The purpose of the  Lighting California's Future "Market Connection" effort is to shape and support technology development and early deployment efforts in order to accelerate the technology diffusion process and  help meet codes and standards including Title 24, IESNA, ASHRAE, and LEED.

The ultimate outcome of the market connections element is broad market adoption of the lighting products developed within the LCF program, including codes and standards covering qualified products. As technical projects become available for initial field pilots, team members will develop and provide project specific information to California utility emerging technology programs and the University of California/California State University Energy Efficiency Partnership Program, and other similar groups.

Led by New Buildings Institute with coordinated efforts from the California Lighting Technology Center, Architectural Energy Corporation, and SDV/ACCI.

Alliances and partnerships include:

•California utilities demonstration/evaluation/program support
•State/local agencies: UC/CSU system pilots
•Federal agencies: Federal Network for Sustainability
•Private sector- innovative business leaders
•US Green Building Council - LEED
•NBI- Advanced Lighting Guidelines

The program provides content for web sharing at the Lighting Portal, Design Lights, Lighting Lab.

The Technology Tranfer Plan business case

•Market and product definition
•Manufacturer business case
•Value proposition for the customer
•Supply chain requirements
•Key market barriers
•Key market messaging
•Energy/demand savings potential

The purpose of Technology Transfer Plans is to assist in building the business case for each project and cacilitate development of technology transfer plans (TTP)for each product to ensure that answers are provided to questions partners/investors/funding parties are likely to have about the product’s: Effectiveness in reducing/managing demand and Market feasibility.

This program also provides business case spreadsheet analysis tool, CO2 accounting, and connecions with the Navy and Bonneville Power, as well as the US DOE Commercial Lighting Initiative.

CONTACTS: Mark Cherniack, New Buildings Institute
Brian Fowler, SDV/ACCI

• ASHRAE / IESNA 90.1-1999/2001
• LEED
• IECC
• Energy Policy Act 2005
• 2002 ECCC of New York
• Ballast Legislation
• DARK-SKY
• Energy Star
• California Energy Commission - Title 24
• NEMA
• ISO 14000

ANSI / IESNA / IESNA Standard 90.1- 1999/2001

ASHRAE 90.1 was recently published under joint sponsorship by ANSI (American National Standards Institute, http://www.ansi.org/), ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, http://www.ashrae.org/) , and IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, http://www.iesna.org/). This standard is generally regarded as the definitive source of guidelines for achieving energy efficiency, and many other codes and standards (such as the latest version of the International Energy Conservation Code or IECC, http://www.iccsafe.org/) either have or are expected to adopt the requirements published under ASHRAE 90.1.

The 1999/2001 version includes several key changes from the 1989 version:

• More stringent lighting power requirements and codes written in more enforceable language.
• Required use of lighting controls for many applications (details below).
• Control points for spaces are no longer used.
• Building area power allowances (W/ft2) no longer depend on the size of the buildings.
• Area factor, a function of ceiling height and floor area, is no longer calculated.
• Exterior lighting power requirements have been simplified. Specifically, most exterior lighting power requirements are now stated in terms of minimum efficacy (lumens/watt).

USGBC: LEED

(Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design: http://www.usgbc.org/)

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System^TM is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the U.S. Green Building Council representing all segments of the building industry developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution. LEED standards are currently available or under development for:

• New construction and major renovation projects (LEED-NC)
• Existing building operations (LEED-EB, Pilot version)
• Commercial interiors projects (LEED-CI, Pilot version)
• Core and shell projects (LEED-CS, Pilot version)
• Homes (LEED-H)
• Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND)

LEED is flexible, enabling buildings to become certified according to their level commitment to green design, which is reflected in a points and labeling system. Energy and atmosphere is the largest part of the LEED program, providing the ability to earn 17, or 27% of all possible points. Out of these 17 possible points, optimization of energy performance can result in 10 points.

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

Many states and municipalities have adopted portions of the IECC code as law. The IECC was formed in order to establish energy-related standards for residential, multi-family, and commercial buildings. A major focus of the code provisions is on the building envelope insulation and window requirements, which vary depending on the regional climate. While the a large portion of the code deals with the U-factor and R-factor requirements, the code also addresses the heating, cooling, water-heating, electrical, and lighting systems of the building.

