News Updates for the Week of November 11

1.      LEDucation 8 Expands SSL Educational Expo to a 2-day Format and New Location - The Designers Lighting Forum of New York announced that due to outstanding response of exhibitors and attendees alike, LEDucation 8 has expanded to a 2-day event and will be held at a new location to accommodate more exhibitors.  LEDucation 8, historically known as the largest single day exhibition and educational event dedicated solely to the ever-evolving LED market and technology, will return to New York City on March 18-19, 2014 in a new 2-day format and in a new venue–the Sheraton NY Times Square hotel. http://www.leducation.org/

2.      LEED Remains Preferred Rating System for Federal Buildings - The GSA concluded that the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED green building rating system can and should be used in government buildings to advance energy efficiency and to save taxpayers’ money. GSA issued its recommendation based on the findings of the EISA §436(h) Ad-Hoc Review Group on Green Building Certification Systems. More than 1.5 million square feet of space is certified using LEED every day, making LEED the most widely used high-performance building program for the design, construction, maintenance and operations of green buildings. More than 55,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising 10.4 billion square feet of construction space in more than 140 countries and territories. http://www.edcmag.com/articles/95298-leed-remains-preferred-rating-system-for-federal-buildings

3.      Traditional Light Bulbs Are Dead, Long Live LEDs - The humble Edison light bulb has enjoyed a long lifespan, seeing only modest changes while technologies like television and radio have been drastically revised over time. But the familiar bulb's long, uninterrupted reign could finally be under threat as LEDs appear poised to become the new standard. 11/07 USA TODAY

4.      Little Fanfare for the Texas $7 Billion Clean-Energy Project - The last legs of a 3,600-mile system of transmission lines bringing wind-generated electricity from West Texas to the state's urban areas will be finished by the end of the year with little or no fanfare.  The project -- perhaps the state's largest clean-energy investment -- is getting little public notice from state authorities because of past controversies that helped add $2 billion to the cost, or that the final verdict on the overall benefit is still out because the 18,450 megawatt system comes on-line at half capacity.  Or perhaps officials don't want to draw attention to the $5 to $10 monthly increase that is coming to the electricity bills for the millions of customers of the state's primary electricity grid.  11/02 American-Statesman

5.      The Most Energy-Efficient U.S. States - The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) issued its annual scorecard for each state based on multiple factors, including reductions in greenhouse gas, energy codes for buildings and switching to cleaner fuels. The top five include: Oregon, New York, California, Massachusetts and Connecticut http://aceee.org/state-policy/scorecard

6.      DOE Publishes New Pricing and Efficacy Trend Analysis for Utility Program Planning - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a new report, SSL Pricing and Efficacy Trend Analysis for Utility Program Planning. The report was created in response to requests from utilities and energy efficiency organizations for information to help them forecast the order in which important SSL applications will become cost-effective and estimate when each “tipping point” will be reached. It includes performance trend analysis from DOE's LED Lighting Facts^® and CALiPER programs, plus cost analysis from various sources. www.ssl.energy.gov/techreports.html

7.      DOE Publishes New CALiPER Report on Subjective Evaluation of LED PAR38 Lamps - The U.S. DOE has published the first in a series of four special investigations intended to extend the findings of CALiPER Application Summary Report 20: LED PAR38 Lamps, which was published late last year. The new report, CALiPER Report 20.1: Subjective Evaluation of Beam Quality, Shadow Quality, and Color Quality for LED PAR38 Lamps, focuses on a subset of the lamps from Report 20, which were separately assessed by members of the IES.  The results suggest that many of the LED products compared favorably to halogen benchmarks in all attributes considered. The report is available online at www.ssl.energy.gov/reports

8.      DOE Publishes New Report on Dimming LEDs with Phase-Cut Dimmers - The U.S. DOE has published a new report, Dimming LEDs with Phase-Cut Dimmers: The Specifier's Process for Maximizing Success. The report was created in response to issues raised about dimming by energy efficiency organizations and specifiers, and is based on experience from CALiPER testing and GATEWAY demonstrations.  The new report reviews how phase-cut dimmers work, how LEDs differ from the incandescent lamps these dimmers were originally designed to control, and how those differences can lead to complications when attempting to dim LEDs. Such complications are often due to incompatibility between the LED source and the dimmer, rather than to any shortcomings in the LED source itself.  The report: www.ssl.energy.gov/gatewaydemos_results.html

