Randy Reid’s Edison Report

EnergyWatchBlog http://www.energywatchblog.com on EdisonReport  http://www.edisonreport.net - Randy Reid and Bill Attardi are looking to team up to provide you with the most current activities in the lighting industry with a focus on energy-efficient lighting. Let us know what you think.

News Updates for the Week of July 29

1.      DOE Studies Residential Lighting Usage - DOE has published a collaborative study focused on developing new estimates of residential lighting usage and energy consumption at the national and regional levels. The study, Residential Lighting End-Use Consumption Study: Estimation Framework and Initial Estimates, developed a framework that allows for the estimation of U.S. lamp usage and energy consumption not only nationally and by region, but also by household characteristics, lamp characteristics, and the particular room within a home as well as limited combinations of these parameters. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/residential-lighting-study.html

2.      The DOE's LED Lighting Facts Program by James Brodrick - In response to industry feedback, the U.S. DOE launched the LED Lighting Facts program in late 2008 to promote the accurate and consistent reporting of LED product performance claims. The idea behind LED Lighting Facts is that SSL manufacturers, who sign up test their products using industry-standard methods (IES LM-79-2008), report the performance results and use the LED Lighting Facts label—which presents key product metrics in an easy-to-read format in order to help users evaluate those products and identify the best options. www.lightingfacts.com

3.      New ENERGY STAR Product Finder Tools - The product finder tools provide consumers, partners, and interested third parties with an easily-accessible, user-friendly search tool. EPA encourages ENERGY STAR Manufacturing Partners to review your listed models and verify the accuracy of the data. Any concerns about data quality should be reported to your EPA-recognized certification body (CB). http://www.energystar.gov/productfinder/product/certified-light-fixtures/results Utilities, retailers, and other more advanced users can access the detailed datasets (qualified product lists) directly at data.energystar.gov

4.      Energy-Saving Program Launched with $100 Million Commitment - Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced an expanded energy-efficiency program that will enable building owners to pay overtime rather than up front for projects that cut energy use and utility bills. In addition, he announced a financing agreement between the Milwaukee Economic Development Corp. and California-based Clean Fund to finance scores of energy-focused building upgrades.  Clean Fund works with Johnson Controls Inc., whose global building efficiency business, based downtown, specializes in engineering projects that replace building chillers, upgrade controls, tap software to make them run better and install more efficient lighting. 7/24 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

5.      ComEd's Energy Efficiency Programs Helped Customers Save $400 Million on Electric Bills Over Past Five Years - The company recently launched the sixth year of its Smart Ideas® energy efficiency programs with more than $56 million in incentives to help customers conserve energy and spend less on electricity. New this year for small businesses, ComEd will cover up to 75 percent (increased from 50 percent) of recommended energy efficiency upgrades - such as lighting, LED exit signs and energy-efficient water heater installation--offered through its Small Business Energy Savings Program. 7/23 PRNewswire

6.      New Lights in Shuttered Chicago Schools - Chicago Public Schools spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to install new lighting systems in at least nine schools just before they were targeted for closing in the city's cost-cutting school consolidation plan. At the same time, the city wants private investors to pay for the new energy-efficient lights in those schools and more than 200 others, as part of the Chicago Infrastructure Trust. The trust is enticing private firms to pay for the school improvements by promising a cut of the energy savings on future electricity bills. But it is unlikely investors will see much of a return from new lights installed in empty schools. 7/19 Chicago Tribune

7.      MaxLite Expands Engineering Department - MaxLite has expanded its engineering department by setting up a team in its West Caldwell, NJ headquarters and appointing key engineering personnel. MaxLite’s new engineering team in New Jersey will work with an existing engineering team in its Rancho Cucamonga, CA, location. MaxLite is collaborating with electrical engineers to troubleshoot indoor and outdoor LED product issues and performing internal testing.

