News Updates for the Week of March 24

1.      By 2020, LEDs May Rival Incandescent Bulbs in Cost without Rebates - New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows how far the cost of LEDs has fallen since 2010. The agency projects that the technology will approach price parity with CFLs and incandescent bulbs around the end of the decade. A 2012 report from the U.S. Department of Energy, however, forecasts that LEDs will make up only 36 percent of lumen-hour sales in the lighting market in 2020, a figure that is expected to grow to 74 percent by 2030. But the DOE has already revised its projections upward three times in the past five years. The department now has a goal of 224 lumens per watt efficacy at $0.70 per thousand lumens by 2020. EIA’s projections would suggest that this is too ambitious a goal to achieve; its forecast is closer to 150 lumens per watt by 2020. http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/can-leds-be-nearly-as-cheap-as-incandescents-by-2020

2.      BP Forecast: US Is Destined to Be an Energy Giant Again - Domestic energy production is destined to outstrip consumption in coming years, led by natural gas and U.S. dominance as the world's biggest producer, so that the nation will stand totally energy independent by 2035, according to a long-range global study by oil giant BP. Worldwide, demand for energy will go up 41 percent by 2035, primarily because of use in emerging economies, BP estimated. During that time period, the U.S. share of global demand is expected to decline to 13 percent from the current 18 percent, and China's demand will go up to 27 percent from the current 22 percent. http://www.moneynews.com

3.      Toshiba Seeks Europe Lighting Tie-Ups to Take on Philips - Toshiba Corp. plans to sign at least three partnerships in the next 12 months to manufacture lighting fixtures in Europe as it seeks to become the region’s third-biggest supplier of LEDs. Tokyo-based Toshiba, which until 2009 only sold LEDs in Japan, plans to reach a top 3 spot in Europe by 2020, threatening the dominance of Royal Philips NV and Osram Licht AG in a global market forecast to reach $42 billion by 2019. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-18/toshiba-seels-europe-lighting-tie-ups-to-take-on-philips.html

4.      LED Industry to Enter 3 Golden Years, Says Epistar Chairman - Mainly due to fast growing global demand for LED lighting, the LED industry will enjoy three golden years during 2014-2017, according to chairman Lee Biing-jye for Taiwan-based LED epitaxial wafer and chip maker Epistar. Global demand for LED lighting as a percentage of all lighting products will increase to at least 30% in 2014, Lee said. LED lighting penetration in the Japan market will remain the highest around the world and is expected to rise from over 50% in 2013 to about 70% in 2014, while the US market will grow from about 10% to 20%, Lee said. Everlight Electronics, the largest Taiwan-based LED packaging service provider, expects double-digit growth in 2014, company chairman Robert Yeh noted. http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20140320PD213.html

5.      DOE Webinar: Maintenance Practices for LED Streetlights - On Monday, April 14, DOE's Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium will host a 90-minute live webinar entitled Maintenance Practices for LED Streetlights. The relative newness of LED streetlights naturally prompts important questions about maintenance and reliability, and how to take these issues into account when planning and preparing for a transition to LED street lighting. The webinar will begin promptly at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT) and will include a 60-minute presentation, followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session. For more information / register, visit the DOE SSL website.

6.      DOE Webinar: LED Color Stability—10 Important Questions - On Tuesday, April 15, the U.S. DOE Solid-State Lighting Program will host a 60-minute live webinar entitled LED Color Stability: 10 Important Questions. The lumen maintenance lifetime of many LED products is 25,000 hours or more, but that doesn't mean products are guaranteed to perform the same over that time. One thing that could change is the color of the light, or chromaticity. This webinar will examine the causes of color shift, and look at existing metrics used to describe color shift/color stability in LED lighting. The webinar will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET; will include a 45-minute presentation followed by a 15-minute Q&A session with attendees. For more information / register, visit the DOE SSL website.

