News Updates for the Week of March 25

1.     Webcast on Life-Cycle Assessment of LED Lighting Products on Thursday, March 28 - DOE will host a 60-minute live webcast on its recently completed three-part study of the life-cycle energy and environmental impacts of LED lighting products relative to incandescent and CFL alternatives. The reports for Parts 1 and 2 were published in February 2012 and June 2012, respectively, providing a literature review and life-cycle assessment (LCA) for lamps utilizing these three light source technologies. The Part 3 report is slated for release by late March.  The webcast will begin at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (10:00 a.m. Pacific). For more information, or to register, visit the DOE SSL website.

      2. Lighting Science Group Recalls LEDs - Lighting Science Group has recalled 554,000 LED light bulbs, which can overheat during use, posing a fire hazard. Consumers should remove the bulbs from sockets    and lamps and contact Light Science Group for replacement bulbs.  The 120-volt LED bulbs, sold as 6- or 8-watt bulbs were marketed under the brand names Definity, EcoSmart, Sylvania and Westinghouse. The model numbers A19, G25 and R20/PAR20 are found on the packaging and on the light-colored circular neck above the base of the bulb where the date code is also printed. The bulbs were sold at various retailers, including hardware and lighting and electrical supply stores. 3/19 HCN  For the full list of 24 date codes: http://cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2013/LED-Light-Bulbs-Recalled-by-Lighting-Science-Group/

3.      Top U.S. Cities with the Most ENERGY STAR Buildings - For the fifth year in a row, Los Angeles continues to hold on to first place with 528 buildings. Washington, D.C., with 462 buildings, is a competitive front-runner. In third place with 353 buildings is Chicago, a city that has risen through the rankings each year, starting in sixth place in 2008 and increasing the number of buildings certified by an average of 32 percent each year. New York, which recently required its commercial buildings to publicly disclose their energy use, secured fourth place.  Phoenix broke into the top 10 for the first time, with 202 buildings. Boston, a newcomer to the list last year, held on to 10th place, with 11th place Philadelphia not far behind. Complete list of Top Cities: http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/downloads/Top_Cities_chart.pdf

4.      Congress Considers Increasing Incentives for Commercial and Multifamily Building Energy Efficiency Retrofits - Commercial buildings consume 36 percent of all U.S. electricity each year and costs $190 billion. The EPA estimates that 30 percent of this energy used is wasted.  An existing federal tax deduction—Section 179D of the tax code—provides building owners with a tax incentive to help offset the costs associated with increasing the energy efficiency of commercial buildings but is set to expire in 2013, is insufficient to incentivize retrofits, and cannot be utilized by a wide range of taxpayers. Various stakeholders, including the Real Estate Roundtable and US Green Building Council, have developed legislation to address the weaknesses of the current law. A bipartisan group of Senators introduced the “Commercial Building Modernization Act” or CBMA to make Section 179D more effective: http://www.natlawreview.com/article/congress-considers-increasing-incentives-commercial-and-multifamily-building-energy-

5.      'Green' Lighting Company Moves Jobs from China to Chattanooga - Two hundred fifty jobs are coming from China to Chattanooga to make all of the city's street lights more energy efficient. Global Green Lighting is moving jobs to a 1,800 square foot facility in Hixson, TN. Chattanooga will have all new LED street lights before long, and it's now up to local workers to make that happen. http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/21723178/green-lighting-company-brings-jobs-from-china-to-chattanooga If you're interested in applying for one of the jobs, Global http://www.globalgreenlighting.com/ is using a local staffing company for the application process at: http://ikruitstaffing.com/

6.      Updated DOE SSL Website - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has updated the Solid-State Lighting (SSL) website with a fresh look, expanded content areas, and a new focus on SSL Program news and events. Check out the homepage links for News & Events, plus SSL Postings, Technology Fact Sheets, Roadmaps, Studies & Reports, and Tools. You can still find reports on CALiPER testing, GATEWAY demonstrations, and Municipal Consortium activities and get the basics in this expanded section: Why SSL, LED Basics, OLED Basics, Using LEDs, R&D Challenges, and Market Challenges. Visit: www.ssl.energy.gov

7.      Global Smart Lighting Market (2013 – 2018) - Smart lighting is an advance technology in lighting that makes use of intelligent lighting control systems to intelligently control light based on various parameters like occupancy, movement, color temperature, amount of natural/daylight etc. Smart lighting market is growing at a phenomenal way and main drivers for this growth are energy efficiency, development in electronics and sensor technology, eradication of incandescent lamps, favorable government policies and evolution of novel wireless technology. Entry barriers are low for this market and many new players are arriving in this market. This NanoMarkets’ research report categorizes the global smart lighting market, based on lighting type, components, connectivity technology and applications; it also covers the forecast revenue from 2013 to 2018. http://www.researchandmarkets.com/publication/rk85qn/global_smart_lighting_market_2013_2018_by

8.      NJ Town Fines Businesses for Leaving Lights On - Businesses in Paramus, New Jersey are getting tickets when they leave their sign lights on. Paramus has a quality of life ordinance that fines businesses $200 or more, plus $33 in court costs, if their signs don't go dark after 11 p.m. All stores must close by 11 p.m. in Paramus. 40 businesses have received fine notices so far in 2013. http://www.myfoxny.com

9.   Ohio’s FirstEnergy Corp. Ordered to Offer CFL Bulbs - FirstEnergy is also preparing to give direct subsidies to retail stores in the region that sell CFL bulbs, expand cash rebates to consumers who turn in old appliances and offer incentives to small business to upgrade to more efficient lighting.  Efficient lighting and rebates are all part of the company's new three-year comprehensive energy efficiency program approved Wednesday by state regulators. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/03/firstenergy_corp_ordered_to_of.html

10.  Missouri Offering $5M in Low-Interest Loans for Energy Efficiency - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is making $5 million in low-interest loans available to schools, governments and not-for-profit hospitals to complete energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects. The department is accepting loan applications for projects costing between $5,000 and $500,000 through August 31.Loans are repaid from energy savings achieved. http://www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/financial/loan.htm

11.  Next Generation Luminaires Design Competition Announces 2013 Indoor Winners - Winners in the Indoor category of the fifth annual Next Generation Luminaires^TM Design Competition were announced today at the LEDucation 7 conference in New York. Out of 99 indoor entries, 28 were recognized as winners this year, meaning they were considered worthy of specification. Three of this year's winners were designated as Best in Class:

• Juno Lighting Group for its Trac-Master T254L Cylindra^TM track-mounted accent luminaire
• Digital Lumens for its XLE-3-10 Xpress high-bay industrial luminaire
• Acuity Brands/Lithonia Lighting for its W Series LED stairwell luminaire

More information on all the winning entries is available at www.ngldc.org.

12.  Solar Market Soared in 2012 - The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has released a study showing that photolvoltaic (PV) installations grew 76% in 2012 over 2011 to total 3,313 megawatts (MW) with an estimated market value of $11.5 billion.With another record-breaking year, solar is the fastest growing energy source in the United States, powering homes, businesses and utility grids across the nation. The report is based on a study by GSM Research and SEIA titled “U.S. Solar Market Insight: Year in Review 2012,” an analysis of solar power markets in the United States. http://www.seia.org/research-resources/us-solar-market-insight