Something to Think About

Many, all over the globe celebrate Christmas Day. Most Protestants and Roman Catholics and some Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25. Before the 19th century, many Americans worked on Christmas, but in the industrial era the holiday began also to honor universal values, such as home, children and family life, and to incorporate secular customs like exchanging gifts and cards, and the decoration and display of evergreen Christmas trees. Congress proclaimed Christmas one of the first federal holidays in 1870. In 1999, a federal court acknowledged these secular aspects in rejecting a claim that the holiday impermissibly endorsed and furthered a particular religious belief.

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed moving the Thanksgiving holiday to extend the shopping period between that holiday and Christmas. Seasonal “Christmas shopping” began to assume economic importance. This extended Christmas season is about far more than shopping. For many Americans, it is a period of general good will and an occasion for charitable and volunteer work. To some extent, non-Christian holidays celebrated at roughly the same time of year -- most prominently the African-American Kwanzaa and the Jewish Hanukkah -- blend into a broader “holiday season.” As with so many aspects of U.S. cultural life, Christmas in the United States reflects the values of a giving, free and diverse people.

News Updates for the Week of December 5

1.      The Math Changes on Bulbs - Companies like Wal-Mart Stores Inc., GNC Corp. and Caesars Entertainment Corp. are shelling out for the advanced new lights. Consumers can get by using CFL bulbs in their lamps. But for specialized commercial applications like refrigeration, parking lots and lobby lighting, the answer is LED, some businesses say. Last month, Wal-Mart opened its first U.S. store lit entirely with LEDs, a 40,000 square foot store in Wichita, Kansas. The world's largest retailer will use only LED lights in the parking lots of new stores around the world. GNC Holdings Inc. and Starbucks Corp. have converted all of the lighting in their outlets to LEDs. A year ago, Home Depot introduced a LED bulb that gives off as much light as a 40 watt incandescent bulb—but it cost an eye-popping $21. Today, that bulb sells for $9.97. 11/30 The Wall Street Journal

2.      Consumer Confidence Heads in the Right Direction - The Conference Board reported Tuesday morning that its Consumer Confidence Index increased to 56.0 in November, up from 40.9 in October. That's not the only metric improving. The Expectations Index rose to 67.8 from 50.0, and the Present Situation Index increased to 38.3 from 27.1. Consumers appear to be entering the holiday season in better spirits, though overall readings remain historically weak. The November confidence metric of 56.0 was also ahead of November 2010, when the index stood at 54.3. 11/29 HCN

3.      U.S. Unemployment Rate Drops to 8.6 Percent; Economy Adds 120,000 Jobs - Small businesses and startups that were skittish about the economy this summer started hiring in bigger numbers this fall, helping drive the unemployment rate down to 8.6 percent in November, the lowest in two and a half years. 12/2 Washington Post

4.      $1 Million Remains for Energy Rebates in Tennessee - The money is for consumers who have upgraded to a qualifying Energy Star appliance since April 22, 2010. According to the Energy Division of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, about 17,500 rebates totaling $4.1 million have been paid to Tennesseans through the program. Rebates range up to $250. New applications must be postmarked by Jan. 14. http://www.e-rebates.org/teearp

5.      GLOBALCON Conference and Expo - The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), along with sponsors, Hess, Constellation Energy, North America Power Partners (NAPP) and others to present GLOBALCON 2012 on March 7-8, 2012 in Atlantic City, NJ. It will feature a multi-track conference program, free expo and exhibit hall workshops, and networking opportunities. www.GLOBALCONEvent.com

6.      CSA Opens New LED and Lighting Certification Lab in Atlanta - CSA International has opened a certification and product-testing laboratory capable of testing LEDs and lighting products to 75 standards including Energy Star requirements. The 30,000 square-foot facility will have the capability to test thousands of lighting products for safety, light output, heat output, endurance and light dispersion. The laboratory provides full LM-79 testing, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) testing and third-party Energy-Star testing. It can certify a variety of lighting products from street lights and airport runway lights to automotive lamps and flashlights. http://www.csa-international.org  