7.      LED Solutions Improve Lighting Performance and Efficiency at Detroit Metropolitan Airport Eaton has announced that its Cooper Lighting division’s Ventus LED luminaires are replacing 6,050 existing parking garage fixtures at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) to improve efficiencies and optical lighting performance. The conversion will result in a 66 percent reduction in power consumption with an anticipated overall energy and maintenance savings of approximately $1.2 million annually. http://www.ledjournal.com/main/markets/applications/led-solutions-improve-lighting-performance-and-efficiency-at-detroit-metropolitan-airport/#more-9880

 8.      Ameresco Begins Implementation of ESPC as Part of GSA's National Deep Energy Retrofit Program Challenge – The GSA's $45 million Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) is underway. The GSA selected Ameresco to develop a comprehensive ESPC addressing over one million square feet of office space at the New Carrollton Federal Building in Lanham, MD and the Silver Spring Metro Center 1 building in Silver Spring, MD. Both buildings will be modernized with the installation of 11,000 individually addressable LED lighting fixtures controlled by a network of sensors. Over 2,000 sensors will be installed in the two buildings. Capable of sensing occupancy and ambient light, the system will automatically adjust light output to match current conditions. The new lighting control systems will integrate into existing and new DDC control systems allowing the HVAC systems to heat and cool only occupied spaces. 3/18 BUSINESS WIRE

9.      Benton City, WA Gets New LED Street Lights - Benton City is one of six small towns in the state of Washington to receive new, power-efficient LED street lights for free.  Swapping out incandescent bulbs for LEDs is a pilot program of the state Transportation Improvement Board.  Benton PUD will be replacing 119 of the lights and Benton Rural Electric Association will replace 11 of the street lights.  Benton City also has 53 street lights and has contracted with Sun River Electric of Kennewick to replace those with the new LEDs. 3/12 Tri-City Herald

10.  Will the US Choose the Right Road to a New Energy Future? - The United States is currently facing a very unique situation—the first of its kind—as we decide how to upgrade and expand our energy infrastructure. Many are afraid that investing in a new energy system is too expensive and would cost trillions of dollars. The truth is that the investment choices we make today will determine whether we build a resilient, reliable energy system. What we need is a modern system that will maximize economic benefits, put the consumer in control, and utilize innovation and technology all while attaining steep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com

11.  Lighting Systems Index Gains Traction During Fourth Quarter - NEMA’s Lighting Systems Index gained traction during 2013 Q4, increasing by 1.8 percent compared to the previous quarter. The index increased 4.7 percent on a year-over-year basis. Index components for emergency lighting, fixtures and miniature lamps posted gains, while ballasts and large lamps retreated q/q. Overall performance during calendar year 2013 placed the index nearly 17 percent above the depressed level of the Great Recession during 2009. http://www.nema.org/news/Pages/Lighting-Systems-Index-Gains-Traction-During-Fourth-Quarter.aspx

News Updates for the Week of August 8

1. Landmark US Building Codes Finalized - The changes represent the largest single-step efficiency increase in the history of the national energy code. It requires homes and buildings to achieve energy savings 30% higher than the 2006 code. Since homes and buildings produce fully half of US greenhouse gases and use over 75% of the electricity generated from power plants, the new code is a very significant energy policy decision. The upgraded International Energy Conservation Code is expected to save American homes and businesses $40 billion annually in energy costs by 2030, says the Alliance to Save Energy. The code will also eliminate the need for about 47 coal plants. The International Codes Council is comprised of about 500 state and local building code officials from around the country, who meet every three years to consider updates to the International Energy Conservation Code. Last October, they voted overwhelmingly to approve the stronger codes, which were finalized by the IECC last week. http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/

2. McKinsey Releases Lighting Market Report - McKinsey & Company was commissioned by Osram to draw up a market report with an independent perspective on the global lighting market and its likely evolution. Based on a worldwide survey of lighting professionals and consumers, as well as other input factors, McKinsey has developed a lighting market model that estimates the size of the global lighting market through to 2020, differentiated by application, geography, and light-source technology. Projections show that the global lighting market is expected to have revenues of approximately EUR 110 billion in 2020 – comparable to the global TV market. The advent of LED technology – only the fourth lighting technology in the history of human mankind – is set to transform this industry. Figures suggest that estimated global revenues from the LED lighting market will grow at 30% per annum, amounting to almost EUR 65 billion by 2020 – close to 60 percent of the overall lighting market. The three most relevant sectors in lighting are general lighting, automotive lighting, and backlighting. This market report covers these 3 major sectors with a deep dive in general lighting: this is the largest sector, accounting for approximately 75 percent of the total lighting market. http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/8/8/5 Download McKinsey’s lighting market report (PDF, 1.2 MB)