8.      Introducing Hubbell Loans - Removing a significant barrier to wider adoption of energy efficient lighting, Hubbell Lighting announced a creative financing solution called “Cash Flow Positive.” The initiative provides flexible and easy access funding for commercial and municipal customers, through Hubbell Lighting and its agent network. Working through the company’s Hubbell Capital team, commercial customers can receive competitive rate financing with terms from 12 to 60 months (up to 120 months for municipal customers) on projects ranging from $5,000 to $10 million. http://www.hubbelllighting.com/resources/financing/

9.      Lutron Survey Shows Who Is Leaving The Lights On - Lutron Electronics announced the findings from a recent “Home Lighting Usage and Behavior” survey to determine wasted energy. This survey looked at energy and electricity within the home and where people tend to leave the lights on. The study shows that 90% of the people surveyed have someone in the house who leaves the lights on when they leave a room, and 55% of the time a child is to blame. Also, the kitchen is the most common room to have the lights left on, while the bathroom, bedroom and living room are all about the same. Lutron is announcing to study to promote its Meastro Occupancy Sensing Switch

10.  Seoul Semiconductor Drives Efficacy Up and Cost Down in Mid-Power LEDs - The new plastic-packaged 5630C LED can deliver efficacy up to 180 lm/W. There has been a race of late to new efficacy levels in the mid-power space. Just before the LFI show back in April, Samsung announced 160 lm/W efficacy in mid-power LEDs, claiming that as an industry high. Then at LFI, LG Innotek announced 170-lm/W efficacy in similar products. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/10/7/16

11.  GE Lighting Makes the Streets of Bristol Shine - GE Lighting has upgraded the street lighting in Bristol, UK to deliver an energy efficient, white light solution - part of Bristol City Council's aim to reduce its carbon footprint and to promote a safer urban environment. The project comprises the replacement of existing high-pressure sodium street lighting with GE’s improved, higher efficiency CMH Streetwise ceramic metal halide lamps. http://specificationonline.co.uk/news-article/4695/ge-lighting-ge-lighting-makes-the-streets-of-bristol-shine

Randy Reid's Edison Report

EnergyWatchBlog http://www.energywatchblog.com on EdisonReport  http://www.edisonreport.net - Randy Reid and Bill Attardi are looking to team up to provide you with the most current activities in the lighting industry with a focus on energy-efficient lighting. Let us know what you think.

News Updates for the Week of July 22

1.      Smart Electric Turns to Kickstarter to Fund Its Bright Idea - Smart Electric is proposing a solution to the problem of bedtime jitters and energy inefficiency with its Smart Bulb collection of innovative lighting products. To fund the manufacturing and marketing of this first-ever line of consumer products, the company has launched a Kickstarter campaign. "After generations of using traditional 'dumb' light bulbs that were limited in functionality and hiring electricians for custom installations, our team developed technology that delivers lighting solutions for consumers without the need for expensive remote dimmers and timers," said Smart Electric president and CEO Stan Angelo. 7/12 HCN  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2000111114/smart-bulb-make-light-do-more

2.      2012 CEE Report Demonstrates Importance of Efficiency - The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) releases its 2012 Annual Industry Report, painting the most complete picture of energy efficiency and demand response program activity available from a single source. Based on a survey collecting budget, expenditure, and impact data, the report covers both gas and electric demand side management in the United States and Canada. Expenditures and budgets continue to climb, with commensurate growth in savings. Total expenditures for 2011 reached $7.6 billion, growing 17 percent from $6.5 billion in 2010. Budgets in 2012 measured $9.4 billion. http://www.cee1.org/content/growth-trends-energy-efficiency-industry

3.      Are LEDs Safe for Our Eyes? -  To answer it, the DOE has come out with a new Fact Sheet entitled Optical Safety of LEDs, which clarifies what's known about that issue and takes a look at current standards for photobiological safety. Conclusion: LED products are no more hazardous than other lighting technologies that have the same CCT. Furthermore, white-light products used in general lighting service applications are not considered a risk for blue light hazard according to current international standards. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/opticalsafety_fact-sheet.pdf

4.      Connected Lighting Alliance Taps Zigbee Light Link for Residential Controls - The Connected Lighting Alliance has formally selected ZigBee Light Link as the network and protocol of choice for connecting lighting products and controls in homes. The ZigBee standard isn’t specific to LED-based solid-state lighting (SSL) but such products are especially amenable to controls, and the endorsement by the alliance should help broaden deployment of connected SSL in residential applications. The Connected Lighting Alliance was formed just less than a year ago in August 2012 by GE Lighting, Lutron, Osram, Philips, and Toshiba. The stated mission of the organization is development of an open standard wireless network that supports interoperable products from multiple vendors. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/10/7/12