7.      Nexxus Lighting Announces Factory Direct Commercial Web Portal - Nexxus Lighting, Inc. announced its new www.ArrayLEDdirect.com commercial web-portal to sell direct and to expand their commercial customer base for the Array® brand of specification grade LED replacement light bulbs. The new portal also provides commercial customers with a unique set of services and support based on their specific business needs, including new cost saving tools and ROI calculators that demonstrate the tremendous cost savings potential LED lighting can bring to their specific application, facility or end customer. ArrayLEDdirect.com will go live on December 14, 2011, but beginning today commercial customers can pre-register on the site and receive special discounts and other incentives on initial orders.

8.      Cree LMH2 LED Modules Bring Unrivaled Efficacy and Light Quality - Cree, Inc. announces the commercial availability of the new LMH2 LED module family, designed to speed time-to-market for high-quality LED luminaires. The LMH2 is the only LED module delivering 80-lumens-per-watt system efficacy combined with CRI greater than 90. The modules feature Cree TrueWhite® Technology.  The LMH2 is available at 850 and 1250 lumens and in color temperatures of 2700 K, 3000 K, 3500 K and 4000 K and is designed for 50,000 hours of operation and dimmable to five percent. www.cree.com/modules 

9.   Solais LED Lamps Receive Energy Star® Certification - Solais Lighting, Inc., a manufacturer of lightweight, specification-grade LED lamps featuring exclusive, actively-cooled Luxiance® thermal management technology, announced LED lamps receiving Energy Star® certification 

      on the following popular models: 

• “LR38” PAR38 Replacement – 21 Watt, 25-degree, 3000K, 1250 lumens 
• “LR38” PAR38 Replacement – 21 Watt, 25-degree, 3000K, 1100 lumens 
• “LR30LN” PAR30 Long-Neck Replacement – 18 Watt, 25-degree, 3000K, 975 lumens

     10.  Samsung Brings LED Retrofit Lamps to US Market - Samsung Electronics America (SEA), Inc., based in Ridgefield Park, NJ, has announced the availability of the company’s first LED lamps for the US consumer market. Samsung’s initial 

      product line includes A19, PAR20/30/38 and MR16 lamps, which are available from Lowe’s. Samsung’s line of retrofit lamps includes a directional 550 lm (40W-equivalent) A19 lamp priced at $19.98 as well as PAR20, PAR30 and PAR38 lamps with 400-lm, 890-lm and 1100-lm outputs and prices of $27.98, $49.98 and $59.98, respectively. In related news, Toshiba has introduced two omnidirectional A19 retrofit lamps that feature a traditional bulb design and are designed to Energy-Star specifications. http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/8/11/28

11.  Obama Announces $4B in Energy Upgrades - The $4 billion investment announced today includes a $2 billion commitment, made through the issuance of a presidential memorandum, to energy upgrades of federal buildings using long term energy savings to pay for up-front costs, at no cost to taxpayers. In addition, 60 CEOs, mayors, university presidents, and labor leaders today committed to invest nearly $2 billion of private capital into energy efficiency projects. This announcement builds on a commitment made by 14 partners at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting in June to make energy upgrades across 300 million square feet, and to invest $500 million in private sector financing in energy efficiency projects. 12/2 UPI

Monthly Special Feature

Establishing LED Equivalency - An LED product package states “energy-saving 60-watt equivalent,” implying a direct one-for-one replacement for the common 60 W incandescent light bulb. Will it really produce the same quantity and quality of light? The checklist below summarizes key performance characteristics that should be considered when comparing LED products and evaluating their equivalency to conventional lighting technologies. No two products are identical in every respect, and tradeoffs are often necessary due to inherent differences in technologies. In fact, it may be possible to improve performance in one category, such as color rendition, while achieving equivalency in others. For any given application, a number of additional characteristics should be considered during product selection. Notable examples include sensitivity to heat in enclosed spaces, dimming capability and behavior, flicker, and power factor.

