News Updates for the Week of December 24, 2012

1.     The Top Ten LED Lighting Developments of 2012 -

1st)          The phaseout of the 100-watt incandescent nominally began on New Year’s Day 

2nd)        The 50th anniversary of the invention of the modern LED by Nick Holonyak at General Electric was observed in October. 

3rd)         Osram announces major progress on silicon substrates in January.  

4th)         Soraa unstealths in February, revealing a gallium nitride (GaN) substrate LED. 

5th)         NXP and Greenwave partner to release the first IPv6-controllable light bulb in October, using the 6LoWPAN standard, a milestone in networked smart lighting.

            6th)         Cree releases the most efficient production LED yet, the XM-L2, at 186 lumens per watt.

            7th)         3M announces the Advanced Light Bulb to be sold by Walmart.

            8th)         Home interiors chain Ikea announces that it will phase out all non-LED lighting products and store lighting by 2016.

9th)         China turns to U.S. suppliers in an official backlash against domestic LED streetlight quality problems. China momentarily claims four of the world’s five largest LED streetlight

installations. 

10th)      The Osram non-IPO…Siemens revised its IPO of Osram into a share conversion and then delayed it repeatedly as the Eurozone struggled.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/The-Top-Ten-LED-Lighting-Developments-of-2012

2.     President Obama Signs Energy Efficiency Bill into Law - President Obama signed into law a handful of energy efficiency provisions endorsed by the NEMA.  The American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act (HR 6582) is the legislative vehicle for provisions promoting advanced metering in the federal government; a greater focus at the DOE on deployment of existing manufacturing technologies; improved energy efficiency within federal facilities; and a study on barriers to industrial deployment of electric motors, demand response, combined heat and power technologies and ensures certain technical corrections to lighting efficiency.  http://www.nema.org/News/Pages/-President-Obama-Signs-Energy-Efficiency-Bill-into-Law.aspx

3.     LED Directional Lamps - Directional lamps are a key component of focal lighting and are most often used in retail, hospitality, residential, and museum applications. Conventional directional lamps are practical and relatively inexpensive, but higher efficacy LED alternatives have emerged. This DOE fact sheet discusses the attributes of conventional PAR-, AR-, BR-, and R-shaped lamps and compares the performance of LED products to that of incandescent, halogen, CFL, and CMH lamps. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/led_directional_lamps.pdf

4.     PNNL Takes Shades Off LED Lighting Lab - The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory unveiled its LED lighting lab to the public, a one-of-a-kind lab that puts highly efficient lights through their paces in a controlled setting.  The Lumen Maintenance Facility in Richland, Wash., is the site where light bulbs were tested to determine the Department of Energy's L Prize which last year dubbed a 60-watt LED bulb from Phillips as the industry's best performing option. The lab, a haven for lighting geeks, keeps bulbs lit for 24 hours a day for months on end keeping them at a steady 113 degrees Fahrenheit. Researchers also perform stress tests and evaluate the quality of the light being emitted. http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2012/12/pnnl-takes-shades-off-led-lighting-lab.html

5.     DOE Releases CALiPER 2012 Year in Review - The U.S. Department of Energy has released a CALiPER 2012 Year in Review report that summarizes recent testing results and provides an overview of multi-year trends. The report is available for download on the DOE SSL website at www.ssl.energy.gov/reports.html

6.     ENERGY STAR Luminaires Specification Version 1.2 – Posted is the ENERGY STAR Partnership Agreement as it pertains to the manufacture and labeling of ENERGY STAR qualified products. The ENERGY STAR Partner must adhere with current ENERGY STAR Eligibility Criteria, which define performance requirements and test procedures for luminaires. A list of eligible products and their corresponding Eligibility Criteria can be found at www.energystar.gov/specifications   Prior to associating the ENERGY STAR name or mark with any product, you must obtain written certification of ENERGY STAR qualification from a Certification Body recognized by EPA for luminaires and tested in a laboratory recognized by EPA to perform luminaire testing.  A list of EPA-recognized laboratories and Certification Bodies:  www.energystar.gov/testingandverification http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/product_specs/program_reqs/Final_Luminaires_V1_2.pdf?e3b5-7355

News Updates for the Week of September 17

1.      DOE Consortium Releases Draft Model Spec for Review - The U.S. DOE’s Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium has released a draft Model Specification for Adaptive Control and Remote Monitoring of LED Roadway Luminaires. The estimated 26.5 million streetlights in the U.S. consume as much electricity each year as 1.9 million households, and generate greenhouse gas emissions equal to that produced by 2.6 million cars. Switching these streetlights to LED can save energy and money, and incorporating remote monitoring and adaptive lighting control systems can increase those savings substantially. The draft specification is posted online for public review and comment by Consortium members, manufacturers, and other interested lighting professionals. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/consortium.html

