News Updates for the Week of January 6

      1.      Colorful Start to 2014 Planned at Times Square - The sign, made by lighting company Philips, will light up the "14" in multiple colors using 207 LED bulbs which have more than 16 million color options each. A global TV audience of over one billion viewers is expected to watch this year's New Year's Eve Times Square celebration.

2.      NEMA Publishes ANSI_ANSLG C78.901-2013 American National Standard for Electric Lamps—Single-Based Fluorescent Lamps—Dimensional and Electrical Characteristics -ANSI_ANSLG C78.901 sets forth the physical and electrical characteristics required to assure interchangeability and to assist in the proper application of single-based fluorescent lamps. Single-based compact fluorescent lamps, both self-supporting and those requiring auxiliary support, are specified. Information for luminaire design is given for certain lamp types.  http://www.nema.org/

3.      Luminaire Manufacturing Industry Valued at $10 Billion - IBISWorld’s Lighting Fixtures Manufacturing Market Research Report (NAICS 33512), published in October 2013, provides an analysis of the commercial and residential luminaire industry. Valuing the industry at $10 billion in sales, the report forecasts growth due to healthy prospects for residential construction and government intervention driving demand for energy-efficient lighting. The four largest manufacturers represent about 45% of industry revenue. http://www.lightnowblog.com

4.      This is Your Brain on Lighting - “Cognitive & Emotional Responses to Lighting: THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON LIGHTING” is an excellent whitepaper about psychological responses to light (and lighting), written by Robert G. Davis, PhD, FIES, Director, Product Innovation & Marketing for Litecontrol. The whitepaper covers what we currently know and don’t know, summarizing a wide range of research. http://www.litecontrol.com/emotional-responses-to-lighting

5.      NEMA Reports LED A-Lamp Shipments Increased 71.9% in 3Q13 - NEMA’s index for LED A-line replacement lamps increased for the second consecutive quarter in Q3 2013. Shipments rose 60.2 percent on a year-over-year basis. Halogen A-line lamp shipments improved as well, eclipsing the level during the same period last year by 140.7 percent. Sales of incandescent A-line lamps returned to positive territory during the quarter, following declines in the previous three quarters, advancing by 16.2 percent. However, the index declined 14.8 percent versus Q3 2012. The index for CFLs dipped on both a quarterly and annual basis, declining by 2.8 and 11.2 percent, respectively. www.nema.org

6.      Demand for Lighting Equipment Slips During Third Quarter - NEMA’s Lighting Systems Index subsided from a five year high posted in the previous quarter, decreasing by 1.6 percent on a quarter-to-quarter (q/q) basis during 2013Q3. However, demand remains robust compared to a year ago. On a year-over-year basis, lighting equipment shipments improved for the fourth consecutive quarter, increasing by 4.7 percent. Miniature lamps were the only component of the index in positive territory, while fixtures, emergency lighting, large lamps and ballasts declined q/q. www.nema.org

7.      2014 DOE Solid-State Lighting R&D Workshop January 28–30, 2014 • Tampa, Florida -  Join DOE at the 11th annual SSL R&D workshop. This gathering of SSL R&D professionals is where industry, government, and academia meet to learn, share, and shape the future of lighting. View the workshop agenda: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/rdworkshop14-agenda.pdf Register at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/rdworkshop14.html

8.      LED Phosphor Intellectual Property (IP) LED Phosphors and Down-Converters Patent Investigation Report 2013 - Phosphor IP is a major force in the LED industry. With more than 40 litigation cases, it is also used as leverage by companies which have negotiated close to 70 licensing and supply agreements to date. The report identifies the key players with the most relevant IP. It provides an overview of phosphor related IP litigation and licensing, that has shaped the industry since the mid-90s, as well as a detailed analysis for the major players involved. For more info: http://www.researchandmarkets.com/publication/m3ikev4/led_phosphor_intellectual_property_ip_led_p  

      9.      Solar May Reach 49 Gigawatts in 2014 - http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/

10.  Ford to Debut C-Max Solar Concept Car at Consumer Electronics Show - Ford plans to unveil at this month's International CES gadget show a solar-powered concept car that offers the same performance as a plug-in hybrid but without the need for a plug. The C-MAX Solar Energi Concept car uses a gasoline engine combined with a gizmo that acts like a magnifying glass to concentrate the sun's rays on the vehicle's roof-mounted solar panels. The automaker says the vehicle's estimated combined city-highway mileage is 100 mpg. 1/02 LA Times