Characteristic Description - Light Output: Will the product appear equally bright? Equivalent products should produce the same light output, as measured in lumens. Wattage (input power) cannot be used to compare light output, even between two LED products.

Spatial Distribution of Light - Will the product direct or focus light in the same manner? Equivalent products should emit similar amounts of light in any given direction. That is, they should have a comparable luminous intensity distribution. It may also be important to consider the pattern created by the light, such as the sharpness of beam edges.

Color Quality and Appearance - What color light does the product emit? How do objects look under the light? An equivalent LED product should emit light that appears the same color (e.g., warm-white or cool-white) as the conventional light source, and any given object should appear the same color when illuminated by the light sources being compared. These attributes are typically characterized using the correlated color temperature (CCT) and color rendering index (CRI) metrics, respectively.

Form Factor - Is the product the same shape and size? A replacement lamp is of little use if it does not fit into an existing luminaire. Equivalent products should be within dimensional tolerances established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for a variety of lamp types.

Compatibility - Will the new product work with my existing system? Different lighting technologies often require different accessory components. It is important to know if the product will perform as desired given the type of transformer, type of dimmer, and the connected load. Manufacturers should provide compatibility charts for their products.

Useful Lifetime - How long will the product last? Comparisons of rated useful lifetime are difficult because of the different rating methods used for LEDs and other light sources. Longer lifetime claims should be accompanied by longer warranty periods, and the product should continue to perform for the duration of the rated life.

Cost - Is the product worth the extra money? It is important to consider lifetime costs, not just the initial cost, because energy and maintenance savings can yield an attractive return on investment. LED products are typically more expensive on a first-cost basis, but prices continue to fall as performance improves. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/establishing-led-equivalency.pdf

News Updates for the Week of November 28

 

1.     Switching to Efficient Lighting - Shopping for energy-efficient lighting can now be as quick as screwing in a light bulb. These apps not only help you find a light bulb that fits your lighting needs, but also calculate savings from replacing your current bulb and estimate the payback period:  CFL Light Bulb Savings Calculator for CFL options, EnerSave for LED options, Light Bulb Finder is an award winning app that places an order for your light bulbs. http://ase.org/topics/lighting

2.      Energy Efficient Lighting for Commercial Markets - For more than 130 years, the world has relied on variations of incandescent and gas-discharge lamps to illuminate commercial buildings. With the rise of the general-illumination white LED lighting only a few years ago, the lighting industry is experiencing its first revolutionary change since the commercialization of the fluorescent lamp in the 1930s. As the semiconductor and software industries converge on the traditional lighting world, Pike Research expects that the lighting industry will see more change in the next five years than in the previous 50. By the end of our 10-year outlook, LED solid state lighting will not only capture over 50% of the global market, but the extraordinary lifetimes of these lamps will drive a steady decline in the commercial lamp market despite a steadily growing base of new buildings and access to electricity in emerging countries. This Pike Research report describes the key factors that are influencing the market for energy efficient lighting around the world. http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/energy-efficient-lighting-for-commercial-markets

3.      DOE Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium - The DOE Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium shares technical information and experiences related to LED street and area lighting demonstrations. The Consortium also serves as an objective resource for evaluating new products on the market intended for street and area lighting applications. Cities, power providers, and others who invest in street and area lighting are invited to join the Consortium and share their experiences. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/consortium.html

4.      Ceres, California, to Use CEC Loan to Purchase 2,200 Betaled Streetlights - The city council of Ceres, California, approved the use of a low interest loan from the California Energy Commission (CEC) for the purchase of LED streetlight fixtures earlier this week. The loan will allow the city of Ceres to convert all city-owned streetlights to LED streetlight fixtures, starting in January 2012.   Funds totaling $1.193 million will be used to purchase and install over two thousand LED streetlight fixtures manufactured by BetaLED, a division of Ruud Lighting/Cree of Sturtevant, Wisconsin. http://www.newstreetlights.com/index.htm

5.      Sacramento Parking Garage LED Installation - In the area of outdoor SSL deployments, the city of Sacramento, California has completed the installation of LED lighting in five of eight city-owned parking garages according to the Sacramento Press. The remaining three garages will be retrofitted by February. The total cost of the project is $1.3 million. But the city received utility incentives and federal and state grants to cover the cost of the SSL installation.

