News Updates for the Week of December 30

 

1.      NEMA Publishes ANSI_ANSLG C78.81-2013 American National Standard for Electric Lamps—Double-Capped Fluorescent Lamps—Dimensional and Electrical Characters - ANSI_ANSLG C78.81 details the physical and electrical characteristics of the principal types of fluorescent lamps intended for application on conventional line frequency circuits and electronic high-frequency circuits. This revision includes the addition of four new fluorescent lamp data sheets for the following lamps: http://www.nema.org

·         15-Watt, 18-Inch T8, Fluorescent Lamp (7881-ANSI-1031-1)

·         15-Watt, 24-Inch T8, Fluorescent Lamp (7881-ANSI-1032-1)

·         21-Watt, 36-Inch T8, Fluorescent Lamp (7881-ANSI-1033-1)

·         54-Watt, 96-Inch T8, Single Pin Instant Start Fluorescent Lamp (7881-ANSI-3015-1)

2.      NEMA Publishes NEMA LSD 67-2013 Low Mercury Controllable Fluorescent Systems - Discusses technical tradeoffs associated with reduced mercury dosing in fluorescent lighting systems and their environmental impacts. NEMA members are committed to providing fluorescent lighting systems that allow lamps to be controlled to save energy, while reducing the mercury content in the lamps to the extent that it is technically possible without sacrificing functionality. http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Low-Mercury-Controllable-Fluorescent-Systems.aspx

3.      Independence, MO Expects Large Savings with LED Streetlights - The city-owned utility, Independence Power and Light, has calculated that moving from HID fixtures to the new LED fixtures it expects to save roughly $450,000 per year in energy and maintenance costs. The new lights will give off a white light, improving the quality of light, and when citizens were informally surveyed, more than 75 percent gave a favorable rating to the new lights. The estimated cost of the project is $4.2 million, and the city said it will use $250,000 in funds from the federal stimulus bill to help pay for the streetlight LED project.  12/23 Public Power Weekly

4.      PSNH Downplays City Savings of Converting to LED Street Lights - Public Service of New Hampshire is downplaying the savings that Manchester might realize by converting to efficient LED street lights. The city has nearly 9,000 street lights and is by far PSNH's largest municipal customer. Its electric bill to PSNH to keep the street lights on is approximately $1.4 million annually. But under the tariff structure proposed by PSNH the city it would only see an overall estimated reduction in costs of 8 percent. This is because the city already uses HPS lights, which are considered relatively efficient, consuming 50-70 watts; LEDs consume 40 watts.  Under PSNH's proposal, communities would bear all the costs associated with the purchase and installation of lights. At a cost of $300 per light, the purchase of 9,000 lights could cost nearly $3 million. 12/24 The New Hampshire Union Leader.

5.      Lighting Controls Handbook by Craig DiLouie - Intended for energy managers, electrical engineers, building managers, lighting designers, consultants, and other electrical professionals, this book provides a practical description of major lighting controls types and how to apply them. It's a comprehensive step-by-step educational tour of lighting automation technology and its practical design and application, with useful discussion about the purpose and benefits of lighting controls, emphasizing the achieving of relevant energy savings, as well as support of occupant visual needs and preferences.  http://ecmweb.com/lighting-controls-handbook

6.      USGBC Certifies 20,000th LEED Commercial Project - The 20,000th LEED certification for a commercial building has been awarded to the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters plant in Knoxville, Tennessee, under LEED for Commercial Interiors. The Knoxville plant is the seventh LEED-certified facility for Green Mountain, based in Waterbury, VT. http://www.usgbc.org/articles/us-green-building-council-certifies-20000th-leed-commercial-project

7.      The University of Minnesota's Lighting Retrofits - The University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis is poised for major changes. As with so  many other institutional and commercial facilities, the university is looking high and low for new technology applications that will help hold down costs related to building operations and maintenance. A sizable part of the attention being paid to savings relates to retrofits of existing buildings involving LED lighting. http://www.facilitiesnet.com/  See the video at: A Closer Look Online Exclusive: The University of Minnesota's Lighting Retrofits

8.      DOE Issues Guidelines for Conducting and Sample Test Results for Highly Accelerated Life Tests Known as "Hammer Testing" - While lifetime in LEDs is how long an LED lasts until it emits no light, it is the useful lifetime that is important. A number of organizations have come out with procedures that give a good estimate of average lifetime based on a test of lumen maintenance. This is used to estimate useful lifetime usually referred to LM-79. The DOE has published the detailed protocol for "Hammer Testing” luminaires along with an explanation of their usefulness and rational.  http://www.sslighting.net/news/?id=123669#top

9.  WattStopper Publishes New Product Selection Guide (PSG) - A comprehensive catalog of energy-efficient lighting controls and services that help enable a net zero future. The PSG is available in print and as an eBook, and for the first time the content is also available as a mobile app.

http://lightingcontrolsassociation.org/wattstopper-publishes-new-product-selection-guide/

10.  Electricity Costs and Economics Report - Electricity is the most important energy source in the modern age but also the most ephemeral, a source that must be consumed as fast as it is produced. This makes modeling the economics of electricity production more complex than carrying out the same exercise for other products. This report examinesthe optimum balance between renewable and conventional power generation in a carbon-constrained world. Available at: http://ogjresearch.stores.yahoo.net/electricity-costs-and-economics.html