News Updates for the Week of December 3

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 1.     DOE Announces U.S. Manufacturing Funding Opportunity for SSL (Round 4) - The U.S. DOE announced a solid-state lighting (SSL) funding opportunity on November 29, 2012. Up to $11 million in funding is directed toward the existing DOE SSL R&D program area of Manufacturing Research and Development, to establish the U.S. as a global manufacturing leader.  Under this funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000792), DOE seeks applications for SSL manufacturing R&D projects that will achieve significant cost reductions through improvements in manufacturing equipment, processes, or monitoring techniques. Potential applicants should note that applications are due by February 21, 2013. For more information: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/

2.      GE Lighting to Acquire LED Fixture Company Albeo Technology - GE Lighting has signed an agreement to acquire Albeo Technologies, an LED fixture manufacturer based in Boulder, Colorado. GE Lighting officials say the acquisition will help GE serve as an advisor to enterprise customers, as well as offer a more complete and integrated family of LED-based solid-state lighting (SSL) products. Albeo Technologies was founded in 2004. Albeo's range of products includes high bay and low bay lighting fixtures as well as linear, surface-mounted and under cabinet lighting. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/11/18

3.      Siemens Confirms Plan to List Osram via Spinoff - Siemens AG, the industrial conglomerate that owns lighting manufacturer Osram, has confirmed its plans to see its subsidiary listed as a separate company, subject to a shareholder vote. A plan to conduct an IPO of Osram shares was finally shelved in July of this year. Instead, Siemens will take a different route, and will spin off 80.5% of Osram’s shares to existing Siemens shareholders. The transaction will result in Siemens’ shareholders receiving one Osram share for every ten Siemens shares. However, Siemens still intends to retain a minority stake in Osram, in which it wants to remain “a long-term anchor shareholder.” To this end, Siemens AG will retain a 17% stake in Osram following the spinoff, with the Siemens Pension Trust holding the remaining 2.5%. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/11/22

4.      $20 Billion Bonanza - SWEEP http://www.swenergy.org/ promotes greater energy efficiency in a six-state region that includes Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. By investing a total of $17 billion in best practice utility energy efficiency programs, the Southwest region could realize $37 billion in utility system and public health benefits --meaning $20 billion in net benefits or $2650 for every household in the region today. The State’s utilities already have programs that can be expanded to achieve the forecast savings. http://azcapitoltimes.com/files/2012/11/20B_Bonanza-COMPLETE_REPORT-Web.pdf

 

5.      Now Accepting tED magazine Greenest of the Green Nominations - Nominations for the 2013 Greenest of the Green contest will be accepted from Dec. 3, 2012 through Jan. 18, 2013.  The Greenest of the Green award recognizes NAED distributors who have implemented operational energy efficiencies in their own facilities. The award will be presented at the 2013 NAED National Meeting. The winning company will also be featured in the April 2013 issue of tED magazine.  Contact: Misty Byers mbyers@naed.org

6.      Soraa and IESNYC Tackle Led Lighting Compatibility - DATE: Wednesday, Dec. 5^th  TIME: 11:00 am - 7:30 pm LOCATION: The Metropolitan Pavilion (Located at 125 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011).  In an effort to remove barriers to the rapid adoption of LED lighting, Soraa www.soraa.com will sponsor the lighting industry's first PlugFest in conjunction with the IESNYC at their annual Control This! event.   www.controlthis.org

7.      Con Edison of New York City Accepts LED Tubes with Internal Drivers for Rebate - In recognizing the advancement of LED T8 technology, Con Edison announced recently it is now able to accept LED tubes with internal drivers for custom rebate program on a case-by-case basis. The requirements are:

• LED T8 with internal driver design must meet all code & safety requirements. 
• Existing fixture retrofit and new fixture replacement are both applicable. 
• The fixture must use non-shunted tombstones.

http://www.aleddra.com/AleddraSpec/CutSheet-LLT-4ft-SingleEnd.pdf

8.      LED Streetlights Set to Light the Way on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard - According to a report published by The Lighting Group http://thecleanrevolution.org/_assets/files/LED_report_web1.pdf

this year, “Public street and park lighting accounts for 1-3% of total electricity demand, depending on the region, and up to 40% of the electricity bill of local authorities.” As part of their mission to promote energy efficiency, Cape Light Compact is working with towns across the Cape and Vineyard to convert town-owned streetlights to LED fixtures. Starting in January 2013, 140 streetlights will be retrofit in both commercial and residential areas. http://www.energyefficiencymatters.org/author/neepenergy/