9.      DTE Energy, MI Adds Two Energy-Savings Tools to Web Site - The new Lighting Guide, meanwhile, takes a comprehensive look at modern lighting, showing which bulbs are the most energy efficient and cost effective. The Lighting Guide also shows where bulbs can be purchased at special DTE Energy discounted prices. The Guide is continually updated with new information. www.dteenergy.com/LightingGuide

10.  Lutron and Hubbell Announce Collaboration to Address New Building Codes - Hubbell will embed Lutron's Clear Connect radio frequency (RF) communication technology directly into Hubbell's Load:Logic plug load control products. This expands the interoperability of Clear Connect-enabled devices, provides the industry with a much-needed, code-compliant solution and allows installers to easily control electrical outlets in new and existing facilities without learning new systems or performing extensive commissioning. 11/08 HCN

News Updates for the Week of November 4

1.      ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2010 Now The National Energy Standard - On October 18, 2013, all states were required by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to put in place a commercial building energy code at least as stringent as the 2010 version of the ASHRAE/IES 90.1 energy standard. States are expected to adopt 90.1-2010 in whole or in part; adopt the 2012 version of the International Energy Conservation Code (which references 90.1 as an alternate compliance standard); or, like California, develop their own unique code.  http://lightingcontrolsassociation.org/. Purchase the 2010 standard in the organization’s online bookstore: https://www.ashrae.org/

2.      Bright Lights, Big City: NYC Swapping All 250,000 Street Lights to LED - New York City will be seen in a whole new light over the next few years, as an effort to switch 6,000 miles of streets and 12,000 miles of sidewalks to LED street lights continues. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced all of the city’s 250,000 street lights will be changed over to light-emitting diodes in a four-year initiative. In addition to Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, LEDs have been installed along the FDR Drive, along Central Park’s pedestrian paths and on the “necklace” lights that adorn the cables of East River bridges, according to the city. The initiative is expected to be the largest LED retrofit in the country, according to the city. http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/10/24/bright-lights-big-city-nyc-swapping-all-250000-street-lights-to-led/  

3.      Quality Lighting for High Performance Buildings - Energy-efficient lighting technologies, including LED lighting and digital control systems, and design strategies that increase visual comfort and productivity are discussed in plain language, and examined in a straightforward way to give the reader, whether an architect, interior designer, engineer, building trades professional, or student a broad understanding of the art and science of energy-efficient quality lighting. Order the book at: https://www.aeeprograms.com/store/detail.cfm?id=1091&category_id=6

4.      IALD Enlighten Americas 2014 Call For Presentations - 16-18 October 2014, Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa San Diego, CA. International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) The Enlighten Americas 2014 program will follow a three-track system, featuring courses in the ART, SCIENCE and PROFESSIONAL TOOLS tracks. Seeking experts to present at Enlighten Americas 2014. http://www.iald.org/userfiles/file/PDFs/Enlighten2014CFP_FINAL.pdf

5.      Cree, Philips Lumileds, and Luminus Devices eExtend COB LED Technology - All made recent chip-on-board (COB) LED technology announcements that in aggregate span increased lumen output in both small and large LED packages. Cree announced a brighter LED with a 23-mm light-emitting surface (LES) and a new 30-mm part in the CXA family. Lumileds announced a 10% gain in performance across its entire COB line. And Luminus Devices entered the COB segment for the first time with its Xnova family charting a new path to serve general solid-state lighting (SSL) applications. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/10/10/16

6.      Leviton Acquires JCC Advanced Lighting - JCC Advanced Lighting, a United Kingdom (UK)-based leader in LED lighting suitable for a wide variety of residential and commercial applications. The acquisition establishes Leviton in the UK market and affords the company growth opportunities internationally. Integrating JCC’s energy efficient LED lighting into Leviton’s smart solutions provides a unique opportunity to develop the next generation of intelligent design. Through the work of the combined companies, customers will be able to receive even more efficient lighting solutions, including the incorporation of occupancy sensors and dimmers to help achieve nearly 50 percent energy savings when compared to typical installation. http://www.leviton.com