6.      Existing Home Sales Improved in October - According to data released Monday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing-home sales in October rose 1.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.97 million.  Compared to a year ago, the current figure is up 13.5%. An ongoing positive trend is a steady decline in the number of homes on the market.  11/22 HCN

7.      Special Offers and Rebates from ENERGY STAR Partners - To encourage customers to buy energy efficient products, ENERGY STAR partners occasionally sponsor special offers, such as sales tax exemptions or credits, or rebates on qualified products. Partners also occasionally sponsor recycling incentives for the proper disposal of old products. The search is provided as a service to consumers to find such special offers or rebates where they exist, based on information that partners submit to ENERGY STAR. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=rebate.rebate_locator  

8.      Google Pulls the Plug on Its Green Energy Program - Google has decided to power down its 4-year-old REhttp://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2011/11/23/google-pulls-plug-its-rec-green-energy-program 

9. Shipments of LED Lamps and Luminaires to Exceed 500 Million Units in Asia Pacific by 2021 - While energy-efficient products are an expensive form of lighting for many customers in the Asia Pacific region, the higher costs are increasingly justified by the higher efficacy and performance compared to traditional lighting products. As a result, demand for LED products is growing among customers in developed countries such as Japan and Korea. Moreover, a number of regional and national government programs are in place to promote LED lighting, and these initiatives will serve as a key driver of the market in the coming decade. LED is now viewed as an affordable and efficient technology with long-term benefits. According to a new report from Pike Research, sales of LED lighting systems will increase rapidly over the next 10 years, accelerating sharply after 2015. Unit shipments, including lamps and luminaires, will rise from 66 million in 2011 to 542 million in 2021 – an increase of more than 700%. http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/energy-efficient-lighting-in-asia-pacific

10. Fuel Economy Leaders: 2012 Model Year - Rankings are based on combined city and highway fuel economy estimates (weighted by 55% city and 45% highway). http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/overall-high.htm

News Updates for the Week of November 21

1.      ENERGY STAR Lighting Round Table: Review and Discussion of Lamps V1.0 Specification Draft 1 - The U.S. EPA invites you to participate in a meeting/webinar about Draft 1 of the ENERGY STAR Lamps V1.0 specification on Wednesday November 30, 2011 from 10:00 am – 4:30 pm Eastern.  The meeting will be held at EPA, 1310 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. The purpose of the meeting/webinar is to provide an overview of Draft 1 of the ENERGY STAR Lamps V1.0 specification, including further information referenced in the development of the proposed requirements, and to gather partner and stakeholder input to be considered in the development of subsequent drafts.  The Lamps V1.0 specification will replace the existing Compact Fluorescent Lamps and Integral LED Lamps specifications, as well as the qualification requirements for GU24-based fluorescent lamps previously detailed in the Residential Light Fixture specification.  Questions about the meeting may be forwarded to lamps@energystar.gov

2.      LED Lighting: Fact And Fiction – Webinar to be Held November 30, 2011 -  LED Lighting: Fact And Fiction,” webinar produced by the Energy Center of Wisconsin, will be held Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 1–2:30 PM CENTRAL STANDARD TIME. Learn about LED lighting, from how it works to where it works best, including where to find unbiased info and how to compare products. http://www.ecw.org/university/eventdetails.php?ecuid=445

3.      A Phone App for Switching Out Your Light Bulbs  - According to Eco Hatchery, a software company based in Wisconsin, the Light Bulb Finder application for iPhones and Android handsets won the “best overall” prize in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Apps for the Environment Challenge. The Light Bulb Finder uses E.P.A. data on energy-saving light bulbs to help consumers make the switch to more efficient incandescent bulbs. Enter your ZIP code, and the app will calculate your savings based on local electric rates. You choose the bulb style and the quality of light you prefer, add the items to your shopping cart, and then order bulbs directly from your smartphone. The app is free for downloading,  http://www.lightbulbfinder.net/

