News Updates for the Week of September 17

1.      DOE Consortium Releases Draft Model Spec for Review - The U.S. DOE’s Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium has released a draft Model Specification for Adaptive Control and Remote Monitoring of LED Roadway Luminaires. The estimated 26.5 million streetlights in the U.S. consume as much electricity each year as 1.9 million households, and generate greenhouse gas emissions equal to that produced by 2.6 million cars. Switching these streetlights to LED can save energy and money, and incorporating remote monitoring and adaptive lighting control systems can increase those savings substantially. The draft specification is posted online for public review and comment by Consortium members, manufacturers, and other interested lighting professionals. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/consortium.html

2.      LightShow East in Washington, DC at Washington Convention Center on October 3-4 -  Admission to the show is FREE to qualified attendees, plus 24 FREE seminars for today's lighting pros. LightShow East has assembled a power-packed lineup of speakers from around the country to provide the latest information on lighting trends, resources and regulations. All seminars are AIA approved and NCQLP registered. http://www.lightshoweast.com/Attend/RegistertoAttend/tabid/953/Default.aspx

3.      Worldwide Intelligent Lighting Controls Market to Surpass $4.3 Billion by 2020 - According to a new report from Pike Research, the global market for intelligent lighting controls will enjoy steady and robust growth over the rest of this decade, rising from $1.5 billion in 2012 to more than $4.3 billion in 2020. In particular, new wireless technologies, along with reductions in prices for LED lights and dimmable ballasts, have made retrofit projects considerably more attractive. As LEDs become more mainstream, lighting controls–in the form of standalone devices or systems integrated into light fixtures–will help maximize their benefits. http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/intelligent-lighting-controls-for-commercial-buildings

4.      2012 Energy Star Products Partner Meeting Location: St. Paul, MN Date: October 22–24 - The 2012 meeting will be held over three days, and as in past years will be a combined meeting covering ENERGY STAR lighting, appliances, water heaters, electronics, and other topics. The meeting will also provide opportunities to interact with a range of program stakeholders in various formats, including independent one-on-one meetings. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=partners.pt_meetings

5.      Defining Lighting Quality Based on User Satisfaction by Craig Dilouie - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) offers a free tool for office building owners and managers and industry practitioners.  The Light Right survey is a great way to capture occupant satisfaction in regards to the building's lighting system. The survey can be used:

• As a diagnostic tool that can help the building owners or tenants determine if a new lighting system would be desirable from the occupant's point of view. 
• If a new lighting system is going to be installed, administering the survey before and after the remodel can be valuable to ensure that the occupant's visual needs have been met. 
• As a tool to compare between different lighting systems.

http://lightingcontrolsassociation.org/defining-lighting-quality-based-on-user-satisfaction/

6.      Nova Scotia Mandates All LED Street Lights - The Province of Nova Scotia, Canada has announced it is converting to all LED street lighting, a project which will be completed by 2023. This move has made it the first jurisdiction in North America to mandate the use of energy-efficient LED roadway lighting. Energy Minister Charlie Parker finalized amendments to the Energy-Efficient Appliances Regulations yesterday. The estimated cost of installing the 120,000 street lights was $100 million and the energy savings upon full conversion would be $18 million per year. The regulations are available: www.gov.ns.ca/energy/public-consultation  http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/9/8

7.      Duke Energy to Cut Energy Waste with Peer Pressure - Duke Energy received regulatory approval this week to offer a novel energy-efficiency program based on a potentially vast but untapped energy resource: one's emotional need to fit in. Later this year, Charlotte-based Duke will begin mailing its residential customers monthly energy reports showing how their energy usage compares with "peers" who live in similar homes. A low ranking among neighbors could be what it takes to lower the thermostat, turn off the lights or invest in getting air ducts cleaned out and sealed. In common parlance, it's known as peer pressure. And it apparently influences electricity-consumption habits just as it shapes taste in clothing, popular music and SUVs. More than 75 utilities in the nation now send these customized shame sheets to some 14 million customers. 9/12 The News & Observer

8.      An Argument Over Wind - The American Wind Energy Association expelled Exelon as a member because the company opposed a renewal of the credit. The association says that if the tax credit expires, some 37,000 jobs will be eliminated next year and that deliveries of new turbines will spiral to zero. But Exelon says the tax credit is distorting energy markets because the credit itself is larger than the average value of electricity produced in the Midwest. 9/15 NY Times

9.      Choosing the Right LED Product for Industrial Applications - The math is easy. If you’re using HID (high-intensity discharge) or HPS (high-pressure sodium) fixtures, your lighting energy costs are probably in the range of $1 per square foot per year--meaning that your 200,000 square foot facility likely costs $200,000 annually. The way to reduce that massive energy expense is to upgrade to industrial LED lighting, which can reduce lighting energy use up to 90%. This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of the industrial LED alternatives—from plain LED fixtures to Intelligent LED Lighting Systems. Download is available at: http://ecmweb.com/whitepapers/white-paper-choosing-right-led-product-industrial-applications

10.  NEMA LSD 63 - NEMA published "Measurement Methods and Performance Variation for Verification Testing of General Purpose Lamps and Systems." NEMA LSD 63 establishes variations that can be expected when independent verification testing, generally based on small samples of lamps or ballasts, is performed to estimate product performance characteristics and for comparison to manufacturer’s ratings. http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Measurement-Methods-and-Performance-Variation-for-Verification-Testing-of-General-Purpose-Lamps-and-Systems.aspx#download