7.      Complimentary Access to Advanced Lighting Guidelines (ALG) Online - ALG Online is the former Advanced Lighting Guidelines taken to the web, developed by the nonprofit New Buildings Institute. It is written and updated by expert lighting industry professionals for practicing professionals and provides a comprehensive, one-stop resource for lighting basics and efficiency, design guidance, real-life applications, lighting technologies and more. http://www.betterbricks.com/design-construction/advanced-lighting-guidelines

8.      This Little LED of Mine - Manufacturers concede that early versions of the compact fluorescents did not meet expectations for light quality and longevity. Despite advances that have improved their performance, consumers still tick off a host of complaints about the squiggly bulbs: They take time to light up, they do not dim smoothly, they don’t fit with clip-on shades and, worst of all, they cast a harsh and unflattering light. They also contain mercury, raising concerns about breakage and disposal. LEDs offer a different proposition. 11/01 NY Times

      9. Obituary: Lutron’s John McKiernan Passes Away – It is with great sadness that I report the passing on Monday, Oct. 21 of my very good friend John F. McKiernan, 79, Lutron’s Vice Chairman of the Board.  He was a fun guy with the gift most Irishman have, that is to tell the best stories. Best nights of my life were spent with John and his other Irish buddy Jack Briody.  They were truly unique and I miss them terribly…In the obituary published in Pennsylvania’s Morning Call newspaper, he died peacefully in his home after a courageous battle with myleofibrosis: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mcall/obituary.aspx?n=John-McKiernan&pid=167655410

News Updates for the Week of July 29

1.      DOE Studies Residential Lighting Usage - DOE has published a collaborative study focused on developing new estimates of residential lighting usage and energy consumption at the national and regional levels. The study, Residential Lighting End-Use Consumption Study: Estimation Framework and Initial Estimates, developed a framework that allows for the estimation of U.S. lamp usage and energy consumption not only nationally and by region, but also by household characteristics, lamp characteristics, and the particular room within a home as well as limited combinations of these parameters. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/residential-lighting-study.html

2.      The DOE's LED Lighting Facts Program by James Brodrick - In response to industry feedback, the U.S. DOE launched the LED Lighting Facts program in late 2008 to promote the accurate and consistent reporting of LED product performance claims. The idea behind LED Lighting Facts is that SSL manufacturers, who sign up test their products using industry-standard methods (IES LM-79-2008), report the performance results and use the LED Lighting Facts label—which presents key product metrics in an easy-to-read format in order to help users evaluate those products and identify the best options. www.lightingfacts.com

3.      New ENERGY STAR Product Finder Tools - The product finder tools provide consumers, partners, and interested third parties with an easily-accessible, user-friendly search tool. EPA encourages ENERGY STAR Manufacturing Partners to review your listed models and verify the accuracy of the data. Any concerns about data quality should be reported to your EPA-recognized certification body (CB). http://www.energystar.gov/productfinder/product/certified-light-fixtures/results Utilities, retailers, and other more advanced users can access the detailed datasets (qualified product lists) directly at data.energystar.gov

4.      Energy-Saving Program Launched with $100 Million Commitment - Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced an expanded energy-efficiency program that will enable building owners to pay overtime rather than up front for projects that cut energy use and utility bills. In addition, he announced a financing agreement between the Milwaukee Economic Development Corp. and California-based Clean Fund to finance scores of energy-focused building upgrades.  Clean Fund works with Johnson Controls Inc., whose global building efficiency business, based downtown, specializes in engineering projects that replace building chillers, upgrade controls, tap software to make them run better and install more efficient lighting. 7/24 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

5.      ComEd's Energy Efficiency Programs Helped Customers Save $400 Million on Electric Bills Over Past Five Years - The company recently launched the sixth year of its Smart Ideas® energy efficiency programs with more than $56 million in incentives to help customers conserve energy and spend less on electricity. New this year for small businesses, ComEd will cover up to 75 percent (increased from 50 percent) of recommended energy efficiency upgrades - such as lighting, LED exit signs and energy-efficient water heater installation--offered through its Small Business Energy Savings Program. 7/23 PRNewswire

