News Updates for the Week of April 25

1. UD Collaborating With LG Innotek On Advanced Solar Cell Research - The UD solar institute, a U.S. Department of Energy University Center of Excellence for Photovoltaic Research and Education, recently won a three-year, $780,000 contract from LG Innotek to pursue pioneering research on wide band-gap solar cells, which absorb less sunlight, but produce a higher voltage than solar cells currently on the market. LG Innotek is among the top-10 electronics manufacturers in the world, producing LEDs used in flat-screen TVs, semiconductors for automobile motors, and camera sensors for mobile phones, including Apple's latest iPhone, lighting, among other products. http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2011/feb/solar-cell-research-022411.html

2. DOE Publishes Updated SSL R&D Plan – The DOE has published the March 2011 edition of the Solid-State Lighting (SSL) R&D Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP). The report provides a description of the activities the Department plans to undertake over the next several years to implement its SSL mission, and informs the development of annual SSL R&D funding opportunities. The document reviews SSL technology status and trends for both LEDs and organic OLEDs, and offers an overview of the current DOE SSL R&D project portfolio. Significant updates to the Technology Research and Development Plan include revised efficiency projections, priorities, task descriptions, and metrics to align DOE targets with progress made to date and industry trends. To download a PDF copy of the updated Plan, see www.ssl.energy.gov/techroadmaps.html

3. Housing Starts in U.S. Increased to 549,000 in March, Exceeding Forecasts - A gain in March housing starts failed to make up for ground lost the prior month, as U.S. home builders continue to struggle almost two years into the economic recovery. Work began on 549,000 houses at an annual pace, up 7.2 percent from the prior month and exceeding the 520,000 median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News, figures from the Commerce Department showed today in Washington. 4/19 Bloomberg News

4. Existing Home Sales Gain Raises Cautious Hope - Home resales volumes bounced back in March, a hopeful sign for recovery in the housing market, but prices continued to decline. The housing market is struggling to find its footing as a wave of foreclosed properties keeps supply up but prices down. The housing sector led the economy into its worst recession since the 1930s in 2007-2008 and is now lagging recovery in the broader economy. Existing home sales in March rose 3.7 percent from February to an annual rate of 5.10 million units, the National Association of Realtors said on Wednesday. Economists had expected a smaller increase to a 5.0 million-unit pace. 4/20 Reuters

5. Leading Indicators Point to Strengthening Economy - US leading indicators up in March for 9th straight month, but consumers worry about inflation. The Conference Board, a private research group, said U.S. economic growth should strengthen by summer, but cautioned that consumer concerns over rising gas and food prices could drag on the expansion. Its index of leading economic indicators rose 0.4 percent in March. The index, which is a measure of future economic activity, has increased for nine straight months. 4/21 AP

6. Transparent Photovoltaic Cells Turn Windows Into Solar Panels - A new class of transparent photovoltaic cells has been developed that can turn an ordinary windowpane into a solar panel without impeding the passage of visible light, scientists said Tuesday. The cells could one day transform skyscrapers into giant solar collectors, said Richard Lunt, one of the researchers on the project. Previous attempts at transparent solar cells have either failed to achieve high efficiency or blocked too much light to be used in windows. But the new cells, based on organic molecules similar to dyes and pigments, are tailored to absorb only the near-infrared spectrum and have the potential to transform that light into electricity at relatively high efficiency. The largest challenge in developing commercial applications for the new solar cells will be longevity. The cells could be packaged in the middle of double-paned windows, which would provide protection from the elements. But the longevity of the cells would still need to approach the life span of the windows themselves, which would not be replaced for decades. 4/20 NY Times Green

7. University of Hawai'i Community Colleges Selects Johnson Controls to Implement $58 Million Energy Savings Program - University of Hawai'i Community Colleges (UHCC) and Johnson Controls today announced the start of a comprehensive energy efficiency and conservation program projected to save the university more than $58 million in energy and operational savings over the life of the 20-year performance contract. Solar hot water, energy efficient air conditioning and lighting retrofits are among the solutions provided by Johnson Controls. 4/21 PRNewswire