9.      Virginia Beach Residents Upset About LED Traffic Signs - All eight LED signs, intended to alert drivers of traffic problems and public safety issues, are scheduled to be up and running in February, according to the city's Public Works Department. Federal congestion mitigation funds paid the cost: $60,500 per sign, plus money for fiber optic cables, infrastructure and a "state of the art" traffic management system.  The PWD said the potential benefits, especially during construction, special events and storms, outweigh the relatively minor aesthetic cost. Residents have concerns about how often the signs will be on and how bright they'll be. They don't want them on all the time, flashing the temperature or how long it will take to reach the beach. 11/26 The Virginian-Pilot

10.  PACE: A Smart Way to Finance Retrofits for Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation in TX - Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a non-profit business association organized for the specific purpose of promoting legislation in Texas to facilitate loans throughout the state.  PACE is an innovative program that provides low-cost, long-term financing for energy efficiency retrofits and improvements to existing structures on all types of commercial, industrial, and residential properties. PACE loans will enable Texans to save substantial amounts in energy costs, upgrade and enhance the value of existing structures, and create thousands of jobs. http://www.keepingpaceintexas.org

11.  California Public Utilities Commission 2010 – 2011 Energy Efficiency Annual Progress Evaluation Report - Lighting represents approximately one quarter of residential and commercial electricity use in California and has historically represented half or more of utility program portfolio savings. California’s Strategic Plan cites energy efficient lighting as a critical element of the Strategic Plan’s zero net energy vision, and sets a goal of a 60 to 80 percent reduction in California’s electric lighting energy consumption by 2020. California Assembly Bill 1109 (the also known as “the Huffman Bill”) will support this goal by phasing out some traditional, low efficiency incandescent lamps by 2018.  http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/89718A1B-C3D5-4E30-9A82-74ED155D0485/0/EnergyEfficiencyEvaluationReport.pdf

12.  2013 DOE Solid-State Lighting R&D Workshop January 29-31, 2013 • Long Beach, CA - As solid-state lighting technology matures, the remaining questions get more complex. Where does future R&D need to be directed to drive significant leaps in LED and OLED performance? How can government and industry work together to find solutions, accelerate advances, and hasten market adoption? Join DOE at the 10th annual SSL R&D workshop. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/longbeach13.html

13.  ENERGY STAR Luminaires V1.2 - Attached is important correspondence from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concerning the proposal for Version 1.2 ENERGY STAR Specification for Luminaires. Comments/concerns may be submitted no later than Friday, December 14, 2012 to: luminaires@energystar.gov http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=archives.luminaires

News Updates for the Week of October 29

1. New NAED Study Available: ESCO Partnerships and the Electrical Distribution Industry - This new study looks at partnership options between energy service companies (ESCOs) and distributors. These partnerships are in some cases a good way for distributors to enter and maintain a stake in the energy market. To help navigate relations with ESCOs, this project examines three areas:

• The status and trajectory of the ESCO industry
• NAED members’ experiences working with ESCOs
• Recommendations for future partnerships 

  http://www.naed.org/Research/Going_Green_Topics/ESCO/ESCO_Partnerships/

2. LED Lighting Facts Rolls Out QA Testing & More - The US Department of Energy’s LED Lighting Facts program is evolving along with the changing marketplace. In 2011-12, LED Lighting Facts has added to its reporting capabilities and is instituting two product-integrity programs: a Quality Assurance (QA) Testing Program, which requires product performance be independently tested and verified, and an annual renewal of each product’s listing and label. With the goal of expanding functionality, the program is working more closely with allies, such as Energy Star and the DesignLights Consortium. http://lighting.com/led-lighting-facts-qa-testing/

    

3. DOE Releases CALiPER Report on LED Recessed Wallwashers - The U.S. DOE has completed Series 18 of testing through the DOE Solid-State Lighting CALiPER program. Report 18 analyzes the performance of 17 LED recessed wallwasher luminaires. The products tested were diverse in luminous intensity distribution and lumen output—reflecting the varied applications in which recessed wallwashers are used—but were generally comparable to conventional wallwashers using a 32 W CFL or 20 W metal halide lamp. A summary of the results is now available for download on the DOE SSL website at www.ssl.energy.gov/reports.html