6.      New Lights in Shuttered Chicago Schools - Chicago Public Schools spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to install new lighting systems in at least nine schools just before they were targeted for closing in the city's cost-cutting school consolidation plan. At the same time, the city wants private investors to pay for the new energy-efficient lights in those schools and more than 200 others, as part of the Chicago Infrastructure Trust. The trust is enticing private firms to pay for the school improvements by promising a cut of the energy savings on future electricity bills. But it is unlikely investors will see much of a return from new lights installed in empty schools. 7/19 Chicago Tribune

7.      MaxLite Expands Engineering Department - MaxLite has expanded its engineering department by setting up a team in its West Caldwell, NJ headquarters and appointing key engineering personnel. MaxLite’s new engineering team in New Jersey will work with an existing engineering team in its Rancho Cucamonga, CA, location. MaxLite is collaborating with electrical engineers to troubleshoot indoor and outdoor LED product issues and performing internal testing.

8.      Introducing Hubbell Loans - Removing a significant barrier to wider adoption of energy efficient lighting, Hubbell Lighting announced a creative financing solution called “Cash Flow Positive.” The initiative provides flexible and easy access funding for commercial and municipal customers, through Hubbell Lighting and its agent network. Working through the company’s Hubbell Capital team, commercial customers can receive competitive rate financing with terms from 12 to 60 months (up to 120 months for municipal customers) on projects ranging from $5,000 to $10 million. http://www.hubbelllighting.com/resources/financing/

9.      Lutron Survey Shows Who Is Leaving The Lights On - Lutron Electronics announced the findings from a recent “Home Lighting Usage and Behavior” survey to determine wasted energy. This survey looked at energy and electricity within the home and where people tend to leave the lights on. The study shows that 90% of the people surveyed have someone in the house who leaves the lights on when they leave a room, and 55% of the time a child is to blame. Also, the kitchen is the most common room to have the lights left on, while the bathroom, bedroom and living room are all about the same. Lutron is announcing to study to promote its Meastro Occupancy Sensing Switch

10.  Seoul Semiconductor Drives Efficacy Up and Cost Down in Mid-Power LEDs - The new plastic-packaged 5630C LED can deliver efficacy up to 180 lm/W. There has been a race of late to new efficacy levels in the mid-power space. Just before the LFI show back in April, Samsung announced 160 lm/W efficacy in mid-power LEDs, claiming that as an industry high. Then at LFI, LG Innotek announced 170-lm/W efficacy in similar products. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/10/7/16

11.  GE Lighting Makes the Streets of Bristol Shine - GE Lighting has upgraded the street lighting in Bristol, UK to deliver an energy efficient, white light solution - part of Bristol City Council's aim to reduce its carbon footprint and to promote a safer urban environment. The project comprises the replacement of existing high-pressure sodium street lighting with GE’s improved, higher efficiency CMH Streetwise ceramic metal halide lamps. http://specificationonline.co.uk/news-article/4695/ge-lighting-ge-lighting-makes-the-streets-of-bristol-shine

News Updates for the Week of September 10

1.      Romney Sees North American Energy Independence by 2020 - A crucial component of Mitt Romney’s Plan for a Stronger Middle Class is to dramatically increase domestic energy production and partner closely with Canada and Mexico to achieve North American energy independence by 2020.

• Empower states to control onshore energy development; 
• Open offshore areas for energy development; 
• Pursue a North American Energy Partnership; 
• Ensure accurate assessment of energy resources; 
• Restore transparency and fairness to permitting and regulation; and 
• Facilitate private-sector-led development of new energy technologies.

      http://www.mittromney.com/sites/default/files/shared/energy_policy_white_paper_8.23.pdf

2.      DOE Releases Cost Model for Manufacturing of LED Packages - The Modular LED Cost Model (LEDCOM) provides a simplified method for analyzing the manufacturing costs of an LED package. The model focuses on the major cost elements and includes preliminary raw data and manufacturing process flow, which provide a starting point and can be customized by the user to model different processes, materials, and equipment. The tool enables those involved in the manufacturing of LED packages–from material and equipment suppliers, to epitaxy growers, to wafer processors, to chip manufacturers and packagers–to evaluate the relative impact of changes made at different points in the manufacturing process on the final LED package cost. To download the LEDCOM tool, visit: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/ledcom_cost_model.html