11.   ASSIST Publishes Recommendations for Detectability of Flicker in LED Sources - The Alliance for Solid-State Illumination Systems and Technologies (ASSIST) recently released a new publication that addresses the issue of LED light source flicker. The methods offered in the publication can be used by LED lighting manufacturers to develop systems that minimize the effects of flicker. http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/assist/recommends/flicker.asp

News Updates for the Week of July 2

1.      Analysis of the North American Lighting Equipment Market - This research service covers the state of the North American lighting equipment market, examining drivers and restraints for growth, and discussing major trends. Following from these, growth for market segments is forecast In addition, an in-depth analysis of the competitive landscape including vendors' market shares is performed. The base year is 2011, with forecasts running through 2016. Revenue forecasts are provided. The market is divided into four segments: lamps, ballasts and control gear, fixtures, and lighting controls. These segments are further divided into product types and vertical markets, which also are analyzed in detail. For more information click on: http://www.researchandmarkets.com/product/swnvr3/analysis_of_the_north_american_lighting_equip   

2.     Hella Research Says LED Lighting Can Improve Driving Experience - Research conducted by Hella in conjunction with Hamburg University in Germany determined that different colors had a significant impact on both driver and passenger emotions and comfort levels. Different colors have been found to provide a range of emotional responses from excitement to feelings of calm. RGB technology, which allows controlled blending to achieve a wide color spectrum, should prove to be popular in automotive interiors. Hella executives predict that the use of ambient LED lighting in North America will more than quadruple over the next five years. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/6/22

 

3.      Energy Department Announces Building Energy Efficiency Investments in 22 States - The Energy Department announced new investments in state-led energy efficiency projects. It awarded nearly $14 million to 22 states and territories to conduct energy efficiency upgrades in public facilities and develop local policies and programs to help reduce energy waste and save taxpayer money. Find more detail on the projects announced today at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/pdfs/2012sepcompetitiveprojectdescriptions.pdf

4.      Utility Energy Efficiency Programs Experienced Rapid Growth over Last 10 Years - Energy efficiency programs have been helping electric utility customers reduce and manage their energy costs for 30 years or more in many states. Born out of the energy crises of the 1970s, these customer programs have grown and matured to become a low-cost, high-value energy resource for electric utilities and their customers. Three Decades and Counting: A Historical Review and Current Assessment of Electric Utility Energy Efficiency Activity in the States, a new report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), examines the history of these programs and their role in helping to transform the electric utility industry. To read the report visit: http://aceee.org/research-report/u123

 

5.      New Construction Starts to Increase 3% This Year, According to McGraw-Hill Forecast - McGraw-Hill’s Outlook Midyear Update predicts total construction starts for the U.S. will increase 2% this year to $445 billion, up from the $434 billion reported for 2011. While slightly better than the flat performance for 2012 construction starts predicted last fall, the updated forecast still portrays an industry struggling to gain upward momentum. http://livewire.electricalmarketing.com

6.      Spring City Electrical to Supply Central Park, NYC with 1,588 LED Luminaires - Spring City will supply the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) with 1,588 LED luminaires starting this summer. The City of New York required a stringent evaluation process as well as a performance specification. In May 2012, the City began installing the Spring City LED luminaires along Central Park’s pedestrian paths. The classic historical replication design matched perfectly with the traditional Central Park luminaire design yet will be providing the park with superior energy and maintenance savings. These LED luminaires will be placed on existing nine foot tall B-9 cast iron posts mostly manufactured by Spring City Electrical and some of which date back to 1911. http://www.springcity.com/

7.      Worldwide Intelligent Lighting Controls Market to Surpass $4.3 Billion by 2020, Forecasts Pike Research - Lighting accounts for about 25% of the commercial building sector's energy use. Lighting controls offer significant potential for reducing that energy use, and new technologies that have emerged in recent years have enabled a wide range of innovative strategies, from room-level awareness of occupancy and daylight sensing to building-wide coordination of a fully networked system. According to a new report from Pike Research www.pikeresearch.com the global market for intelligent lighting controls will enjoy steady and robust growth over the rest of this decade, rising from $1.5 billion in 2012 to more than $4.3 billion in 2020. 6/28 BUSINESS WIRE

8.       NanoMarkets Announces Release of Latest Report on OLED Materials Market - Industry analyst firm NanoMarkets has announced that it will begin shipping its latest report that analyzes the opportunities for OLED materials suppliers in both the display and lighting sectors over the next eight years. The report, "OLED Materials Markets 2012," estimates that the total market value of materials used in OLED lighting and display applications will grow quickly from over $500 million in 2012 to over $7 billion by 2019. Of the total OLED materials market value, the active OLED materials -- emissive materials, hosts, and hole/electron injection and transport materials are expected to account for nearly $3 billion. Additional details about the report are available at: http://nanomarkets.net/market_reports/report/oled_materials_markets_2012

9.      Germany Increases Focus on Infrastructure, LED Lighting - Germany is calling for increased foreign investment in LED installations. The country’s LED lighting sector is expanding rapidly, with an expected double-digit annual growth through 2018 according to Frost & Sullivan, a market research company. The firm also anticipates the LED lamp industry in Germany to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 27% between 2008 and 2018. http://ledsmagazine.com/news/9/6/23

 

10.  LEDs Light Up 16 Miles of Roadways in China - Officials in the Beibei district of Chongqing, China recently completed the installation of more than 20,000 street lights featuring 1.9 million Cree XLamp XP-E and XP-G LEDs. The country’s largest municipal intelligent lighting control project began in July 2011 and includes nearly 16 miles of highway, with Cree LED-based luminaires installed along 119 streets and one tunnel. http://livewire.electricalmarketing.com