News Updates for the Week of May 27

1.      New Energy Secretary Moniz is All About Energy Efficiency - During his first speech after being sworn into his new post, Moniz said energy efficiency would be one of his top priorities.  New Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz vowed Tuesday to help advance a big bipartisan energy efficiency bill that’s moving through Congress and make conservation a major priority using his existing authorities. The Energy Department posted Moniz’s 11-minute speech on YouTube: http://grist.org/news/new-energy-secretary-moniz-is-all-about-energy-efficiency/

2.      New DOE Report Estimates LED Savings in Common Lighting Applications - DOE has released a much-anticipated new report that estimates the savings from using SSL in applications where LEDs compete with traditional sources. Entitled Adoption of Light-Emitting Diodes in Common Lighting Applications, the report not only estimates how much energy is being saved due to current levels of LED penetration, but also projects what the savings would be if those markets switched completely to LEDs from incandescent, halogen, high-pressure sodium, and certain types of fluorescent sources. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/led-adoption-report_2013.pdf

3.      Two-Part Webinar on Adaptive Street Lighting Controls - On Tuesday, June 11, and Wednesday, June 12, DOE's Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium (MSSLC) will host a two-part series of 90-minute live webinars on the use of adaptive street lighting controls. Industry experts anticipate that by 2020, the majority of all streetlights sold in the U.S. will be LED, and a growing number of these will be equipped with adaptive control components. Each webinar will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (10:00 a.m. Pacific) and will include a 60-minute presentation, followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session with attendees. For more information, or to register, visit the DOE SSL website

4.      How Cree Perfected the 20-Year Light Bulb - This North Carolina maker of light emitting diodes aims to kill off the incandescent light bulb. LED performance is a big reason Cree now boasts $1.3 billion in sales and $70 million in earnings. Its market cap of $7 billion has doubled in less than a year; investors foresee broad adoption of LEDs once federal lighting standards force the phaseout of 40- and 60-watt incandescents in 2014. Nationwide, of roughly 6 billion lightbulbs in American homes, 3.6 billion are incandescents. Lighting sucks up roughly 14% of America’s electricity; replacing all those Edison bulbs with LEDs could cut that demand in half. See the Cree ad burying the incandescent bulb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZik9qwSyHE 5/22 Forbes

5.      Market Revenue for Drivers in LED General Lighting Applications to Triple from 2012 to 2015 - A new report, “LED Driver ICs–World–2013” from IMS Research, now part of the IHS global consulting firm. According to a press release publicizing the report, the market governing LED driver integrated circuits (ICs) for lighting will surge to $666 million in 2015, up from $214 million in 2012, as shown in the figure. Growth will moderate somewhat during the following years, but revenue is expected to continue to expand, reaching $810 million in 2018. http://www.imsresearch.com/

6.      New Ohio Efficiency Resource Fund to Help Upgrade Buildings - The new Ohio Efficiency Resource Fund provides otherwise hard-to-get financing for small and medium-sized businesses to make energy-efficiency improvements, with no upfront costs and no risk. This innovative approach bridges the funding gap that has stymied small- and mid-sized retrofit projects--thousands of buildings statewide. Here's how it works: The Fund signs an Efficiency Services Agreement (ESA) for up to 10 years with a building owner, purchases the new equipment, and hires contractors to design, install, measure, and maintain the energy-saving improvements. As a result, the customer sees a reduction in its total utility bill, while the building becomes more functional, productive, and comfortable. The Fund recoups its investment by billing customers for their actual realized efficiency gains. Since the useful life of the energy-efficiency equipment continues well beyond the life of the contract, customers continue to save for years to come. 5/23 PRNewswire

7.      NJ AEE CEM Course & Exam (Registration Deadline extended to May 31) - The NJ Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers (NJAEE) announced the following dates for the 5-Day preparatory course and exam for Certified Energy Manager (CEM®) Professional Certification. Date: June 17-21, 2013 - from 8:00 – 5:00. The exam is offered on the 5th day, Friday, June 21. Location: Rutgers EcoComplex in Bordentown, NJ http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6743773809

8.      Consumers Energy Awards $4.3 Million to Help Michigan Businesses and Schools Save Energy and Money - Consumers Energy’s Business Solutions program to fund 835 projects in the first quarter of 2013 to help Michigan businesses and schools become more energy efficient. Business Solutions is one part of the company's comprehensive energy efficiency program, launched in accordance with Michigan's energy reform law. www.consumersenergy.com

9.      Leviton Receives NAED Industry Award of Merit - Leviton received the 2013 Industry Award of Merit at the National Association of Electrical Distributors' (NAED) national meeting in Boston on May 6. As part of NAED's Annual Achievement Awards, which recognize individuals and companies that embody the industry's highest standards, Leviton was honored for the company's active role in promoting and supporting the wholesale electrical distribution industry. "This award is a true testament to our valued relationships with Leviton's loyal distribution channel alliances," said William Marshall, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Leviton. http://www.leviton.com

10.  AEE Training Programs for Energy Professionals - www.aeeprograms.com/realtime

High Bay Lighting Advances: How to Choose the Right Technology	Fast Track CEM Preparatory Course for Energy Managers
Instructed by Stan Walerczyk, L.C., C.L.E.P. 4-Hour Distance Learning Seminar Earns 0.4 CEU / 4 PDH Presented in two 2-hour live online sessions New Program Starts June 10	Instructed by Clint Christenson, C.E.M. 12-hour Distance Learning Seminar Earns 1.2 CEU / 12 PDH Presented in six 2-hour live online sessions New Program Starts June 20

11.  Solar’s Great Recovery: Photovoltaics Reach $155 Billion Market in 2018 - The solar photovoltaic (PV) market is poised to rise from the ashes of its 2011 crisis to grow to $155 billion in 2018, as market forces engineer a turnaround to a healthy 10.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), says Lux Research. In the most likely scenario, the PV market will grow at a modest clip to 35 GW in 2013 before rapidly ramping up to 61.7 GW in 2018. Lux Research analysts used a detailed levelized cost of energy (LCOE) analysis in 156 separate geographies, accounting for 82% of the world’s population, to determine the viability and competitiveness of solar in each market. www.luxresearchinc.com