4.      Department of Energy Recognizes ASHRAE 90.1-2010 as New National Energy Standard - In a bold move, on October 19, 2011.. By October 18, 2013, all states in the United States must put in place a commercial building energy code at least as stringent as the ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2010 energy standard, according to an October 19, 2011 Department of Energy (DOE) ruling. This means the 2007 standard is effectively being leapfrogged as the national energy standard. http://www.energycodes.gov/states/maps/commercialStatus.stm

5.      Funding Opportunity Announcements - https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/

• Solid-State Lighting Manufacturing Research and Development - Round 3  The objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is achieve cost reduction of solid-state lighting for general illumination through improvements in manufacturing equipment, processes, or techniques.
• Solid-State Lighting Core Technologies - Round 8  The goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to focus on applied research for technology development, with particular emphasis on meeting efficiency, performance, and cost targets.  Specific emphasis shall be on achieving the performance and cost goals stated in the 2011 Multi-Year Program Plan http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/ssl_mypp2011_web.pdf for Solid-State Lighting Research and Development.  

6.      Establishing LED Equivalency - DOE recently published a Fact Sheet, "Establishing LED Equivalency." It summarizes a number of key performance characteristics to consider when comparing LED products and evaluating their equivalency to conventional lighting technologies. It summarizes key performance characteristics that should be considered when comparing LED products and evaluating their equivalency to conventional lighting technologies. No two products are identical in every respect, and tradeoffs are often necessary due to inherent differences in technologies. In fact, it may be possible to improve performance in one category, such as color rendition, while achieving equivalency in others. For any given application, a number of additional characteristics should be considered during product selection. Notable examples include sensitivity to heat in enclosed spaces, dimming capability and behavior, flicker, and power factor. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/establishing-led-equivalency.pdf

7.      EPA Launches CFL Website - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has published a webpage devoted to compact fluorescent lamps, including benefits, disposal and cleanup procedures, legislation impacting availability of incandescent lamps, and details about the new Federal Trade Commission Lighting Facts label that is taking effect June-December 2011. http://www.epa.gov/cfl/

8.      Bank of America Announces Recipients of $55 Million Energy Efficiency Finance Program - Bank of America today announced the selection of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that will receive $55 million in low-interest loans and grants through the company's innovative Energy Efficiency Finance Program. B of A, the nation's largest investor in CDFIs and a leading source of energy efficiency sector financing, created the program earlier this year to deliver low-cost capital to local community lenders with expertise in energy retrofit financing as a way to help create jobs, improve affordability, and reduce carbon emissions. www.bankofamerica.com/reports

9.      15 Percent by 2020? - A new survey of energy industry experts reveals a surprising consensus on the size of the energy efficiency resource. Overall, energy efficiency is expected to lower electricity consumption by 5 to 15 percent and natural gas consumption by 5 to 10 percent. These results debunk the notion that conservation is a fad. On the contrary, they herald a new beginning for energy efficiency. Optimists say energy efficiency is an inexhaustible well. Pessimists argue that the low-hanging fruit has been harvested. Realists believe the truth is somewhere in the middle. http://www.brattle.com/_documents/UploadLibrary/Upload990.pdf

10.  Transitioning to LED Lighting Technology: MaxLite Helps Facilities Reduce Lighting Energy - While in the past LEDs were mainly used for exit signs, traffic lights, and spotlights, today many LED lamps are omnidirectional and are the ideal energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting solution for decorative, ambient and general lighting applications. MaxLite white paper about LED on Todays Facility Manager website.