4. DOE Releases Demonstration Report on LED Roadway Lighting in Philadelphia - The U.S. DOE has published the final report from a demonstration of LED roadway lighting conducted at three sites in Philadelphia, PA. The report provides a performance evaluation of 10 different LED luminaires—and compares them to the incumbent HPS luminaires—using manufacturer data, illuminance calculations, field measurements, and subjective observations. The evaluation was conducted by the DOE Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium and GATEWAY demonstration program, in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia. www.ssl.energy.gov/gatewaydemos_results.html

5. NYC Installs 1,600 LED Fixtures in Central Park - The New York City Department of Transportation recently completed the installation of nearly 1,600 LED luminaires that light walkways and grassy areas in Central Park. The new luminaires from Spring City Electrical feature Cree XLamp® XP-G LEDs in each fixture and were produced using an advanced light engine from Heatron. DOT officials estimate the new LED lighting will reduce energy usage by 62 percent and deliver annual maintenance savings of nearly $30,000 compared to metal halide lighting.. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/york-city-central-park-completes-130000828.html

6. Siemens to Exit Solar Business - Siemens will exit its unprofitable solar business because it has not met profitability goals and is already in talks with potential unidentified buyers. Siemens’ solar business only makes up a small portion of the company’s overall sales with revenues last fiscal year of about $409 million or 300 million Euros. Siemens had sales of EUR73.52 billion. Siemens will focus its renewable energy activities on wind energy and hydro power. http://www.tedmag.com 

7. Philips LED-Product Sales Account for 24% of All Lighting Revenue - Philips’ lighting sales in the third quarter of 2012 grew by 4% on a comparable basis over the same period in 2011, reaching $2.77 billion. The company said that the changes were driven by double-digit growth at Lumileds and Automotive, and low-single-digit growth at Light Sources & Electronics. LED-based sales grew by 51%, and now account for 24% of total lighting sales for Philips. This puts the value of LED-based sales at just over $650 million for the quarter. In comparison, Cree’s latest quarterly revenue was $187.5 million for LED products, and $108 million for lighting products (some but not all of which are LED-based), or $295.5 million in total. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/10/20 

8. Philips’ LED Licensing Program Attracts More Licensees - More than 230 companies have signed up to Philips’ LED-based luminaires and retrofit bulbs licensing program for its portfolio of patents related to LEDs and SSL, but two recent lawsuits indicate that not all companies are willing licensees. Back in May 2012, Philips signed its 200th licensee, and that number now exceeds 230, according to a spokesperson. Among the companies that have signed up to the program are Osram, Zumtobel, Acuity, Cree, Trilux and Cooper. Earlier this year, Philips resorted to a patent-infringement lawsuit against Nexxus Lighting. And more recently another lighting manufacturer, TCP Inc, has filed its own lawsuit in an attempt to avoid having to join the program. According to the press release from Nexxus, the Philips lawsuit was settled at the end of September 2012, with Nexxus joining the Philips licensing program. In the TCP case, we’ll find out in due course whether this lawsuit will have any real effect, but the smart money has to be on TCP joining Philips’ licensing program in the near future. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/10/17

9. Philips Introduces LED BR30, Says 100W-Equivalent A21 to Ship Dec 1 - Philips Lighting made a number of LED retrofit lamp announcements that span the range of A-lamps to LED-based T8 tubes. The company said that its 22W A21 EnduraLED lamp that delivers 1780 lm will be in major retail stores December 1 at a price of $55. Philips also announced a new dimmable LED BR30 that transitions from 2700K to 2200K as light output decreases. In the T8 area, the company says it has a new lamp that uses an external driver and that it's among the first LED tubes to achieve DesignLights Consortium (DLC) compliance. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/10/24 

10. Smart Appliance Sales to Reach 45 Million Units Annually by 2020 - Smart appliances will likely start to make their way into households in greater numbers after 2015. Defined as major household appliances that use intelligent power management technology to help optimize electrical load on the power distribution grid, these appliances offer consumers the benefits of reduced energy usage, lower energy costs, lower carbon emissions, and advanced features such as remote control. According to a new report from Pike Research, worldwide sales of smart appliances will climb rapidly over the remainder of this decade, reaching just under 45 million units per year in 2020. Worldwide sales to reach nearly $35 billion. http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/smart-appliances