3. Retail Shoppers Respond to Lighting with Superior Color Rendering - A recent study by an independent researcher evaluating the attention-grabbing potential of retail displays determined a correlation between color-rendering ability and lure-ability. San Jose, CA-based Xicato, a manufacturer of LED modules, commissioned a study from independent researcher Colette Knight in order to evaluate the effect of lighting quality on the attraction towards, appreciation of, and sales of, merchandise. The experiment found that shoppers and lighting designers were more attracted to retail shoe displays that used spot lighting with better color-rendering ability, in particular enhanced rendering of deep reds. http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/8/8/4

4. Five Things You Didn't Know About LED Light Bulbs -

1) LEDs are cooler

2) You get instant full light

3) LEDs don't attract bugs

4) LEDs come in funny shapes

5) You will need to learn some lighting lingo

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20084337-54/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-led-lightbulbs/?tag=mncol;mlt_related

5. Department of Energy Announce Philips as Winner of $10 million L Prize Competition - The U.S. Department of Energy today announced that Philips has won the 60-watt replacement bulb category of the Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize (L Prize) competition. The DOE’s L Prize challenged the lighting industry to develop high performance, energy-saving replacements for conventional light bulbs that will save American consumers and businesses money. If every 60-watt incandescent bulb in the U.S. was replaced with the 10-watt L Prize winner, the nation would save about 35 terawatt-hours of electricity or $3.9 billion in one year and avoid 20 million metric tons of carbon emissions. Submitted in 2009, the Philips LED bulb successfully completed 18 months of demanding field, lab, and product testing to meet the rigorous requirements of the L Prize competition – ensuring that performance, quality, lifetime, cost, and availability meet expectations for widespread adoption and mass manufacturing. http://www.forummedia.us/philipslprize

6. Cree Prototype Exceeds DOE’s 21st Century Lamp L PrizeSM Requirements - Demonstrating the future of lighting, Cree, Inc. unveiled a concept LED light bulb from its lighting research and development team. Redefining what is possible with high-performance LED lighting, the lamp delivers more than 1,300 lumens at 152 lumens per watt (LPW) using Cree TrueWhite® Technology. Cree’s prototype LED light bulb exceeds the performance goals set by the DOE for the 21st Century Lamp, the third category in its L PrizeSM competition. For more information about this concept LED light bulb, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWx_2fqhzOQ

7. Cree Demo LED Bulb Turns Up Dial on Efficiency - The company yesterday 8/2 unveiled a demonstration LED bulb that meets the stringent efficiency requirements of the L Prize, a DOE-sponsored contest. Cree doesn't plan to release the prototype as a product. The bulb, which Cree is calling the 21st Century Lamp, gives off more than 1,300 lumens, or more than a 75-watt incandescent light, and consumes 8.7 watts. It's shaped to give off even light, making it suitable for all sorts of applications, rather than just spot lights or ceiling lights placed in recessed cans. The color rendering index is over 90. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20086780-54/cree-demo-led-bulb-turns-up-dial-on-efficiency/#ixzz1TtCHJabn

8. Energy audit advice delivered at Sam's Clubs in PA -A partnership between Pittsburgh-based remodeling company Legacy Remodeling and the Home Performance Network will arrange energy-audit consultations at Sam's Club stores in Western Pennsylvania. Consumers at area Sam’s Club stores will be able to talk to representatives from Legacy Remodeling about ways they can save on their energy bills and live a “greener” lifestyle by making energy-efficient improvements to their homes, according to the company. They can also register for complimentary home energy audits in which an expert will visit their home and present recommendations for saving energy. 8/2 HCN

9. Avista Mailing Out Energy-Saving Bulbs - Avista Utilities has begun mailing 350,000 kits with eight compact fluorescent bulbs to residential customers in Washington and Idaho. The kits should reach all customers by the end of November. It's costing Avista roughly $7.5 million to buy, package and mail the kits. The money for that project comes from a monthly energy-efficiency surcharge Avista collects from its customers. Washington customers pay $3.79 per month for an average of 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity; Idaho customers pay $2.58 per month. 7/30 The Spokesman-Review