5.      “Why the Wait?” Campaign to Encourage Action on Energy Bill - NEMA announced “Why the Wait?”—a campaign to encourage swift Senate action on S 761, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH). The bill sailed out of committee in May thanks to overwhelming bipartisan support, but has yet to be brought to the floor. The bill will use a variety of low-cost tools to reduce barriers for private sector energy users and drive adoption of available technologies to reduce energy use and save consumers money. It also will require the federal government—the single largest energy user in the nation—to adopt energy-saving techniques. http://www.nema.org/News/Pages/Why-the-Wait-Campaign-to-Encourage-Action-on-Energy-Bill.aspx

6.      Researchers Work to Bring Cheaper, ‘Greener’ LED Lighting to Market - Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) hold the promise of being both environmentally friendly and versatile. Though not as efficient as regular LEDs, they offer a wider range of material choices and are more energy efficient than traditional lights. OLEDs can also be applied to flexible surfaces, which may lead to lights or television displays that can be rolled up and stowed in a pocket. A promising line of research involves combining the OLEDs with inorganic quantum dots, tiny semiconductor crystals that emit different colors of light depending on their size. These “hybrid” OLEDs, also called quantum dot LEDs (QD-LEDs), increase the efficiency of the light-emitting devices and also increase the range of colors that can be produced. But commercially manufacturing this promising green technology is still difficult and costly.  http://www.ledjournal.com

7.      Energy Department Invests to Save Small Buildings Money by Saving Energy - The Energy Department announced an award of $10 million for six projects to help small commercial buildings save money by saving energy. These small commercial buildings are less than 50,000 square feet in size and include schools, churches, strip malls, restaurants and grocery stores. The six projects are aimed at developing user-friendly tools and resources that can be easily deployed at any small building. The Energy Department’s $10 million investment across these six projects will be matched by at least $14 million in private sector funding. http://energy.gov/articles/energy-department-invests-save-small-buildings-money-saving-energy

Randy Reid’s Edison Report

Randy Reid’s Edison Report http://www.edisonreport.net/

EnergyWatchBlog http://www.energywatchblog.com on EdisonReport  http://www.edisonreport.net - Randy Reid and Bill Attardi are looking to team up to provide you with the most current activities in the lighting industry with a focus on energy-efficient lighting. Let us know what you think…

New Postings for the Lighting Positions Network

 1.  Executive Positions from NETSHARE - The following are open positions that have been posted with NETSHARE over the past week. This list changes every day…View the job listings below and many more on the website. Email your interest and resumes, reference the EnergyWatchBlog, directly to Jan Furste jan@netshare.com.

• President/Partner Level, Virtual Office, Southeast Territory, $200,000-$250,000 plus $300K-$800K bonus + commission
• President & Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles, CA, $225,000-$265,000 
• Chief Operating Officer Cleveland, OH, $140,000-$200,000 plus bonus
• President, Louisville, KY, $200,000-$250,000 plus bonus
• President, Connecticut/Greater New York City area, Competitive base + bonus + equity

News Updates for the Week of July 15

1.      House Again Votes to Block Law Requiring Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs - A U.S. House vote Wednesday blocked enforcement of light bulb standards aimed at promoting the use of bulbs that are more energy efficient but also pricier. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, inserted the language pertaining to the light bulbs in the energy and water spending bill. His addition prohibits using any Department of Energy funds to implement the standards. The measure's supporters said it does not outlaw any particular bulb, but rather requires bulbs to become more energy-efficient and does not require the purchase of specific alternatives. 7/10 UPI

2.      Final Draft Version 1.0 ENERGY STAR Specification for Lamps - The Lamps V1.0 specification is intended to replace the existing Compact Fluorescent Lamps and Integral LED Lamps specifications, as well as the certification requirements for GU24-based fluorescent lamps previously detailed in the Residential Light Fixtures specification. The effective date for Lamps V1.0 will be September 1, 2014. Stakeholders wishing to provide additional comments should submit comments to lamps@energystar.gov by July 23, 2013. Please note that comments received will be posted to www.energystar.gov/lamps unless marked "Do Not Post."            