11. Solais Introduces New “X24 Series” of LED Solutions for Track and Recessed Applications - Solais Lighting, Inc. announced the introduction of its elite new “X24 Series” of LED lamps and fixtures. Ideal for a broad range of applications within the high-end retail and commercial sectors, the X24 series delivers an impressive 1600 lumens of light output with just a 3-inch aperture and is available with field-replaceable accessories to enhance ease of use and design flexibility. Designed for use in track and recessed lighting applications previously dominated by ceramic metal halide and halogen technology. www.solais.com

12. US Economic Growth Reached Still-Modest 2 Pct. Rate in Q3 on Higher Defense, Consumer Spending - Growth accelerated from the 1.3 percent rate in the April-June quarter. Even with the increase, growth remains too weak to rapidly boost hiring. The 1.74 percent annual growth rate for the first nine months of 2012 remains slightly behind last year’s 1.8 percent growth. The economy grew faster last quarter in part because consumer spending rose at a 2 percent annual rate, up from a 1.5 percent rate in the second quarter. Spending on homebuilding and renovations increased at an annual rate of more than 14 percent. And federal spending surged 13%, mainly because of the sharpest increase in defense spending in more than three years. Economists think growth will remain sluggish at least through the first half of 2013. 10/26 Washington Post

13. Game Changer: Philips Launches World's Smartest Bulbs - Philips today introduced hue, the world's first Web-enabled LED home lighting system available direct to the consumer. Offered exclusively through Apple stores beginning on October 30, the hue starter kit includes three LED bulbs that fit into any standard light fixture, a bridge that connects to existing wireless routers. Philips hue sets up in minutes and, with a quick download of the hue application, the system can be controlled from any iOS or Android device. From the app, consumers can remotely control their home lighting for added security, personalize their lighting experience with custom settings, or program timers to help manage daily schedules, all through the convenience of their smart device. hue starter kits will retail for $199 and are available at Apple stores nationwide on October 30. Additional bulbs will be available at $59. For more information about hue, visit: www.meethue.com 10/29 PRNewswire http://www.forummedia.us/philipshue/

News Updates for the Week of April 9

1.      New World Trade Center Serves as Model for Urban Energy Efficiency - In the wake of the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center (WTC) on Sept. 11, 2001, New York City officials and building planners set out to rebuild the complex to greater heights–and greater energy efficiency. The new World Trade Center complex will feature a stunning array of energy-efficient design techniques and America’s most innovative, energy-efficient technologies. The towers were all designed to meet LEED Gold certification. 4/02 ASE

2.      Strategies Unlimited Projects $3.7 Billion LED Retrofit Lamp Market in 2016 - Strategies Unlimited has published a new report entitled "LED replacement lamp market analysis and forecast" that projects a global LED-retrofit-lamp market that exceeds $3.7 billion by 2016. The growth in solid-state lighting (SSL) products intended for existing sockets is from a $2.2 billion base in 2011, and the firm projects an annual 30% growth in the number of units sold. According to the report, there were 39.9 million SSL A19-lamps sold globally in 2011. Japan led the way in consuming LED A-lamps with 24.7 million of the global total. http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/9/4/1

3.      Verification Testing Guidance for Luminaires - The ENERGY STAR specification for luminaires is now effective and certified luminaires will start being subject to verification testing administered by EPA-recognized certification bodies (CBs). In preparation for that testing, the U.S. EPA is planning to issue to CBs the attached guidance that provides additional direction for conducting verification testing of luminaires. This guidance limits the verification testing to core performance criteria and also establishes the sample sizes needed to verify product performance. EPA plans to finalize this guidance on April 16, 2012. If you have concerns or questions about this guidance, notify EPA via Certification@energystar.gov as soon as possible with "Luminaires Verification Testing" in the subject line.

4.      NEMA Publishes NEMA WD 7 Occupancy Motion Sensors Standard - Previously published as a guide and not a standard, WD 7 promotes uniformity for the definition and measurement of characteristics relevant to the use and application of occupancy motion sensors. This standard covers the definition and measurement of field of view and coverage characteristics relevant to the use and application of vacancy and occupancy sensors using individual or any combination of passive infrared, ultrasonic, or microwave technology. These sensors are used in systems for control of lighting, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), and other devices.  WD 7 may be downloaded at no cost http://www.nema.org/stds/wd7.cfm