10. Las Vegas Installing Energy-Efficient Streetlights - Las Vegas is lighting up the night with thousands of energy-efficient streetlamps. Crews are starting this week to replace 6,600 conventional streetlight bulbs with LED fixtures. City officials say the change will cut the Las Vegas energy bill by $400,000 each year and reduce the city's annual electricity use by 8 million kilowatt hours. The city plans to replace 50,000 bulbs in all six wards over the next four months. Funding comes from $2.9 million in federal energy conservation bonds and $400,000 from a state of Nevada federal stimulus grant. 8/1 AP

11. N.E. Buildings Compete in EPA's Energy Contest -Ten New England buildings have joined a program to encourage energy efficiency in buildings around the country. Teams from 245 buildings across the country are participating in the U.S. EPA’s "Battle of the Buildings" challenge to see who can save the most energy with help from EPA's Energy Star program. At the halfway point of this year's competition, EPA has recognized the teams who have reduced energy use the most in the 12 building categories. Of the top national contenders, the Colonnade Hotel in Boston is the highest-ranking hotel in the competition. Winners will be announced November 2, 2011. 7/31 AP http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=buildingcontest.index

12. NIPSCO to Offer New Electric Savings Programs - Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) received approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to expand its offering of energy efficiency programs designed to help electric customers save energy and manage their energy usage. Instant Savings on CFLs: Through a partnership with several local retailers, NIPSCO offers instant discounts when customers purchase select CFL lighting. No coupons or forms are needed. Simply visit a participating retailer and receive instant savings up to 90 percent off normal retail prices. 7/28 PRNewswire

13. Allentown's 'Green' Loans Get Few Takers -There's still plenty of money left in a loan program that aims to cut costs for energy-saving home and business improvements in Allentown. Since 2010, about 25 home owners and three businesses have taken advantage of the federal stimulus money available for low-interest loans for green building upgrades. The funding awarded amounts to a little less than a third of the $100,000 set aside for residential customers and about one-quarter of the $80,000 set aside for businesses, he said. The rest of the $750,000 U.S. Department of Energy grant has already gone toward lighting controls in City Hall, fuel catalysts that reduce the consumption of fuel in city vehicles and studies to make Allentown a more bike-friendly town. 7/26 The Morning Call

14. GE LED Replacement Lamps - GE Lighting’s full line of LED GE Energy Smart incandescent replacement bulbs are anticipated to be on store shelves within the next 16 months. This November marks the arrival of the 13W GE Energy Smart LED, a dimmable 60W incandescent replacement bulb. GE’s dimmable 75W and 100W replacement LED bulbs–likely 18W and 27W products, respectively–are expected to arrive on store shelves in late 2012. http://www.gelighting.com/na/

15. EPA Directive 2011-06: ENERGY STAR Verification Testing Supplement - Attached EPA Directive 2011-06, "ENERGY STAR Verification Testing Supplement: Selecting Products, Obtaining Products, and Reporting Results." This document provides additional guidance to EPA-recognized certification bodies on conducting verification testing. It is intended to serve as a supplement to EPA's general requirements for certification bodies. For general information on EPA's third party certification procedures for ENERGY STAR products, as well as a list of recognized laboratories and certification bodies, please visit: www.energystar.gov/3rdpartycert

16. Municipal Street Lighting Consortium to Hold Final 2011 Workshop in San Jose - The U.S. Department of Energy's Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium will hold its Southwest Region Workshop on August 25–26 in San Jose, California. Hosted by the City of San Jose, the workshop will be the Consortium's final regional workshop in 2011 and welcomes designers, consultants, utility and city representatives, government agencies, and energy efficiency organizations who evaluate LED street lighting solutions. For more information or to register, visit www.ssl.energy.gov/consortium_sw2011.html

17. LG, Philips, GE, Sharp and Toshiba LED Bulb Receive 5 Star Rating -
http://www.ledinside.com/led_bulb_lm_201107