News Updates for the Week of September 30

1.      How the ESCO Market for Efficiency Can Continue Expanding - Energy savings contracts could be worth $15 billion by the end of the decade. Performance-based contracts have been a boon to the energy efficiency industry. Since 1990, U.S. ESCOs  have grown the market from less than $500 million to more than $5 billion in 2011. And according to a new analysis of the market from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (PDF), revenues will double or even triple from $6.4 billion in 2013 to between $13.3 billion and $15.3 billion by the end of the decade. The average market penetration for all sectors is only 25 percent, so there's plenty of share to grab. http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/How-the-ESCO-Market-for-Efficiency-Can-Continue-Expanding

2.   Some Changes for LED Lighting Facts^® - U.S. DOE LED Lighting Facts^® changes have been implemented, which means that manufacturers now have the option of grouping related products as a family and testing only one member of that family, calculating the performance of the other family members based on the performance of that one representative product. Also implemented is a verification testing program to ensure that the performance information posted in LED Lighting Facts remains reliable and accurate. http://www.lightingfacts.com/

3.      LED Lighting Facts^® EE Programs - From this list, you can search for incentive programs that support LED products from across the country. Create a custom summary of incentives using the search criteria provided. The program summary will also identify products from the LED Lighting Facts database that meet the specific EE program criteria. http://www.lightingfacts.com/UtilityPrograms

4.      Residential and Commercial Product Performance Scales - LED Lighting Facts developed residential and commercial product performance scales to help partners evaluate and determine if LED products are appropriate for a given application. The scales compare the performance values for the five metrics identified on the LED Lighting Facts label to performance values of standard lighting technologies. The residential and commercial product performance scales can also be downloaded and printed using the links provided at the top of each page. http://www.lightingfacts.com/Library/Content/PerformanceScales

5.      New DOE SSL Technology Fact Sheet on Lifetime and Reliability - The U.S. DOE has come out with a new SSL Technology Fact Sheet, Lifetime and Reliability, to help users gain a better understanding of typical causes for LED product failures, the difference between lifetime and reliability, and methods for measuring and reporting lifetime and reliability.  LED system performance is more affected by interactions between system components than most conventional lighting systems. The failure of any system component—not just the array of LED packages, but also the electronics, thermal management, optics, wires, connectors, or seals, for example—can lead to product failure.  www.ssl.energy.gov/factsheets.html

6.      The Right Light: Color Tuning by Craig DiLouie - The advent of LED lighting has led to possibilities with color control that either did not exist previously or were difficult or costly to implement. Many LED luminaires are available with out-of-the-box dimming capability with a negligible cost adder. For the lighting to have color tuning capability, either separately dimmable arrays of warm and cool LEDs are mixed, or separately dimmable colors are mixed with white. This makes it possible for color temperature to either automatically change at various times of the day or in response to certain events, or users can manually adjust the color temperature based on evolving space needs or occupant preference. http://www.ecmag.com/section/lighting/right-light-color-tuning

7.      Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines - The DOE is working with the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and industry stakeholders to develop voluntary national guidelines that will improve the quality and consistency of commercial building workforce credentials for five key energy-related jobs: Energy Auditor, Commissioning Practitioner, Building/Stationary Engineer, Facilities Manager, and Energy Manager. https://www4.eere.energy.gov/workforce/projects/workforceguidelines

8.      BCAP 2012 Annual Report - The 2012 Annual Report for the Building Codes Assistance Project.  Includes the status of BCAP and codes today, major projects in 2012, new projects for 2013, BCAP's services offered, financial information, and more. http://energycodesocean.org/resource/bcap-2012-annual-report

9.   Energy Efficiency Legislation Delayed Indefinitely - The postponement of Shaheen-Portman raises questions about whether Senate leadership will reconsider the measure in the coming months, especially with other important upcoming legislative items looming in the queue, including the reauthorization of defense, agricultural programs and extension of the debt ceiling. http://www.usgbc.org

10.  Philips and Staples to Sell Energy-Efficient LED Lighting - Staples is the first office supply retailer to offer a broad range of Philips' most popular ENERGY STAR-rated LED bulbs with instant utility rebates (where available) at over 360 stores. In addition to over 20 Energy-Star qualified bulbs, which include the industry leading Philips 60, 75 and 100-watt LED equivalents, the revolutionary Philips Hue lighting system will also be available to Staples customers. Earlier this year the company started selling its Hue LED control system in Apple stores. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/philips-staples-easy-more-affordable-130000847.html