11.   LEDucation 6 Announced for March 21, 2012 in New York City - The Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY) has announced the date for its sixth annual program on led technology. Over 2,000 members of the lighting design, architectural and engineering community are expected to attend LEDucation for its sixth annual educational event and expo on LED technology. Due to the growing popularity of the annual expo and seminars, event officials have extended the exhibit hours for 2012 with expo doors opening at 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. http://www.leducation.org/

12.  SYLVANIA Socket Survey - The SYLVANIA Socket Survey is the only nationwide measure of public attitudes about efficient lighting and awareness regarding the U.S. phase-out of inefficient incandescent light bulbs. The majority of Americans are now aware of the federal phase out of incandescent light bulbs, according to the fourth annual SYLVANIA Socket Survey. Beginning January 1, 2012 with the manufacture of 100-watt bulbs, 55 percent of Americans reported that they are aware of the phase out--up 19 percent from 2010. While a large majority still uses incandescent bulbs, 53 percent plan to switch to LED, CFL or halogen varieties when the phase out begins in 2012. Download the complete survey free at http://www.sylvania.com/Energy/SocketSurvey/

13.  Samsung, LG Introduce Low-Price LED Light Bulbs to Gain Market Share - Prices of LED light bulbs introduced by Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have been lower than Philips and Osram. Samsung is said to introduce LED light bulbs with retail price of US$10-12 for the replacements of traditional 60W light bulbs in third-quarter 2012. The aggressive price-down initiative taken by South Korea-based brands has been apparent.  International lighting firms anticipate revenues from lighting to show significant growth in 2012 with the LED lighting penetration rate likely to increase to 20% in 2013 from 3.3% in 2008.  http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20111117PD202.html

14.  50% Advanced Energy Design Guides Free Download from ASHRAE - The Advanced Energy Design Guide series provides a sensible approach to easily achieve advanced levels of energy savings without having to resort to detailed calculations or analysis.  The four-color guides offer contractors and designers the tools, including recommendations for practical products and off-the-shelf technology, needed for achieving a 50% energy savings compared to buildings that meet the minimum requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004. The energy savings target of 50% is the first step in the process toward achieving a net-zero energy building, which is defined as a building that, on an annual basis, draws from outside resources equal or less energy than it provides using on-site renewable energy sources. Free downloads at:  http://www.ashrae.org/publications/page/aedg50pct

15.  October Housing Starts Slip to a 628,000 Rate - There were several mixed signals jumping out of the data. First of all, last month's housing starts weren't as strong as originally reported. The September rate was revised downward from 658,000 to 630,000. The October figure was down 0.3% from the downwardly revised rate. Here's the good news. This month's starts are up double digits--16.5%--from the same month last year. Also strong is this month's building permits figure of 653,000, up 10.9% from the September rate and up 17.7% above the Oct. 2010 estimate. 11/17 HCN

16.  Pournaras Succeeds Mix as President of WattStopper - Lighting control manufacturer WattStopper, a Santa Clara, Calif.-based part of the Legrand group, announced today the resignation of its president, Jerry Mix, and the immediate appointment of Dean Pournaras to that position. Mix, who co-founded WattStopper 28 years ago, will be joining Finelite as chief executive officer on January 1, 2012.  Terry Clark, founder of Finelite, will assume the role of Executive Chairman, as well as, Chief Technology Officer. http://livewire.electricalmarketing.com/

17.  Meet the Associate: Philips Lighting - The Alliance to Save Energy's President Kateri Callahan interviews Philips Lighting North America's CEO Ed Crawford.  They discuss how light-emitting diodes shine in one of the most popular holiday displays in the world.  http://ase.org/resources/meet-associate-philips-lighting

18.  Energy Management Learning Portal - A new energy management learning portal is now available on the RETScreen website. This online resource provides free access to the RETScreen energy management software tool, user manual, presentation slides and case studies. Released just this past month, the RETScreen energy performance analysis module already has more than 9,000 users worldwide. This free energy management software tool is available in 36 languages covering greater than 2/3rds of the world's population. http://www.retscreen.net/ang/performance_analysis_with_retscreen.php

19.  Walmart Sees the Light for Parking Lots - Walmart in Leavenworth, Kansas, was the first to include LED parking lot lighting based on a specification developed through the Energy Department's Building Technologies Program, the Retail Energy Alliance and the retailer. Since January, Walmart has planned to install similar lighting system at more than 225 new sites. http://energy.gov/articles/walmart-sees-light-parking-lots