Entire IECC document page  http://www.ecodes.biz/

Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT)

EPACT includes a significatnt tax deducation to encourage the use of energy efficient products through the year 2008.  Lighting and HVAC/hot water systems and building envelop improvements can qualify for tax deductions totaling up to 60 cents / sq. foot for each sysgtem with a posible $1.80 / sq ft maximum. 

Ballast Legislation: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office: 

Consumer products; energy conservation program: Fluorescent lamp ballasts; energy conservation standards, 56739-56749 [00-24004].  Standards go into effect, they will essentially require fluorescent lamp ballasts for F40 and F96 lamps to be the electronic type. The standards will segment the market into new applications and replacement applications and extend the implementation dates to mitigate the burdens to acceptable levels. The standards provide a phase-in period of approximately five years, until April 1, 2005 for new applications. In addition, today's rule provides an additional phase in, until June 30, 2010 for ballasts intended for the replacement market. This  Federal Ballast Rule covers only the following lamp types...2ft U Tubes, 4ft Rapid Start, 8ft Rapid Start, 8ft High Output.

Municipal Dark Sky Ordinances

The International Dark-Sky Association was incorporated in 1988 as a tax-exempt non-profit organization, exclusively for educational and scientific purposes. IDA operates under formal bylaws, established at the time of incorporation and revised at the annual meeting on 4 February 1989, and again in September 1990.

IDA's goals are to be effective in stopping the adverse environmental impact on dark skies by building awareness of the problem of light pollution and of the solutions, and to educate everyone about the value and effectiveness of quality nighttime lighting.  http://www.darksky.org

Energy Star

ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy efficient solutions -- helping to save money while  protecting the environment for future generations -- http://www.energystar.gov/

EPA partnered with the US Department of Energy in 1996 to promote the ENERGY STAR label, with each agency taking responsibility for particular product categories. ENERGY STAR has expanded to cover new homes, most of the buildings sector, residential heating and cooling equipment, major appliances, office equipment, lighting, consumer electronics, and more product areas.

California Energy Commission Title 24

The 2005 Building Energy Efficiency Standards that affect residential and non-residential building standards statewide in California
California Energy Commission -- http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/

These web links can be useful in keeping up with what is happening with California energy legislation. 

http://www.energy.ca.gov/ - site for California Energy Commission
http://www.cabec.org/ - site for California Association of Building Energy Consultants organization
http://www.calbo.org/ - site for California Building Officials organization

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

Nema publishes over 400 standards, application guides and technical papers. A few helpful documents include: "White Paper on Outdoor Lighting Code Issues", "Model Outdoor Lighting Regulation" and a June 2001 publication called "Exit Sign Brightness for Visibility & Safety" which includes a review of NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code and the related standard UL924, Emergency Lighting and Power Equipment.

National Electrical Manufacturers Association http://www.nema.org/

International Standards Organization -- ISO 14000

The ISO 14000 series of voluntary standards address international environmental management systems, environmental auditing, environmental labeling, environmental performance evaluation, and the life cycle assessment. ISO is an international non-governmental organization that promotes the development and implementation for voluntary international standards. ISO consists of 112 member countries, with the U.S. represented by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

ISO 14000 is used as a condition of some customer/supplier transactions, especially in Europe and with the U.S. government. In the courts, ISO 14000 may become a standard of due care in assessing whether a company was in good faith making consistent and diligent efforts to manage its environmental impact.

Cooper Lighting provides an excellent overview of each of these  energy and lighting  policies and legisltation:  Cooperlighting.com

Higher gas prices at the pump aren’t the only energy expense eating away at consumers’ wallets these days. Although the cost of electricity to light and heat American households has been inching up steadily over the past several years, significantly higher rates may be just around the corner.

In fact, recent projections by energy industry analysts warn that electricity rates could increase 40 to 60 percent in 2009, largely due to higher demand and ever rising operating overhead at utility plants.