11.  Lighting: Energy Savings with No Regrets - http://www.facilitiesnet.com

• Part 1: Lighting Quality Is Often Overlooked In Commercial Building Lighting Upgrades

• Part 2: Harsh Lighting, Glare Among Quality Concerns In Commercial Lighting

• Part 3: Lighting Controls, Occupant Involvement Are Big Pieces Of Successful Lighting Projects

12.  What's New in the CA Title 24 2013 Code? - Changes to the mandatory Title 24 lighting requirements take effect in 2014. The changes in California’s new Building Energy Efficiency Standards improve the energy efficiency of homes by 25 percent and make nonresidential buildings 30 percent more efficient than the previous 2008 standards. This brief guide offers an overview of important requirements and major updates to the lighting code. http://cltc.ucdavis.edu/publication/whats-new-title24-2013-code

New Postings for the Lighting Positions Network

1. Executive Positions from NETSHARE - The following is a sample of open positions that have been posted with NETSHARE over the past week. This list changes every day…with some dropping off and some added. View the $100K+ job listings below and many more on the website at: http://www.netshare.com/Jobs_Public.aspx?d=815. Email your interest and resumes, reference the EnergyWatchBlog, directly to Jan Furste jan@netshare.com.

• President & Chief Executive Officer, Southern California, Negotiable
• President, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, $200,000-$400,000 plus relocation
• President - Mechanical Services, Midwest, Open
• Chief Executive Officer - Market Hospital, Texas, Competitive
• Chief Executive Officer, Western U.S., $240,000-$300,000 plus 40%-80% bonus

News Updates for the Week of September 23

1.      Mo and Evolucia - NY Yankees' pitching legend Mariano Rivera has joined forces with LED company, Evolucia Inc. to create a one-of-a-kind LED baseball. Preparing to retire, Rivera says he wanted his commemorative baseball to send a message to fans throughout the U.S. and in Latin America: "we can cut energy consumption, reduce pollution and save money by switching to LED lights." Evolucia developed an innovative LED-lighted baseball that is the same size and weight as a regulation Major League baseball. The ball leaves a trail of light as it is thrown, and is powered by a rechargeable battery. The commemorative baseball is available for purchase at www.evolucia.com/mariano with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Rivera's charitable foundation.

2.      LEDucation 8 “Call for Presentations” Deadline Approaching - Three more weeks available to submit speaker applications to LEDucation’s annual event on LED Technology.  The Designers Lighting Forum of New York invites experts to submit their proposals to become an official speaker at LEDucation 8, the largest single day exhibition and educational event dedicated solely to the ever-evolving LED market and technology. LEDucation 8 will return to New York City on March 18-19, 2014. Speaker proposals will be accepted through 5 p.m. EST, October 15, 2013 and should be submitted online at: www.leducation.org/call-for-presenters.html

3.      DLC Updates Guidance for the New LED Lighting Facts Submission Form - The DesignLights Consortium^® promotes quality, performance and energy efficient commercial sector lighting solutions through collaboration among its federal, regional, state, utility, and energy efficiency program members, luminaire manufacturers, lighting designers, and other industry stakeholders throughout the US and Canada. The DLC is a project of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP).  DLC updates guidance for the new LED Lighting Facts submission form. Download the updated Manufacturer's Guide: http://www.designlights.org/resources/file/d-l-c-manufacturers-guide9-10-16-pdf

4.      IES Publishes Recommended Practice for Daylighting Buildings - The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) recently published Recommended Practice for Daylighting Buildings (RP-5-13). This document gathers the basic data and techniques required for the design of buildings and lighting systems and discusses the opportunities and constraints inherent in daylighting.  www.ies.org/store 