3.      L.E.D.’S to Become More Energy-Efficient in the Next Five Years - A new report released by the United States Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Britain-based analysis group N14 Energy Limited http://www.pnnl.gov/news/release.aspx?id=940 suggests that L.E.D. could have a far-reaching edge over conventional lighting systems as the technology and manufacturing methods advance in the next five years. By 2017, L.E.D. bulbs will have 50 percent less environmental footprint than today’s L.E.D.’s and 70 percent less impact than today’s C.F.L.’s, the report estimates. http://www.ecoseed.org/low-carbon/15552-l-e-d-s-to-become-more-energy-efficient-in-the-next-five-years

4.      Lighting Equipment Demand Strengthened During Second Quarter of 2012 - NEMA’s Lighting Systems Index has shown a positive performance in the first half of 2012, as it gained 2.9 percent on a quarter-to-quarter basis from the first to second quarters of 2012. On a year-over-year basis the index increased by 6.6 percent, indicating that aggregate lighting equipment demand has improved appreciably since the recovery began; however it remains well below the levels observed during the previous economic expansion. All five categories of lighting systems products included in the index registered solid gains compared to the second quarter of 2011. http://www.nema.org/News/Pages/Lighting-Equipment-Demand-Strengthened-During-Second-Quarter-of-2012.aspx

      5.   August Jobs Report: Hiring Slows, Unemployment Falls - The labor market lost momentum last month as job growth fell to a disappointingly slow pace. The unemployment rate also fell, as more people stopped looking for jobs. The economy added 96,000 jobs in August, down from 141,000 jobs in July.  Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 8.1%, from 8.3% in July. Economists polled by CNNMoney were expecting 120,000 jobs to be added in the month, and the unemployment rate to remain unchanged. The unemployment rate fell largely because 368,000 people stopped looking for work, many of them young people. Just 63.5% of the working-age population was either employed or actively looking for work--a 30-year low. Check the unemployment rate in your State: http://money.cnn.com/interactive/economy/state-unemployment-rates/?iid=EL 9/07 CNNMoney 

6.      Lutron Joins Government, Industry Leaders to Discuss Energy Reduction Goals - Lutron Electronics recently participated in a roundtable discussion focused on President Barack Obama's Executive Order 13514 http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/2009fedleader_eo_rel.pdf which mandates that the federal government lead the industry in energy efficiency advancements. Andy Wakefield, Lutron's director of government solution, joined White House, agency and industry leaders in the roundtable where it became clear that industry/government collaboration will prove a driving force behind the success of this initiative. http://www.tedmag.com

7.      Philadelphia Eagles Called A Green-Energy Leader For Stadium Retrofit - The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Green Sports Alliance cited the Eagles franchise as one of 20 leaders in the green-energy movement. The Eagles are retrofitting Lincoln Financial Field with solar panels, wind turbines and a biodiesel/natural gas generator that can produce 100 percent of the stadium's energy needs. The project, which is being installed by NRG Energy Inc. of Princeton, will give the Eagles "the most extensive on-site renewable system of any U.S. sports stadium." http://www.tedgreenroom.com/

8.      Energy-Efficiency Grants Available to Maryland Farmers - Farmers have until Sept. 28 to apply for up to $200,000 in energy-efficiency grants from the Maryland Energy Administration. The MEA will distribute grants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000, which will cover up to 75 percent of the cost of the upgrades. Under the program, $1 million will be available to farms and agriculture businesses to help plan, implement and complete upgrades to energy systems. Improvements can be as simple as replacing light bulbs in barns and buildings. 9/1 The Frederick News-Post

9.      AEP Exhibit Educates Consumers About How to Be More Energy Efficient - AEP Ohio is taking its energy-efficiency campaign on the road, in the form of a 38-foot vehicle equipped with interactive devices that can tell visitors how much energy they've been wasting. It's one stop in AEP Ohio's statewide tour and part of the company's $10 million advertising campaign to encourage its consumers to reduce energy usage. The half-million-dollar-plus vehicle is outfitted with touch screens that guide visitors through questions about their energy usage. Since 2009, 10 million CFL and LED bulbs have been purchased through the program. 9/06 The Columbus Dispatch