News Updates for the Week of August 12

1.      Call for Nominations: 2014 ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award - The U.S. EPA invites your feedback on candidate technologies for the 2014 ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award. www.energystar.gov/emergingtech The deadline to submit nominations is October 4, 2013. The ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award was created to raise the profile of innovative technologies that may not yet meet key principles associated with the ENERGY STAR program (e.g. widely available, cost-effective), but have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions once they are more widely adopted. As products in these categories become more mainstream, the relevant product categories then become candidates for ENERGY STAR specification development. Nominations should be sent to emergingtech@energystar.gov.

2.      Luminaires Verification Testing: Proposal to Reduce Duplicate Light Source Testing - The U.S. EPA is proposing to reduce duplicate testing of the same light source during verification testing for luminaires by directing certification bodies (CBs) to share test data for light sources used in multiple luminaires. This proposal is to address manufacturer concerns about duplicate light source testing. Share any questions or concerns about this policy with EPA by sending your comments to Certification@energystar.gov no later than August 30, 2013.

3.      BARRON TRACE*LITE Lights Up the Washington Monument - The National Park Service hosted a special ceremony to light the Washington National Monument as it undergoes repairs from damages caused by the 2011 earthquake. The Monument lights up each night at dusk, with 488 LED TRACE*LITE fixtures manufactured by Barron Lighting Group. Sensors were installed that will illuminate the national icon each night until it reopens sometime in Spring 2014.

4.      LED-Based Luminaires: New designs from Cree, Acuity, and GE Lighting - We are seeing more and more innovation in form factor and functionality in solid-state lighting products as lighting manufacturers better understand how to leverage LED sources. Cree, for example, combined LEDs in an indirect fashion with a complex optical design to deliver a new parking-garage fixture that delivers uniform light. Peerless has announced a 4-inch cylindrical fixture that includes an optic that provides continuous smooth lighting and can produce direct or indirect illumination or both. GE Lighting, meanwhile, added a lower-cost planar model to its Lumination family that is lit from the rear. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/10/8/5

5.      Goldman Sachs Sees 'Creative Destruction' in Eight Industry Themes - Goldman Sachs analysts described as "creative destruction" - trends that are big and disruptive enough to reshape industries and draw in an increasing number of investors. Cancer immunotherapy. LED lighting, natural gas engine technology, software defined networking and big data are among the trends Goldman analysts see as mega trends that will change the behavior of consumers and force companies to "adapt or die." LEDs could have 80 percent penetration by 2025, Demand is now in the early stages but the general lighting market is large - $11 billion. LED is about five percent of the market and it is being driven by industrial and commercial demand. Goldman believes Cree is the most attractive play and it has a technology advantage. http://www.cnbc.com

6.      On the Lighter Side: Mr. LED Lighting Takes a Tour of the Hospital - Are you sick and tired of fluorescent and incandescent lighting? If so then maybe you need to get yourself to a hospital, they have plenty of OLEDs and LEDs there.  Let's hope you don't require surgery but if you do it's likely the lights used in the surgical theater will be a sophisticated LED product. The screens that deliver important information to the staff is likely to be an OLED or TFT screen - with or without some LED indicators as well. There are examples of SSL in photo dynamic therapy (PDT), OLEDs that are used in opthamological vision restoration masks, triage informational tags, or even embedded into dermal repair bandages all designed to use the newest tech in quicker healing. And let's not forget the role of SSL in the hospital's general lighting. http://www.sslighting.net/documents/view/news.php?id=123232#editorial

7.      Residential Lighting End-Use Consumption - The U.S. DOE Residential Lighting End-Use Consumption Study aims to improve the understanding of lighting energy usage in U.S. residential dwellings using a regional estimation framework. The framework allows for the estimation of lamp usage and energy consumption 1) nationally and by region of the United States, 2) by certain household characteristics, 3) by location within the home, 4) by certain lamp characteristics and 5) by certain categorical cross-classifications. http://www.ies.org/store/product/lighting-controls-for-energy-management-1303.cfm

8.      Lighting Controls for Energy Management Published - IES announces the publication of Lighting Controls for Energy Management (LEM-7-13). Lighting controls play an essential role in all lighting systems, especially when used to enact various control strategies to satisfy visual needs of users and energy management needs of owners. The publication addresses these needs. http://www.ies.org/store/product/lighting-controls-for-energy-management-1303.cfm

9.      Osram Starts Trading as Spinoff from Siemens - In what had been regarded as one of the largest spinoffs in the electrical industry, Osram Lich AG has started trading on the Frankfurt and Munich stock exchanges under the symbol "OSR."  With this move Siemens AG shareholders received 10 Osram shares for each share they own. A total of 80.5 percent of the more than 100 million no-par-value registered shares were available for sale. Siemens AG holds 17 percent of the capital stock of OSRAM Licht AG. http://www.tedmag.com

10.  Council Wants More Light on LED Project - When it comes to replacing street lights, Pueblo, CO City Council wants a little more light on the subject before going ahead with a project that could cost nearly $6 million. The city has been discussing for three years replacing the city's 8,700 street lights with new LED lights. Executives from Next Step Energy, of Aurora, came to council's work session Monday and said they had been working with Pueblo city staff for three years. They questioned the costs that Black Hills was estimating in the proposed contract with the city and said that cheaper providers were easily found. 8/06The Pueblo Chieftain

11.  China Poised to Become the World's Largest Net Oil Importer Later This Year -  EIA's August 2013 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) projects that China's net oil imports will exceed those of the United States by October 2013 on a monthly basis and by 2014 on an annual basis, making China the largest importer of oil in the world. http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=12471

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