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1. Tracking The Re-Shoring Trend - Re-shoring initiatives are in full force and aren’t expected to let up anytime soon, according to a new report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) http://www.bcg.com/ In U.S. Manufacturing Nears the Tipping Point: Which Industries, Why, and How Much, the research firm explored the idea of re-shoring—or, simply, the return of manufacturing operations and jobs to U.S. soil. BCG credits improved U.S. competitiveness and rising costs in China as the key drivers of the trend, which it expects to add 2 million to 3 million jobs and about $100 billion in output across a range of industries. Industries that are leading the charge include: transportation goods, appliances and electrical equipment, furniture, plastic and rubber products, machinery, fabricated metal products, and computers and electronics. Manufacturing sourcing website www.MFG.com has also picked up on the re-shoring trend. http://www.tedmag.com
2. LED Streetlight's Price Cut in Half - Lighting manufacturer Cree Inc. says it has halved the cost of its light-emitting-diode streetlights and hopes the new lower prices will sway local governments to adopt the new technology. The new Cree outdoor street-light unit will sell for under $200 when bought in volume. At that price, the new bulbs will be comparable in cost to traditional high-pressure sodium vacuum technology when maintenance and energy costs are included. That would clear what has been seen as a key obstacle to greater adoption. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304587704577333942881985170.html
3. LEDs: All Things to Everyone by Susan Bloom - Coming on fast and furious, LEDs continue to demonstrate their proficiency in a growing range of applications, from architectural, stage and studio, and specialty settings to general lighting in commercial, hospitality, and outdoor venues. An array of prominent manufacturers shares real-time examples of the current broad-range applications for this powerful, highly-efficient, and game-changing technology. Real-life case studies help illustrate just some of the broad range applications. 4/03 TED
4. Energy Dept. to Revitalize a Loan Guarantee Program - Six months after the expiration of a federal loan guarantee program that backed $16 billion in loans to solar, wind and geothermal energy projects, the Energy Department has decided to offer a smaller set of similar guarantees by tapping another pot of money appropriated by Congress last year. The solar module maker Solyndra borrowed $527 million under that program before it went bankrupt. It was unclear how much in loans the department could guarantee with the new money. 4/05 NY Times
5. Ontility to Provide Solar Installer Training and PV Products to IMARK Distributors - Ontility, Houston, a distributor of solar supplies and provider of training for solar installers, is joining the IMARK Group, Oxon Hill, Md., as a provider of solar installer training and as a manufacturer partner, according to a company press release. This partnership will provide solar PV installer training and solar products to IMARK members. http://livewire.electricalmarketing.com/
6. Chicago Starts Installing Energy-Efficient Lights - Work crews in Chicago are installing more than 1,200 energy-efficient street lights replacing along more than 200 residential streets in neighborhoods throughout Chicago. The program called Retrofit Chicago will spend as much $225 million to make the buildings more energy efficient and that it would result in a savings of $20 million a year in energy costs. 4/10 AP
7. A Dose of Reality on LED Lighting by Jim Lucy - ConEd Solutions http://www.conedsolutions.com an ESCO based in Overland Park, Kan. did a lighting retrofit for the elementary, middle school and high school facilities for the Piper School District that had helped the district save $70,834 annually in electrical costs and $185,667 in non- electrical costs.The lighting retrofit lamps were either T-5 lamps or compact fluorescents for interior lighting, and T-5 fluorescents for the parking lots. No LEDs were considered because they are years away from penciling out in a bid compared to these conventional lighting products for this sort of job. ConEd Solutions does use them occasionally for high-maintenance cost areas such as parking lots, high ceilings in industrial facilities. http://ewweb.com/
8. Why You Should Learn to Spell OLEDs by Jim Lucy - OLEDs, or organic light-emitting diodes, have been around a while as the display screens on cellphones, televisions, computers and other electronic devices, where they have established themselves as a super-thin alternative to LED and plasma screens. The web-site, www.oled-info.com, a great resource for both OLED newbies and enthusiasts, says OLEDs work by utilizing “a flat light-emitting technology, made by placing a series of organic thin films between two conductors. When electrical current is applied, a bright light is emitted. OLEDs can be used to make displays and lighting. Because OLEDs emit light they do not require a backlight and so are thinner and more efficient than LCD displays (which do require a white backlight). The illumination they produce is “calm,” more glowing and diffuse and non-glaring.” http://ewweb.com/greenbiz/electric_why_learn_spell/
9. Cree 254 LPW - Elements of Cree’s innovative SC³ Technology Platform, available today in Cree XLamp® LEDs, enable this record-breaking 254 lumen-per-watt white R&D power LED. This significant milestone exceeds Cree’s previous R&D industry record of 231 lumens per watt and demonstrates Cree’s continued commitment to accelerate the adoption of LED lighting. The SC³ Technology Platform is built upon Cree’s advanced silicon carbide technology. www.cree.com 4/7 BUSINESS WIRE
10. DOE Adds Two Optional Metrics: Warranty, Lumen Maintenance to Lighting Facts Label - The label displays verified LM-79 product data including five parameters: light output in lumens, efficacy in lm/W, power required in W, correlated color temperature in K, and color rendering index. Now manufacturers can provide two additional metrics: an indication of warranty (yes/no) and lumen maintenance estimates based on LM-80 and TM-21 projections. It is important to differentiate the DOE Lighting Facts label from the FTC Lighting Facts label. The latter has been required on all medium screw-based bulbs sold to consumers since January 1, 2012. That label lists light output (lm), required power (W), appearance (CCT), presence of mercury, a lifetime estimate in years (based on 3 hours of usage per day) and energy cost ($/yr based on 3 hr/day, $.11/kWh). http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/9/4/7
11. ENERGY STAR Luminaires Spec Takes Effect - Effective April 1, the ENERGY STAR Luminaires V1.1 specification requires that any luminaire bearing the ENERGY STAR mark must be third-party certified to the new performance levels. The Luminaires V1.1 spec combines the scope of two previously separate specifications, the Solid State Lighting Luminaires v1.1 spec and the Residential Light Fixtures V4.2 spec. Luminaires that were previously certified under these other specifications must be recertified under the Luminaires spec. http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/9/4/5
12. LIGHTFAIR International, May 9-11 in Las Vegas - LFI, the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference, has a track record of bringing top international and domestic architectural, design, engineering and lighting professionals together with nearly 500 of the world’s leading manufacturers. 200+ hours of CEU / LU / HSW accredited courses will be featured. http://www.lightfair.com/lightfair/V40/
13. 2012 DOE Solid-State Lighting Market Introduction Workshop July 17–19, 2012 Pittsburgh, PA -Higher performance and lower prices are accelerating market adoption of solid-state lighting. Questions remain regarding reliability, lifetime, dimming, color quality, and other performance characteristics. Join DOE at the seventh annual SSL Market Introduction Workshop and keep up with a market in motion. Registration information will be available soon.
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