Seeking to minimize the bite electricity takes out of the monthly budget many consumers are replacing old, wasteful incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). While simply replacing the lowly light bulb might seem like a small step, nothing could be further from the truth.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if every home replaced just one light bulb with Energy Star-approved compact bulbs such as the BlueMax™ high definition bulb from Full Spectrum Solutions, enough energy would be conserved to light more than 3 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gas output equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

The cost savings to the consumer’s pocketbook are equally impressive said Mike Nevins, founder and CEO of Full Spectrum Solutions, a pioneer in energy-efficient and more natural lighting solutions.

“People are surprised to learn that a typical family in the United States spends about $1,500 a year on utility bills, approximately 60 percent of which is in the form of electricity,” Mr. Nevins commented, citing data provided by the EPA.

“Moreover, as a nation, approximately one-quarter of the electricity we use is for lighting, at a cost of $37 billion annually. Much of this expense is wasted on inefficient incandescent light bulbs  which can be easily replaced by much more energy-efficient CFLs such as the bulbs in the BlueMax™ line.”

Based on typical electricity usage, Mr. Nevins said that each Energy Star qualified BlueMax™ bulb can reduce energy consumption by up to 80 percent, saving consumers an average of $75.00 per installed unit during the life of the bulb. Needless to say, these numbers can add up quickly. A home with forty bulbs could expect cumulative savings in the neighborhood of $3,000, or roughly two year’s worth of utility bills.

Noted lighting scientist Dr. Michael Siminovitch, director of the California Lighting Technology Center at University of California-Davis concurs. "One of the most simple, but effective ways to save energy is to replace our light bulbs," Dr. Siminovitch stated.

“It’s well worth noting that due to the proprietary technology used in BlueMax™ such as the six phosphor blend, they produce full spectrum or ‘high definition’ light almost identical to natural sunlight,” said Dr. Siminovitch. “The result is healthier light that offers better visual clarity and contrast, reducing eyestrain, headaches, fatigue and loss of concentration.”

In addition to their stingy use of electricity and superior output, Mr. Nevins notes that all BlueMax™ bulbs carry a two-year warranty and have a use rating of 10,000 hours. Furthermore, because they produce up to 60 percent less heat than other bulbs, BlueMax™ is the only compact fluorescent on the market which can withstand high temperatures common to enclosed fixtures.

“A much cooler operating temperature gives BlueMax™ an expected lifespan of up to 13 times longer than incandescent bulbs,” Mr. Nevins said. “Putting out less heat can contribute to a cooler ambient environment, reducing air conditioning usage for further energy savings.”

About Full Spectrum Solutions

BlueMax™ is a technology developed by Full Spectrum Solutions, Inc., which was founded in Jackson, Michigan. Since 1997 the company has provided patented full spectrum light therapy, task and commercial lighting products to enhance our living, learning, and working environments. Its lighting products are a result of progressive lighting research and collaboration among distinguished medical and scientific researchers, evaluators, and clinicians.

For more information about BlueMax™ HD Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, BlueMax™ Light Therapy Lamps, or other lighting technologies from Full Spectrum Solutions, please visit www.fullspectrumsolutions.com, phone 1-888-574-7014, or email joelle@fullspectrumsolutions.com. 

Design is king. Content is king.  Globalization is emperor... the analogies continue as people try to figure out trends.

Today, lighting trends lead consumers to fixtures that are both functional and aesthetically appealing. Gone are the days when practicality held the lighting throne. Now, light is expected to be just as useful as a decorating accessory, as it is for illuminating.  Source: American Lighting Association

Trends in lighting vary with who's buying the lighting fixtures, bulbs and control systems.  In the consumer market, design is very important.  Light fixtures are part of the decor of the room, and they can enhance or detract from the visual beauty and comfort of the living space.

Kitchens need great task lighting and they need to be subtle in design -- hence, recessed lighting, indirect lighting, and even solar tubes.  They all provide great task lighting and don't add clutter to an already detailed room filled with cabinets, hardware, ranges, sinks and other detailed design elements.