5.      Quality of Light and Overcoming Barriers to LED Adoption by Clifton Lemon - McKinsey’s 2011 Lighting the Way report www.mckinsey.com/ suggests that consumer lighting purchase decisions are driven as much by light quality as they are by the cost. Despite high first costs, the public is becoming increasingly used to assessing total lifetime costs and extending payback expectations. With the advent of widespread regulations mandating technological solutions, the lighting industry faces a future where LEDs provide perhaps the most viable way to meet pressing requirements. http://www.nema.org/news/Lists/ElectroIndustryMagazine/Attachments/32/EI_Aug13.pdf

6.      Lighting Science Receives $20 Million in Equity Investments and Commitments -  The preferred stock financing plan led by affiliates of Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P., with participation from Riverwood Capital Partners, L.P. These companies are LSCG's two largest shareholders. The funding will be used to finance the company's growth, with a strong focus on technology platforms and product innovations. 9/16 Businesswise

7.      Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill May Not Pass The Senate - The prospects for Senate passage of the bipartisan energy-efficiency legislation just got a whole lot dimmer. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will move next week to a government funding measure, a step that will further delay consideration of the efficiency legislation. And it’s not even a sure bet that the Senate will come back to the efficiency bill, which has been plagued by delays for almost two weeks. 9/20 Politico

8.      Most Energy-Efficient Cities in the U.S. - According to a new report conducted by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the top five most energy efficient cities are:

1)      Boston

2)      Portland

3)      New York and San Francisco

4)      Seattle

5)   Austin

      The full report is available: http://aceee.org/press/2013/09/report-ranks-us-cities-efforts-save-

9.      CRS Electronics Announces New QuantumLED™ Sales Team - CRS Electronics Inc., a developer and manufacturer of ENERGY STAR® certified commercial LED lighting products, announced the addition of four Regional Sales Directors to its' QuantumLED Lighting team. Travis Jones, CRS Electronics President & CEO: "We are building a solid foundation of excellent personnel and products. We are searching for similar candidates for the Northwest, Mountain and Texas regions." http://finance.yahoo.com/news/crs-electronics-announces-quantumled-tm-132352170.html

10.  Lightfair Call for Speakers: Deadline Extended September 23, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. EST - Lightfair International (LFI) has issued a call for speakers from top lighting and design practitioners looking to participate in the trade show and conference to be held in Las Vegas from June 1-5, 2014. http://www.lightfair.com/lightfair/V40/index.cvn?id=10301

11.  LEDs and the Transformation of the Lighting Industry - The lighting industry is on the verge of a major transformation. Falling prices and improving quality for LED technology have begun to drive widespread adoption of this technology. Navigant Research (formerly Pike) forecasts that, by 2021, 63% of lamps sold to retrofit projects worldwide will be LED-based. Beyond a simple swap in lamp type, this rise in LEDs is expected to impact every aspect of the lighting industry. A webinar (Tuesday, October 8, 2013, 2:00 pm EDT) will examine the market changes that LED lights have already wrought, and provide forecasts for the future transformation of the industry.  http://www.navigantresearch.com/webinar/leds-and-the-transformation-of-the-lighting-industry

12.  2013 DOE Solid-State Lighting Market Introduction Workshop - Benson Hotel, Portland, OR
November 12–14, 2013.  Join DOE at the eighth annual SSL Market Introduction Workshop for two days of in-depth discussions on key topics led by industry experts. Ask all your questions about LED lighting. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/portland2013.html

News Updates for the Week of September 16

1.      ENERGY STAR Lighting Road Mapping Meeting - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) welcome lighting stakeholders to this initial road mapping discussion on October 9, 2013 from 3:30 – 6:30 PM CDT. This meeting is expected to be the first in a series intended to facilitate engagement on ENERGY STAR lighting topics. Please find a draft agenda, and RSVP via email by September 23 Alex.Boesenberg@nema.org

2.      Outdoor Competition Intent-To-Submit Deadline Approaches - The 2013 Next Generation Luminaires (NGL) Solid-State Lighting Outdoor Design Competition launched in July. Written Intents-to-Submit are due by September 20, 2013, and must be submitted online at www.ngldc.org Final submission forms are due by October 18, 2013, and physical product samples are due by November 1. Judging takes place in December, and results will be announced in Feb. ’14.