8. Appalachian Power to Launch Energy Efficiency Incentives and Rebate Programs - Appalachian Power, engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electric power, has announced that it is launching a series of energy efficiency incentive and rebate programs to help West Virginia residential and business customers offset rising electricity costs and become better consumers of energy. The SMART Lighting Program offers customers the opportunity to buy compact-fluorescent light bulbs at reduced prices. The program also offers discounts on other forms of smart lighting. For commercial and industrial customers, the Prescriptive Program is designed to generate energy savings for all commercial and industrial customers through the use of high efficiency lighting, HVAC and motors. 4/21 Datamonitor

9. KU Asks to Expand Energy Efficiency Programs - Kentucky Utilities has asked the state Public Service Commission for permission to expand its energy efficiency programs. If approved, the request would create three new offerings and tweak five existing ones. To learn more about existing energy efficiency programs: www.LGE-KU.com/ee

10. Financial results: Philips, Cree - LED products accounted for 14% of Philips’ lighting sales in the last fiscal year. Meanwhile, shares in Cree and SemiLEDs have been hit by poor recent performance. Packaged LED sales by Philips Lumileds represented 45% of total LED product sales, or around $717 million, for the year ending March 2011. Sales of LED lamps and luminaires accounted for around $876 million. Philips’ lighting sales $10.9 billion in the 12 months representing growth of 6%. The company expects that the global lighting market will grow at a CAGR of 7-9% during 2010-2015. Cree, Inc. has announced revenue of $219.2 million for the quarter ended March 27, 2011. This is 6% down compared to revenue of $234.1 million for the same quarter last year, and a 15% decrease compared to the previous quarter. For its fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 ending June 26, 2011, Cree targets revenue in a range of $225 million to $245 million. 4/20 LEDs Magazine

11. Energy Saving Light Bulbs 'Contain Cancer Causing Chemicals' - Fears have been reignited about the safety of energy saving light bulbs after a group of German scientists warned that they contain cancer causing chemicals. Their report advises that the CFL bulbs should not be left on for extended periods, particularly near someone’s head, as they emit poisonous materials when switched on. Peter Braun, who carried out the tests at the Berlin's Alab Laboratory, said: “For such carcinogenic substances it is important they are kept as far away as possible from the human environment.” British experts insisted that more research was needed and urged consumers not to panic. Dr. Michelle Bloor, senior lecturer in Environmental Science at Portsmouth University, told the Daily Express: “Further independent studies would need to be undertaken to back up the presented German research.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8462626/Energy-saving-light-bulbs-contain-cancer-causing-chemicals.html

News Updates for the Week of November 29

1. Will ESL Light Bulbs Beat LEDs? - New York City-based Vu1 Corporation would like consumers to think so with the announcement that after years in the making, the company’s R30 Electron Stimulated Luminescence energy-efficient reflector light bulb —or ESL bulb for short — has been granted final UL approval and will become available to consumers in early 2011. And if all goes as planned, the ESL will prove to be a formidable contender to the two existing, not-entirely-perfect incandescent alternatives: the CFL and the LED. http://www.vu1corporation.com/eslupdate 11/22 Forbes

2. MIT Study Finds Great Potential Energy Savings Through User-Controlled Efficient Lighting Systems - MIT Media Lab are aiming to provide sophisticated and continuous lighting control that could slash lighting bills by more than half. The experimental control devices being tested are about the size of a business card, and thin enough to slip in a pocket. They monitor the light actually falling on the user’s working space, and contain light sensors as well as controls to adjust both the intensity and the color balance of the light. In the current test setup, this information is used to control an array of LED (light-emitting diode) light fixtures. The tiny controllers not only measure the intensity of the light falling on the workspace from the LEDs, but can identify how much light can come from different fixtures while also separately measuring any ambient light coming in from the windows or spillover light from neighboring work areas. 11/22 Balkans News

3. Light at Night: The Latest Science - A panel of leading experts was assembled to explore what today’s science can tell us about light at night. While it remains unproven that typical exposures to outdoor lighting have negative health impacts, this cannot be ruled out without more empirical data and a standard metric for quantifying the relevant light exposures. LED technology holds tremendous potential for energy savings, but it is not yet clear whether its spectral characteristics will offer advantages over other light sources in terms of vision and circadian regulation. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/ssl_whitepaper_nov2010.pdf

