News Updates for the Week of August 15

1.    Getting the LEDs Out by Doug Chandler - Solid-state lighting may save the free world. Someday. Probably not this month.  The reality is that the whole lighting industry, and the broader electrical and construction and design and energy-efficiency markets of the world as well, are all waiting and watching for the light-emitting diode (LED) of their dreams—the one that will finally make incandescent, fluorescent, HID and all the other incumbent lighting technologies obsolete—to emerge onto the market in a blaze of light. http://ewweb.com/mag/electric_getting_leds/ 

2.      LED Market to Expand in U.S., Europe - Analysis from Frost + Sullivan revealed that the light emitting diode (LED) market is primed to grow explosively in the next several years. The study estimated that the market, which earned revenues of almost half a billion in 2010, could reach as high as $2 billion in 2017. The study from Frost + Sullivan concludes that the best way to help narrow that cost gap and continue market expansion is to increase awareness about the benefits of LED technology. Not just for now, but for the future, as well. www.csemag.com

3.      Energy Upgrade California for Commercial Properties - Only single-family detached houses are eligible for Energy Upgrade California rebates and incentives at this time. The Energy Upgrade program for existing commercial buildings is being developed. The energy reduction targets and specific types of upgrades will be tailored to the commercial building envelope and business uses. The launch date will be announced on this website: https://energyupgradeca.org/county/orange/commercial 

4.      Halogen A19 lamps - Bulbrite’s Eco-Friendly Halogen A19 lamp complies with the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), which takes effect Jan. 1, 2012 and requires general-service light bulbs to operate up to 30 percent more efficiently than current standards require.  Consumers will gain the benefits of higher efficiency and superior lighting quality, giving them an alternative to CFLs and LEDs. The Halogen A19 is fully dimmable and can last up to 1,000 hours. http://www.bulbrite.com/

5.      USB Receptacles - Developed in response to the surge of consumer portable electronic devices that must be charged using a USB connection, Cooper Wiring Devices’ combination USB charger with a tamper-resistant receptacle is ideal for residential, commercial, educational, municipal and hospitality applications. http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/public/en/wiring_devices.html

6.      Loan Programs Wind Down - The two biggest clean energy programs to come out of the Recovery Act have been the cash grants in lieu of tax credits, and the federal loan guarantees for projects and innovative technologies. The loan programs’ time is winding down. The U.S. DOE’s Loan Programs Office provides a $70 billion dollar investment program in alternative energy, financing a wide range of solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels, fossil and nuclear energy projects. Since March of 2009, the office has issued 42 conditional commitments for loans and loan guarantees totaling over $40 billion with total project costs of $63 billion. Most of the program winds down at the end of the current fiscal year on September 30. There are some project closings and some funds for additional elements to continue through the winter. A $200 million proposal to continue some project financing in fiscal year 2012 is in the next budget. http://loanprograms.energy.gov/

7.      Moat Prospects Dim for Lighting Equipment Manufacturers - A Field of Three Shrinks to One -Philips appears to have won the war of attrition among the giants, with Siemens pushing Osram to be independent and GE's laissez faire approach making it less of a player than before. While the conglomerates typically have strong manufacturing expertise and lower manufacturing costs, they prefer to compete in the market on technology and value added to the consumer, not simply on price. In order to continue pursuing that path in LED lighting, we think the incumbents will need to materially step up research and development, acquisitions, and capital spending in this area to have capable products in an increasingly competitive field. Given that General Electric and Siemens both have more compelling investment opportunities within their broader portfolios, we think their decision to step back from lighting makes sense and is prudent for shareholders. We expect firms like Hubbell, Cooper Industries, and Honeywell to benefit in the coming years from growing demand for lighting controls and quick and easy energy-efficient retrofits for buildings. http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=390212  

8.      DOE Announces Funding Opportunities for Solid-State Lighting: Core Technology Research and Product Development (Round 8) - The U.S. DOE announced two Solid-State Lighting (SSL) funding opportunities on August 12, 2011. Under these funding opportunities, DOE seeks applications for projects to advance research, development, and market adoption of SSL technology. The funding is directed toward two existing DOE SSL R&D program areas for Core Technology Research and Product Development.  DOE is soliciting SSL projects in the following categories:

• Core technology projects focus on applied research for technology development, with particular emphasis on meeting efficiency, performance, and cost targets. Selected projects will fill technology gaps or provide enabling knowledge or data.
• Product development projects focus on using the knowledge gained from basic or applied research to develop or improve commercially viable materials, devices, or systems. Selected projects will develop targeted market applications with fully defined price, efficacy, and other performance parameters necessary for success of the proposed product.

Applications are due November 3, 2011. For more information on the new funding opportunities, visit the DOE website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/

9.      2011 ENERGY STAR Products Partner Meeting - With planning for the 2011 ENERGY STAR Products Partner Meeting underway, EPA anticipates that the online meeting registration system will be available to partners in late August.

10.  DOE Relaunches its Energy.gov Website  - DOE announced on August 4 that it has relaunched the Energy.gov website as an interactive information platform offering localized data and resources to save energy and money. The new website makes it easier for visitors to get information specific to their cities, counties, and states, including information about energy tax credits, rebates, energy saving tips, and grant opportunities. http://energy.gov/ Also available on the EERE Web site: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/enn.cfm

11.   Consumer Sentiment Index Falls to Lowest Since 1980 - The preliminary August reading on the consumer sentiment index fell to 54.9 in early August, down from 63.7 in July, and has fallen for three straight months. The August reading was well below the median forecast of 63.0 among economists polled by Reuters. 8/12 Reuters

12.  NAESCO Northeast Regional Meeting, September 19, 2011 - Con Edison Building, 4 Irving Place, New York, NY - http://www.naesco.org/events/meetings/northeast/2011/registration.htm