3.      Some Rebate Programs Out of Funds; Others Offer Bonus Programs - According to our North American Rebate and Incentive Database, 74% of the USA is covered by an active lighting rebate program; 8% of all US commercial lighting rebate and incentive programs are currently out of funding. Other programs are offering limited time bonus programs to increase participation, such as a program called Energizing Indiana is offering double rebates on 25W T8 lamp and ballast retrofits and select high bay fixtures. Another bonus program by ComEd in Illinois is offering a bonus for customers who get rid of all T12s in their facilities. http://www.briteswitch.com/maximizing.html

4.      Rebates for LEDs are Available Across the Country - Depending on your location, you may be eligible for a sizeable rebates when installing LED solutions in your existing facility or new construction project. http://www.briteswitch.com/led.html

5.      Lights Out for T12 Rebates? - Manufacturers had to stop producing T12 lamps after July 2012. While the availability of rebate programs and the dollar amounts have decreased since the phase out, there’s still a good chance to still get a rebate in some parts of the country. If you have T12 fixtures that will need to be upgraded to T8 fixtures, you should act soon in order to take advantage of existing rebates. 

6.      DOE’s Adoption of Light-Emitting Diodes in Common Lighting Applications - This report presents the findings for nine major lighting applications where LEDs are competing with traditional light sources. This analysis estimates the energy saved due to current levels of LED penetration, as well as the potential energy savings if these markets switched completely to LEDs. The selected applications are classified into three groups: indoor lamps, indoor luminaires, and outdoor luminaires. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/led-adoption-report_2013.pdf 

7.      New York's Energy Star Program Reaches Milestone - The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's Energy Star program has completed its 50,000th project. NYSERDA offers loans of as much as $13,000 per household—or $25,000 if energy upgrades will pay for themselves in savings in 15 years or less. 9/8 AP

8.      Chicago Moves to Require Building Owners to Disclose Energy Use - Under the proposal, buildings in excess of 50,000 square feet--which represent less than 1 percent of the city's buildings but 22 percent of buildings total energy consumption--would be required to disclose energy consumption data and information about building size, use and occupancy levels into a software program like TurboTax administered by the U.S. EPA. The "benchmarking" tool, called Energy Star Portfolio Manager, would then compare the energy efficiency of comparable buildings. It is hoped that the scores will motivate business owners to improve through upgrades. 9/11 Chicago Tribune

9.      University of Kentucky Gets $1 Million Rebate for Energy Savings Program - In 2009, UK hired Ameresco of Louisville, which did an analysis of its energy usage. The school then started retrofitting 61 campus buildings with energy-efficient equipment, such as high-efficiency lighting, better air conditioning equipment and water conservation efforts. Officials estimate that the $25 million project saves about $2.4 million a year by using nearly 14 million fewer kilowatt hours of electricity and 37 million fewer gallons of water. The $25 million will be recouped in 12 years. UK received the rebates through the Commercial Rebate Program offered by KU and Louisville Gas and Electric Company.  9/12 Lexington Herald-Leader

10.  Imperial Irrigation District, CA Energy Rewards Program - As part of IID’s energy efficiency efforts, the rebates are designed to help business customers reduce their operating costs, improve profitability, protect the environment and help lower the cost of power generation.  The program offers rebates to small, medium and large size non-residential customers for the purchase of qualifying lighting, refrigeration, air conditioning, food service, agricultural and controls equipment. Applications for rebates totaling $2,500 or more require pre-approval. http://www.iid.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=6143

11.  World’s Largest LED Streetlight Retrofit Completed in Los Angeles - The enormous street light swap-out of 141,089 brand-new LED street lights was finished in June. The second phase of Los Angeles’ LED replacement program will see the retrofit of about 70,000 decorative street lamps located throughout the city. Navigant (formerly Pike) Research recently predicted that shipments of LED street lights will increase from fewer than 3 million in 2012 to more than 17 million in 2020.

Specs at: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/finland/788/pdfs/LED_Presentation_Final_June_2013.pdf

Los Angeles is certainly not alone in making the switch to LED street lighting. In March, the City of Las Vegas finished outfitting 42,000 street lights with LED fixtures. One month later, the City of Austin, Texas, announced plans to install 35,000 LED street lights. And, in December of last year, CPS Energy said it would install 20,000 LED street lights in San Antonio. http://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2013/07/31/los-angeles-completes-worlds-largest-led-street-light-retrofit/

12.   

http://www.theledshow.com/index.html