accounting for 82% of the world’s population, to determine the viability and competitiveness of solar in each market. www.luxresearchinc.com

New Posting for the Lighting Positions Network

1. Vice President of Sales - Our client (a successful manufacturer with a great work environment) is looking for a detail-oriented, very ethical, positive, self-confident Vice President of Sales to increase their presence in the LED marketplace while leading their efforts calling on the distribution and OEM channels---and they are seeking a true leader!  You will use your very strong LED market knowledge, your familiarity selling to the lighting fixture OEM channel, your exceptional leadership, sales management and communications skills, your ability to build relationships and very professional appearance as you call on OEM lighting manufacturers (both solo and joint calls with members of your sales team) developing new business as well as maintaining relationships with some existing customers!  Degree highly preferred; MBA or technical degree is a plus.  35-40% travel [first 12-18 months will be higher]. E-mail your resume to Paul Pompeo at: paul@pompeo.com.

News Updates for the Week of May 20

1.      Senate Unanimously Confirms Energy Nominee Ernest Moniz - Physicist Ernest Moniz won unanimous Senate confirmation Thursday to be the nation’s new energy secretary.  Moniz, 68, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, replaces Steven Chu. Moniz served as an energy undersecretary in the Clinton administration.  Moniz, who heads an energy initiative at MIT, is widely seen as sympathetic to the natural gas industry and will soon decide whether to approve a major expansion of U.S. natural gas exports that could create thousands of jobs, spur economic growth and help offset the nation’s enormous trade deficit. 5/16 AP

2.      2013 DOE Solid-State Lighting Manufacturing R&D Workshop June 5–6, 2013 • Boston, MA - The fifth annual DOE SSL Manufacturing R&D Workshop represents a meeting of the minds, bringing together varied perspectives from the entire SSL industry supply chain—plus other industries—to focus on a common goal. How do we work together to reduce SSL manufacturing costs, improve quality, increase volumes—and foster a greater U.S. role in SSL manufacturing? http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/boston2013.html

3.      Energy Department Publishes Protocols for Determining Energy Efficiency Savings - The Energy Department has published a new series of protocols for determining savings from energy efficiency upgrades in homes, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities. Using consistent methods to calculate energy savings will improve the credibility and demonstrate the impact of energy efficiency programs that help businesses and families reduce their energy bills.

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=883

4.      DOE Reports Track Progress in LED Lighting Technology - The industry’s shift to LEDs continues to be one of the most dynamic areas of product development and market realignment in the electrical industry. This transition has been getting substantial support from the U.S. DOE which offers programs for performance testing and standardized methods for reporting performance characteristics, with an eye toward assisting market acceptance. According to a recent DOE forecast, LED lighting will represent 74% of sales in the U.S. general illumination market by 2030 and will save about 2,700 terawatt-hours and $250 billion over a 20-year period. Navigant Research, in a report released this week, estimated that worldwide shipments of LED lamps will grow from 68 million units in 2013 to 1.28 billion units annually by 2021, and that the markets for every other lighting technology will contract over that period. DOE released two reports over the past few weeks on areas where there is still some distance to close before LEDs can be considered better than established light sources­—recessed troffer applications and environmental impact from end-of-life disposal. http://ewweb.com/news-watch/doe-reports-track-progress-led-lighting-technology

5.      GSA Advised to Keep LEED - The Green Building Advisory Committee, set up to advise facilities management agency the General Services Administration, concluded by a 10-6 vote that LEED was the best standard to help the government comply with the Energy Independence and Security Act.  The act requires federal agencies to use a green building certification system for new construction and major renovations. The GSA has required new buildings under its jurisdiction to be LEED Gold certified since 2010. There are more than 4,000 LEED-certified government projects, and another 8,000 pursuing certification, according to USGBC. http://www.energyvortex.com/pages/headlinedetails.cfm?id=6293