5.      Siemens Osram Light Unit Said to Plan First China LED Plant - Siemens AG  which is seeking to sell shares in its lighting subsidiary Osram this year, is drafting plans for its first production plant for light-emitting diodes in China. Osram has given the go-ahead for the project and is negotiating which parts of LEDs and related components it will produce in the country.The facility would fill a gap for Osram in China, the world’s largest lighting market at $10.6 billion. Osram now only has production sites for the semiconductor-based technology in Regensburg, Germany and Penang, Malaysia. 4/03 Bloomberg

6.      Energy Savings Version 2.0 - From water heater jackets to programmable thermostats and LED lighting, the number of home improvement products that fall under the energy-efficient umbrella is ever expanding. Many dealers and manufacturers say that lighting products have amplified this movement.  3/30 HCN

7.      $54M Big Dig Light Fix Called ‘Permanent Solution’ - A $54 million proposal to replace the more than 25,000 fixtures in the Big Dig tunnels is being touted by MassDOT officials as a “permanent solution” to fix the corroded lights inside the problem-plagued underground highway and ramp system. The project, slated to begin this time next year pending the MassDOT board’s approval of a bid, would replace the corroding fluorescent fixtures that crashed into the spotlight in February 2011 after a 110-pound fixture fell in the Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Tunnel with a complete overhaul to energy-saving LED lights. 4/05 Boston Herald

8.      Cree Aeroblades Luminaires Combine Cutting-Edge Technology with High-Design - Cree, Inc. introduces the Aeroblades™ series of luminaires www.cree.com/aeroblades  demonstrating the continued evolution of outdoor LED lighting. Based on Cree’s BetaLED® Technology with NanoOptic® lighting control, Aeroblades luminaires represent the intersection of industry-leading LED innovation and high design. Designed and engineered with Speirs + Major, one of the world’s leading lighting design firms, the Aeroblades luminaire series takes a bold approach to architectural street, area and security lighting. Aeroblades luminaires redefine exterior lighting by enabling LED implementation while optimizing thermal management, light control, efficiency, longevity and payback. http://www.ledsmagazine.com/products/34680

9.      Johns Manville Publishes 2011 Sustainability Report - Johns Manville (JM), a global manufacturer of energy-efficient building products and engineered specialty materials, today announced the publication of We Build Environments, its 2011 Sustainability Report. The publication can be viewed as a PDF file on the company's website at www.jm.com/sustainability

10.  Become a Building Efficiency Expert with BOC - Building Operator Certification (BOC®) is a nationally recognized, competency-based training and certification program that offers facilities personnel the improved job skills and knowledge to transform workplaces to be more comfortable, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.  The BOC credential is recognized by employers across the country as a sign of the value and contributions certified facilities management personnel can bring to their organizations. http://www.theboc.info/h-training-locations.html

11.  Mild Winter May Have Artificially Inflated Jobs Data, Economists Fear - Economists say the mild winter has artificially inflated job growth. February alone stole as many as 72,000 positions from March and future months, according to Macroeconomic Advisers. Translation: The surge in hiring early in the year may not be as strong as it appeared. On Friday, the Labor Department reported that the job market slowed in March as employers expanded payrolls by 120,000 jobs, falling short of expectations.  Forecasts for the nation’s gross domestic product during the first quarter hover around 2 percent.  However, economists seem to agree that the fundamentals of the recovery are solid, yet slow. 4/07 Washington Post

12.  NAESCO MIDWEST REGIONAL MEETING - June 7, 2012 at The Pfister Hotel, 24 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI. NAESCO will explore the role of energy efficiency in the region against the backdrop of competing energy resource options including the sizable area oil and gas deposits. The meeting will examine existing regional energy efficiency mandates and investment levels and address the impact of the economic downturn on the pursuit of aggressive energy efficiency policies and programs. http://www.naesco.org/events/meetings/midwest/2012/registration.htm

13.  China Lighting Source Industry Report, 2011-2012 - In 2011, China lighting appliance industry produced 19.61 billion electric light sources (up 4.0% year on year), including 4.17 billion incandescent light bulbs (a 3.8% yr-on-yr rise) and 3.32 billion fluorescent lamps (down 1.40% from a year earlier). By output, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong and Henan ranked the top 5 in 2011, with their output totaling 14.98 billion units, accounting for 76.39% of the national total. http://www.researchandmarkets.com/product/a8830c/china_lighting_source_industry_report_20112  

14.  The 2012 Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit is the region's premier venue for bringing together thought leaders in public policy, business, and consumer and environmental advocacy to advance energy efficiency as a solution to the challenges of reliable, affordable and clean energy.