3.     Smart Building Certified - A smartly designed building enhances the performance of the building and ease of operation over its life-cycle. The primary goal for a higher performing building is to minimize the long-term costs of facility ownership to owners, occupants and the environment. In a higher performing building all components of the building are integrated in order to work together.  This improves operational performance, increases occupant comfort and satisfaction and provides the owner with systems, technologies and tools to manage and minimize energy consumption. http://www.smartbuildingsinstitute.org

4.      Honeywell Launches LED Lighting Solutions Business - LED Lighting Solutions will offer a new line of high-efficiency industrial LED lighting fixtures in North America, expanding Honeywell’s portfolio of energy efficiency products and solutions. The new business compliments the company's building controls and automation businesses and product lines. Honeywell’s new line of LED lights starts with three versions suitable for the most common commercial-industrial applications, such as stairwells, parking garages, manufacturing floors, cold storage facilities, and warehouses. Later this year Honeywell will expand the line with the release of LED retrofit, ceiling panel and high-bay luminaire models, plus a full line of lighting control devices, including sensors and switches to enable lighting controls to be integrated with other building management systems. http://ecmweb.com

5.   TXU Energy Business Customers Can Cash In with Brighten Reduction Rewards - With Brighten® Reduction Rewards, participating business customers get a market-based bill credit for reducing their demand by 2 percent or more. Those customers get an hour's notice of the opportunity and can choose whether their business can accommodate a reduction. There's no cost to join the program and no penalty for not participating when contacted. Sign up: www.txu.com/reductionrewards  

6.      DOE Releases GATEWAY Report on LED Street Lighting - The U.S. DOE has published the evaluation report from a GATEWAY demonstration of LED street lighting in Kansas City, MO, that was conducted in support of DOE's Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium (MSSLC). Nine different LED products were installed in February 2011 as replacements for incumbent high-pressure sodium (HPS) luminaires. The cobrahead-style LED fixtures represented were the Philips Hadco Evolaire, Cooper Lumark RC LED, and GE Lighting Solutions Evolve. The report is available for download at: www.ssl.energy.gov/gatewaydemos_results.html

7.      New DOE SSL Technology Fact Sheet on Optical Safety of LEDs - One question that's spawned a certain amount of confusion and misinformation is how safe LED lighting is for the human eye referred to as the "Blue Light Hazard." To answer it, the U.S. Department of Energy has come out with a new SSL Technology Fact Sheet, Optical Safety of LEDs, which clarifies what's known about that issue and takes a look at current standards for photobiological safety.  The new fact sheet makes clear, white-light LEDs don't pose any more of a blue light hazard than other types of general-purpose light sources at the same color temperature. www.ssl.energy.gov/factsheets.html

      8. Next Generation SSL Luminaires Outdoor Competition Opens - The 2013 Next Generation Luminaires (NGL) Solid-State Lighting Outdoor Design Competition has officially launched! Written Intents to Submit are due by September 20, 2013, and must be submitted online at www.ngldc.org Final submission forms are due by October 11, 2013, and physical product samples are due by November 1. Judging takes place in December, and results will be announced in February 2014.

9.      Contractor's Corner: Rebates - Although many contractors try to stay on top of rebates, others do not. Rebates can often cover 20% - 50% of the product cost, which can make many projects much more attractive to customers. Contractors can be so busy with getting jobs, ordering materials, scheduling, managing work, billing, etc., that there is often not enough time to insure that products are energy efficient and qualify for rebates. There are typically three types of rebates. One is called prescriptive, which is a fixed dollar amount per product. The other is called customized, which is usually based on the KWH saved over the first years, and sometimes there is an adder for peak load reduction. For more information, email stan@lightingwizards.com