6.      Advanced Control Options for LEED v.4 - Version 4 of the popular Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system is expected to be released at Greenbuild in November 2013. Final balloting to approve the new LEED version is expected to occur in June. One thing is almost certain, which is that the prerequisite for the Energy + Atmosphere section will change from the 2007 to the 2010 version of the ASHRAE/IES 90.1 energy standard. This is because the 2010 version of 90.1 is now the national energy standard. By October 2013, all states in the country must put in place a commercial building energy code at least as stringent as ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2010 or justify why they can’t comply.  http://lightingcontrolsassociation.org/

7.      Call for Submissions for 2013 IES Progress Report - The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) recently announced a call for submissions to the 2013 IES Progress Report. This program offers organizations in lighting an opportunity to present important new products, research, publications, and design tools. All lighting products must be introduced commercially and all research, publications and design tools must be completed between August 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013. Submissions are open May 17 through July 19, 2013. http://www.ies.org/progress/

8.    LED Supply Chain Dynamics - Now that the rise of the LED has begun, the repercussions are rippling up and down the LED supply chain. One effect is consolidation in this sector, driven by a desire for vertical integration among the larger lighting companies, which in turn is being driven by the relentless demand for lower prices and higher quality. While the total number of vendors involved in the LED supply chain will likely shrink, other factors–including the expiration of existing patents, new interchangeability standards, new technologies, and an expected upsurge in creative product designs will create opportunities for new entrants at each level of the supply chain. Navigant Research forecasts that annual worldwide revenue from LED lamps will grow from just over $1.5 billion in 2013 to more than $8.5 billion in 2021. http://www.navigantresearch.com/research/led-supply-chain-dynamics

9.      MA Officials, Activists Tout Energy Savings Plan - Article 19 asks voters to borrow $4,049,027 to pay for a variety of energy-conserving measures in schools and other town-owned buildings. These will include more efficient heating systems and lighting as well as an energy management system. 5/13 The Eagle-Tribune

10.  Osram Leads Research on LED-Based Adaptive Headlamps for Autos - Focused on increased safety for drivers and passengers, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (FMER) is sponsoring a research project on adaptive forward lighting systems (AFS) for autos, and Osram Opto Semiconductors is serving as the project coordinator. The project will seek to combine microelectronics and optoelectronics technologies to enable autonomous camera-based control of LED headlamps with no mechanical actuators. The AFS concept includes both optimum lighting for the driver and supplementary traffic safety functions. The goal is glare-free high-beam lighting, and low beams that adjust to the speed of the vehicle.  http://ledsmagazine.com/news/10/5/7

11.  Pumped Up For Profits: Electrical Supplies in the Oil Patch by Jim Lucy - In an era of sluggish growth in the electrical market, the sales opportunities popping up in the oil and gas market in some regions of the country for distributors, reps and manufacturers stick out like a solitary pump jack on the northern prairie.  New horizontal drilling technologies combined with what’s called  “oil fracking” is now allowing drilling companies to access deposits of oil and natural gas that previously couldn’t be extracted profitably, often in regions of the country where the oil and gas business had more or less been dormant for years. http://ewweb.com/ewweb/2013-05-01

New Posting for the Lighting Positions Network

1.   Executive Positions from NETSHARE - The following is a sample of open positions that have been posted with NETSHARE over the past week. This list changes every day…with some dropping off and some added. View the job listings below and many more on the website at: http://www.netshare.com/jobs_public.aspx?d=815 Email your interest and resumes, reference the EnergyWatchBlog, directly to Jan Furste jan@netshare.com

•  President, Kansas City, MO, $230,000-$280,000 plus 30% bonus plus equity
• Senior Vice President/General Manager, Northern California, $200,000-$240,000 plus up to 40% bonus
• General Manager, Library Division, Minnesota, $160,000-$200,000
• Chief Executive Officer, Southeast but relocation not required, Competitive W2 plus very meaningful equity position
• Chief Executive Officer, New England, $250,000-$300,000 plus bonus