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 December 27

1. U.S. Population Grew 9.7% in the Past Decade to 308,745,538, the Slowest Rate Since The Great Depression
2. Construction Unemployment Rate Jumps to 18.8% - Construction unemployment rate is highest for any industry, roughly double overall rate as federal projects remain only bright spot for hard-hit sector. The construction unemployment rate jumped to 18.8% in November as the sector lost another 5,000 jobs since October, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). 12/020 EC&M

3. Release of ENERGY STAR Luminaires Final Draft Version 1.0 Specification - Attached is a memo from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcing the release of the Final Draft Version 1.0 of the ENERGY STAR Program Requirements for Luminaires. This specification, also attached, is intended long term to replace the existing Residential Light Fixtures (V4.3) and Solid State Lighting Luminaires (V1.2) specifications. Stakeholders may submit comments on this draft to EPA no later than Friday, January 14, 2011. Comments should be submitted to luminaires@energystar.gov with “ENERGY STAR Luminaires V1.0 Final Draft Comments” in the subject line.

4. Philips Lumileds Leads LED Industry with Mass Production on 150 mm Wafers - Philips Lumileds is the first power LED manufacturer in mass production on 150 mm wafers and is now producing millions of GaN based LEDs weekly on the larger substrates. Each 150 mm wafer produces four times the number of LEDs as the current 3-inch wafers. The transition to a larger wafer size is broadly viewed as a critical path to providing the increasing volume of LEDs required by the lighting industry and ensuring a supportable and secure supply chain. http://www.philipslumileds.com/

5. Rouses Point, NY Promotes Energy Efficiency - In an effort to increase energy efficiency, the Village of Rouses Point is distributing CFL light bulbs to electric customers. The move is a joint effort with other villages across New York state as part of the Independent Energy Efficiency Program http://ieepny.com/ About 260,000 Energy Star-qualified light bulbs have been distributed since November. Any village residents who pay a utility bill qualify for two free bulbs and can pick them up at the Village Office. 12/19 The Press-Republican

6. Energy Projects Planned for Archbald, PA -Traffic lights at five Archbald intersections will switch from incandescent bulbs to light-emitting diodes next year under a regional initiative funded by the Pittston-based Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance http://www.nepa-alliance.org/ Archbald is one of 55 municipalities that will change their traffic lights as part of the project. 12/17 The Times-Tribune

7. HD to Build Energy-Efficient Prototype -The Home Depot has agreed to showcase a high-performance, energy-efficient store built through the Department of Energy’s Commercial Building Partnership, a program dedicated to accelerating energy-saving technologies into standard designs for commercial buildings. The new Home Depot store, slated for Rocklin, CA, will require up to 50% less energy than standard commercial buildings, according to the press release. Funding will come through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Completion is expected in mid-2012. 12/17 HCN

8. Existing-Home Sales Show Improvement - Data released today from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) show sales of existing homes increased 5.6% to a pace of 4.68 million in November. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.68 million is the highest since June 2010, which saw a pace of 5.26 million. Compared with November of last year, however, sales are 27.9% down from a 6.49-million pace. The optimistic projections are at the 5-million pace by spring of 2011. 12/22 HCN

9. Lighting Science Group Wins Bid to Relight Washington, D.C. - Lighting Science Group's high-performance PROLIFIC series LED street lights will soon line the streets of Washington, D.C. Compared with traditional high pressure sodium (HPS) street lights, the PROLIFIC LED series street lights are 50% more efficient, provide more uniform light distribution, increase light levels, and will save Washington, D.C. tens of thousands of dollars each year in energy and maintenance costs. The new light fixtures will be paid for from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds and will begin to be installed in early 2011. http://www.lsgc.com/