10.  NAED Releases 2013 Performance Analysis Report (PAR) Highlights - The typical distributor surveyed, based on median figures, had annual sales of $70.7 million and achieved a gross margin of 21.6 percent in 2012. Inventory turnover was 4.3; payroll expenses were 13.1% of sales. The report shows that electrical distributor profit margins increased to a median of 3.3 percent in 2012, up slightly when compared to the 2011 medians of 3 percent. Among the top performing "high profit" distributors, the 2012 profit margin was 6.3 percent, consistent with last year's profit margin. http://www.naed.org/Media/News/NAED_Press_Releases/2013_PAR_Highlights/

11.  Missouri Energy Loan Program Tops $100M - A Missouri program that is now entering its 25th year has provided more than $100 million in loans for energy efficiency projects around the state. The program through the Department of Natural Resources helps finance energy-saving measures such as improved insulation, windows, lighting and heating and cooling systems. The loans are available to public schools and colleges, local governments, water and sewage treatment facilities and some hospitals.  7/11 AP

12.  Mississippi Regulators Approve Energy Efficiency Rules - The state Public Service Commission voted unanimously Thursday to adopt energy efficiency rules requiring all gas and electric companies with more than 25,000 customers to begin offering programs within six months. Quick start plans could include energy audits, tuning customer heating and air conditioning systems, appliance and lighting rebates, weatherizing homes, and paying builders to make new homes and commercial structures more efficient. Utilities would be allowed to recover the costs of those plans by raising rates on all customers. 7/11 AP

13.  PGE to Install 26,000 LED Streetlights - The state of Oregon’s largest electric utility, Portland General Electric (PGE), recently launched a large scale installation of LED streetlights with the goal of reducing energy consumption and costs for its municipal customers. The first deployment was in February 2013, in Clackamas County, and focused on replacing 8,000 high pressure sodium (HPS) cobrahead streetlights with LED streetlights. Ultimately, PGE plans to replace 26,000 HPS streetlights throughout forty-seven cities and five counties. PGE is offering its customers the choice of LED cobrahead fixtures manufactured by either Cree Lighting or Leotek Electronics. http://www.newstreetlights.com/news/portland-general-electric-to-install-26000-led-streetlights/994403

14.  Eaton Tapped to Enhance Lighting and Energy Efficiency at Pentagon - Eaton Corp.’s Energy Solutions Group recently was awarded multiple service contracts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate and modernize lighting systems at the Pentagon. The contracts have an estimated value of $3.2 million and a completion date of early 2014. Eaton will provide a comprehensive lighting audit for the 6.5 million square foot office complex, one of the world’s largest office buildings with workspace for approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees. Eaton will use the lighting analysis to develop a master lighting modernization plan, including a detailed engineering, environmental and economic analysis of all recommended projects. http://www.eaton.com

15. China LED Lighting Market Annual Growth Rate at 36 Percent in 2013 - LEDinside stated that benefiting from the intensive investment in lighting channel of various manufacturers, the quick falling in the sales price of LED lighting products and the improvement of average consumer's acceptance. In 2013, the Chinese lighting market has achieved growths in commercial, residential, industrial and outdoor lighting fields of 24 percent, 96 percent, 28 percent and 46 percent, respectively, and formally entered the general public channel era. http://www.ledinside.com/node/17886

16.  The 2013 CSA Award of Merit Has Been Awarded to Howard L. Wolfman - The Canadian Standards Association, a leading standards-based solutions organization, officially announced the recipients of the 2013 Award of Merit. The Award of Merit is an honour bestowed by CSA Group to individuals that have demonstrated leadership in developing voluntary standards and who, through technical, administrative, or special standards activities, have advanced the purpose of CSA Group. Howard formed Lumispec Consulting in 2008 which specializes in energy efficient lighting. http://www.mylife.com/howard-wolfman Congratulations my friend…

17.  2013 ENERGY STAR Products Partner Meeting - 2013 ENERGY STAR Products Partner Meeting

Randy Reid’s Edison Report

Randy Reid’s Edison Report http://www.edisonreport.net/

EnergyWatchBlog http://www.energywatchblog.com on EdisonReport  http://www.edisonreport.net - Randy Reid and Bill Attardi are looking to team up to provide you with the most current activities in the lighting industry with a focus on energy-efficient lighting. Let us know what you think…