4. Seeing Heat: Utility Generating Thermal Images of Homes from High Up - Cedar Falls, Idaho residents will now be able to look at a thermal image of their home from a comfortable seat at their home computer. It will be possible because of two men who crisscrossed the skies over Cedar Falls through the night, carefully photographing every building in the city with a thermal imaging camera. Cedar Falls Utilities took advantage of a federal stimulus grant program ($3 million for the equipment), to create the thermal images. Homeowners and businesses will be able to look at the results and determine heat loss coming from rooftops. 11/20 Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

5. Automation Comes to LEED Green Building Program - The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), developers of the LEED green building program, has announced a new program designed to streamline and create capacity for the LEED building certification process. Called LEED Automation, the program enables users to submit documentation and certify LEED projects online through third-party technology platforms. http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/News/LEED%20Automation.pdf

6. UC Davis Turns On Smart Lighting to Save Energy, Be Model for Californians - The University of California, Davis, today turns on a new Smart Lighting Initiative to slash the amount of electricity it uses to illuminate its buildings and grounds. Working with the UC Davis California Lighting Technology Center, the UC Davis Facilities Management team already has installed lighting energy-saving projects including:
• LED overhead lights with two brightness levels, controlled by occupancy sensors, in campus parking structures;
• Bi-level induction lighting, also controlled by occupancy sensors, in campus parking lots and structures;
• Induction lights in streetlight fixtures on the north entry road (Howard Way);
• "Hybrid" bathroom lights that combine LED night lights with conventional lights and occupancy sensors in Emerson Hall and Webster Hall dormitories;
• Bi-level LED overhead lights in Bainer Hall corridors;
• Advanced compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in Meyer Hall downlights;
• LED desk lamps and bi-level overhead lights controlled by occupancy sensors, daylight sensors and people in Mrak Hall offices; and
• A unique mirrored sunlighting device to bring daylight into interior rooms at the campus’s new winery, brewery and food-processing complex.

The UC Davis Smart Lighting program is expected to cost $39 million. The California Statewide Energy Partnership Program will fund $4 million of the total. The remaining $35 million will be paid for by energy savings of $3 million per year. 11/22 UC Davis News & Information

7. After EISA 2007 There's No Turning Back by Dan Carazo - Everyone of us who champions increased energy efficiency in America – and all its benefits – should lobby our U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator to declare January to be Energy Efficiency Month. A Republican president approved EISA 2007, and a Democratic president signed ARRA 2009, so regardless of our personal political viewpoint, the broad scope of Federal support for energy efficient solutions makes it clear that the current trend toward green electrical is sure to continue to spur further growth for many years. http://tedgreenroom.com

8. Feds Lowers Economic Expectations for 2011 - Top Federal Reserve officials expect the unemployment rate to remain around nine percent at the end of next year and eight percent at the end of 2012, according to internal forecasts that drove the central bank to take new efforts to boost the economy three weeks ago. The 18 top leaders of the central bank expect the U.S. economy to grow at a 3 to 3.6 percent pace next year. 11/23 Washington Post

9. October's Existing-Home Sales Decline - Following two consecutive months of increases, existing-home sales declined in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.43 million. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the 2.2% decline compared with September reflects an uneven recovery. 11/23 HCN

10. Acuity Brands Releases Series of LED Educational Videos - Acuity Brands, through its Lithonia Lighting unit, has announced the release of a series of five online instructional videos featuring insights designed to help answer the common questions about commercial ambient and other LED lighting design applications. http://www.lithonia.com/RTLED

11. Scientists Say They Have Solution to TSA Scanner Objections - A cheap and simple fix in the computer software of new airport scanners could silence the uproar from travelers who object to the so-called virtual strip search, according to a scientist who helped develop the program at one of the federal government's most prestigious institutes: the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. The fix would distort the images captured on full-body scanners so they look like reflections in a fun-house mirror, but any potentially dangerous objects would be clearly revealed, 11/22 Washington Post