2.      LightShow East in Washington, DC at Washington Convention Center on October 3-4 -  Admission to the show is FREE to qualified attendees, plus 24 FREE seminars for today's lighting pros. LightShow East has assembled a power-packed lineup of speakers from around the country to provide the latest information on lighting trends, resources and regulations. All seminars are AIA approved and NCQLP registered. http://www.lightshoweast.com/Attend/RegistertoAttend/tabid/953/Default.aspx

3.      Worldwide Intelligent Lighting Controls Market to Surpass $4.3 Billion by 2020 - According to a new report from Pike Research, the global market for intelligent lighting controls will enjoy steady and robust growth over the rest of this decade, rising from $1.5 billion in 2012 to more than $4.3 billion in 2020. In particular, new wireless technologies, along with reductions in prices for LED lights and dimmable ballasts, have made retrofit projects considerably more attractive. As LEDs become more mainstream, lighting controls–in the form of standalone devices or systems integrated into light fixtures–will help maximize their benefits. http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/intelligent-lighting-controls-for-commercial-buildings

4.      2012 Energy Star Products Partner Meeting Location: St. Paul, MN Date: October 22–24 - The 2012 meeting will be held over three days, and as in past years will be a combined meeting covering ENERGY STAR lighting, appliances, water heaters, electronics, and other topics. The meeting will also provide opportunities to interact with a range of program stakeholders in various formats, including independent one-on-one meetings. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=partners.pt_meetings

5.      Defining Lighting Quality Based on User Satisfaction by Craig Dilouie - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) offers a free tool for office building owners and managers and industry practitioners.  The Light Right survey is a great way to capture occupant satisfaction in regards to the building's lighting system. The survey can be used:

• As a diagnostic tool that can help the building owners or tenants determine if a new lighting system would be desirable from the occupant's point of view. 
• If a new lighting system is going to be installed, administering the survey before and after the remodel can be valuable to ensure that the occupant's visual needs have been met. 
• As a tool to compare between different lighting systems.

http://lightingcontrolsassociation.org/defining-lighting-quality-based-on-user-satisfaction/

6.      Nova Scotia Mandates All LED Street Lights - The Province of Nova Scotia, Canada has announced it is converting to all LED street lighting, a project which will be completed by 2023. This move has made it the first jurisdiction in North America to mandate the use of energy-efficient LED roadway lighting. Energy Minister Charlie Parker finalized amendments to the Energy-Efficient Appliances Regulations yesterday. The estimated cost of installing the 120,000 street lights was $100 million and the energy savings upon full conversion would be $18 million per year. The regulations are available: www.gov.ns.ca/energy/public-consultation  http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/9/8

7.      Duke Energy to Cut Energy Waste with Peer Pressure - Duke Energy received regulatory approval this week to offer a novel energy-efficiency program based on a potentially vast but untapped energy resource: one's emotional need to fit in. Later this year, Charlotte-based Duke will begin mailing its residential customers monthly energy reports showing how their energy usage compares with "peers" who live in similar homes. A low ranking among neighbors could be what it takes to lower the thermostat, turn off the lights or invest in getting air ducts cleaned out and sealed. In common parlance, it's known as peer pressure. And it apparently influences electricity-consumption habits just as it shapes taste in clothing, popular music and SUVs. More than 75 utilities in the nation now send these customized shame sheets to some 14 million customers. 9/12 The News & Observer

8.      An Argument Over Wind - The American Wind Energy Association expelled Exelon as a member because the company opposed a renewal of the credit. The association says that if the tax credit expires, some 37,000 jobs will be eliminated next year and that deliveries of new turbines will spiral to zero. But Exelon says the tax credit is distorting energy markets because the credit itself is larger than the average value of electricity produced in the Midwest. 9/15 NY Times

9.      Choosing the Right LED Product for Industrial Applications - The math is easy. If you’re using HID (high-intensity discharge) or HPS (high-pressure sodium) fixtures, your lighting energy costs are probably in the range of $1 per square foot per year--meaning that your 200,000 square foot facility likely costs $200,000 annually. The way to reduce that massive energy expense is to upgrade to industrial LED lighting, which can reduce lighting energy use up to 90%. This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of the industrial LED alternatives—from plain LED fixtures to Intelligent LED Lighting Systems. Download is available at: http://ecmweb.com/whitepapers/white-paper-choosing-right-led-product-industrial-applications

10.  NEMA LSD 63 - NEMA published "Measurement Methods and Performance Variation for Verification Testing of General Purpose Lamps and Systems." NEMA LSD 63 establishes variations that can be expected when independent verification testing, generally based on small samples of lamps or ballasts, is performed to estimate product performance characteristics and for comparison to manufacturer’s ratings. http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Measurement-Methods-and-Performance-Variation-for-Verification-Testing-of-General-Purpose-Lamps-and-Systems.aspx#download

11.   ASSIST Publishes Recommendations for Detectability of Flicker in LED Sources - The Alliance for Solid-State Illumination Systems and Technologies (ASSIST) recently released a new publication that addresses the issue of LED light source flicker. The methods offered in the publication can be used by LED lighting manufacturers to develop systems that minimize the effects of flicker. http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/assist/recommends/flicker.asp