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1. Facebook, NRDC, and Opower Partner to Develop a New Social Energy Application - Facebook, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Opower announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to use the power of social networking to raise consumer awareness about energy consumption through a joint development of a new social energy application. Leveraging the Facebook platform, the app will enable consumers who choose to participate to benchmark their home's energy usage against a national average of similar homes, compare their energy use with friends, enter energy-saving competitions, and share tips on how to become more energy efficient. The partnership builds upon each organization's strengths to offer a powerful tool that provides context and connection for helping people become more energy efficient. 10/17 PRNewswire
2. DOE Releases Summary Results from Round 13 of Caliper Testing - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has completed Round 13 of product testing through the DOE Solid-State Lighting (SSL) CALiPER program. A Summary Report containing the results is now available for download on the DOE SSL website at www.ssl.energy.gov/reports.html Round 13 of product testing included three primary focus areas: LED and benchmark high-bay luminaires; LED wallpack luminaires; and LED and benchmark 2'x2' troffers. Detailed test reports for Round 13 will be available soon through the searchable online CALiPER system: www.ssl.energy.gov/search.html
3. The Tough Business of LEDs - Proving that energy-saving products don’t easily make a good business, Royal Philips Electronics today reported that third quarter profits in its LED-reliant lighting division tumbled by nearly 50 percent. They blamed the profits decline in large part on sales of the diodes. As SmartPlanet has noted, the industry has overproduced the chips and is clearing out inventory at reduced prices. The glut has been caused by a fall-off in the market for flat screen televisions and other displays that use LEDs for backlighting. Philips also blamed the income erosion on a decline in consumer lamp sales, including LED as well as conventionally lit lamps. http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/the-tough-business-of-leds/9655
4. China LED Lighting Market to Experience Rapid Growth in Next Few Years - Studies show that total market size of the global lighting market (includes both LED and traditional lightings) in 2010 was US$79.3 billion. Demand is expected to increase due to China's economic success and policies aiming to narrow the gap between urban cities and rural areas. Market watchers estimate that by 2015 China's lighting market will reach US$20 billion, accounting for 18.3% of the global market. Developed economies such as Europe and North America currently account for more than 50% of the global lighting market with market size close to US$40 billion. However, the growth is expected to slow down as developments have come to a certain stage. China's lighting market, on the other hand, will show rapid growth. Market research institutes indicate China's LED lighting market has been stimulated by the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and Expo 2010 in Shanghai. Local governments have also been providing policies to support and encourage the development of the industry. In a few years, it is likely for the demand for LED related products to increase as China focuses on major developments that are also eco-friendly. http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20111014PD209.html
5. Dominion's Green Power and Lighting Programs Reduce Emissions - Dominion Virginia Power's Green Power® and discount program for the purchase of CFL bulbs together are reducing emissions by the equivalent of removing 326,700 cars from the road for a year. The CFL purchases also will save customers more than $349 million on their energy bills over the life of the bulbs. As of September 30, approximately 13,000 residential and commercial customers were enrolled in Green Power, an increase of 31 percent from July 2010. Customers voluntarily pay a little extra in their Dominion bill each month to support renewable energy. Information: www.dom.com/VAGreenPower Dominion offers instant discounts when purchasing CFL bulbs at participating stores in Virginia and North Carolina. A list of retailers is available at www.dom.com/LightingProgram
6. TN Applications Accepted for Energy Efficiency Grants - The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development said in a news release they are taking new applications for a third round of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block grants to communities across the state. The department has previously given out $12.1 million in these grants to 135 communities.The grants can be used to fund a variety of projects on the local level, such as retrofitting lighting and heating and cooling systems to be more efficiency, as well as installing renewable energy systems. 10/17 AP
7. TVA Offering Cash Incentives to EnergyRight Participants - TVA is increasing the incentive it will pay to businesses and industries taking part in its EnergyRight Solutions program to conserve energy. Effective immediately, TVA will increase the cash incentive payment from 5 cents to 10 cents for each kilowatt-hour saved by businesses that enroll in the program. The utility said it has made more than $4 million in reimbursements to more than 500 companies. 10/14 Knoxville News-Sentinel http://www.energyright.com/
8. September Housing Starts Jump 15% - Housing starts came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 658,000, up 15% from the August rate of 572,000, and up 10.2% compared with September 2010, according to data released this morning by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The figure of 658,000 was the highest total housing-starts figure since April 2010, when starts stood at 687,000. Meanwhile, building permits in September were at a rate of 594,000, 5% below the August rate of 625,000. 10/19 HCN
9. IES Annual Conference in Austin, TX, October 30 through November 1, 2011 - http://www.ies.org/ac/conf-reg.cfm
10. The Retrofit Program - Although government, environmentalists and fiscal hawks rarely agree on environmental issues, a new public-private partnership to finance U.S. energy efficiency retrofits (the “Retrofit Program”) is attracting broad public support. The Retrofit Program is being funded by a private consortium known as PACE Commercial Consortium (“PCC”) without any government loans, subsidies, tax credits or other govenrmental assistance, other than legislative support from state and local government. Because the Retrofit Program combines market-based solutions with traditional property secured municipal finance, PCC believes the Retrofit Program will pave the way for other profitable, long-term clean energy solutions. 10/17 Environmental Leader
11. McGraw-Hill Construction Sees Flat Construction Environment in 2012 - Lingering doubts in the minds of business executives and consumers about the health of the U.S. economy, uncertainty over the political turmoil in Washington, D.C., and weak demand will probably choke off any significant growth in the 2012 construction market. That’s the consensus of the construction economists at McGraw-Hill Construction Outlook 2012, held Oct. 19 in Washington, D.C. Overall, McGraw-Hill Construction expects the level of construction starts in 2012 to be $412 billion, following the 4% decline to $410 billion predicted for 2011. http://electricalmarketing.com/
12. Massachusetts Leads Efficiency Rankings - Massachusetts edges out California for first place in the annual rankings from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). California ranks second, New York is third, and Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Rhode Island tie for fourth place. 10/20 The Los Angeles Times