Other trends matter:

ENERGY COSTS are growing and lighting can add up to 25% to the monthly energy bill.  High efficiency lighting such as CFLs and LEDs are growing in popularity in both new construction and remodeling. 

SAFETY matters.  Fire rates affect safety choices, and electrical outlets, lighting certifications such as Energy Star are increasingly part of the planning process.  Quality manufacturing has become a concern as cheap imports have become the norm in many shopping venues -- and the conscientious home owner is often as concerned with the LABEL as the PRICE.

DESIGN is an ROI and Lifestyle choice.  If a consumer has a choice between a design that meets their tastes and one that doesn't -- design can be the tipping point.  If an interior designer has the choice -- design often comes first.  That's their job.

Lighting showrooms are the best way to investigate energy efficiency labels as well as design factors such as scale, quality of manufacturing, and professional guidance.  The ALA offers a set of "lighting tips for the home" that can be helpful in keeping up with trends in lighting fixtures, lighting design and lighting safety.

Visit ALA's website or a local ALA member showroom for more information.

American Lighting Association

www.americanlightassoc.com

 

MARCH 3, 2008 — Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), a market leader in LED solid-state lighting, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of privately held LED Lighting Fixtures, Inc.

This acquisition expands Cree’s market opportunity by providing direct access to the lighting market. Cree's business now encompasses LED chips, components and lighting solutions. It further enables Cree to drive retrofit solutions to convert existing lighting infrastructure to energy-efficient lighting and to accelerate the adoption of LED lighting.

“We are out to lead the LED lighting revolution and to obsolete the lightbulb,” said Chuck Swoboda, chairman and chief executive officer of Cree.

Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, LED lighting retrofit solutions, and semiconductor solutions for backlighting, wireless and power applications.

CONTACT: http://www.cree.com

In 2007 Cree and Raleigh, North Carolina, Launch Nation’s First “LED City” with Cost-Saving Municipal Lighting

Raleigh Recognizes Greater than 40 Percent Energy Savings as Municipal Garage Switches to LED Lighting.

“The economic benefits for municipalities to invest in LEDs include:

• saving energy
• reducing environmental impact
  
• improving the quality of light

The “LED City” initiative will create a “living laboratory” to deliver the economic, environmental and usage benefits of LED lighting to the urban residents.

The project is focused on validating both the cost savings and technology capabilities of LEDs through an installation of LED lighting in Raleigh’s Municipal Building parking deck.

Both Cree, Inc. and Raleigh public officials expect the LEDCity initiative to serve as a model for other cities that are considering implementing energy-efficient infrastructures.

As part of the commitment to creating an “LED City,” Raleigh plans to deploy LED lighting, through its living-laboratory initiative, to serve a number of lighting applications over the next 18 months including:

• garage and parking lot lights
• street lights
• architectural and accent lighting
• portable lighting
• pedestrian and walkway lighting

Cree, the City of Raleigh and Lighting Science Group Corporation (OTCBB: LSGP) of Dallas, TX, also announced initial results of the first installation of the LED City initiative. LED-based lighting fixtures, provided by Lighting Science Group, were installed by Amtech Lighting Services in the Raleigh Municipal Building parking deck in December 2006. Progress Energy, Raleigh’s primary electric utility provider, says the floor equipped with LED lights uses over 40 percent less energy than the standard lighting system. Plus, according to Progress Energy’s research, the quality of light in the garage is greatly improved.

As leaders in one of America’s fastest growing cities, it’s our civic responsibility to invest in the future and ensure the highest possible quality of life and safety for our citizens in generations to come,” stated Charles Meeker, Raleigh mayor. “We believe that the cost savings and benefits of LED lighting are real and achievable today.”

“Today’s announcement represents a milestone toward large-scale adoption of clean, energy-efficient technologies,” commented Kateri Callahan, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance to Save Energy (ASE).

“Raleigh’s progressive commitment to becoming the first ‘LED City’ will no doubt serve as a model for other cities seeking to improve energy consumption and reduce negative impacts on the environment. We commend Cree and the City of Raleigh for helping support our mission of achieving a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy security.”

“The City of Raleigh is willing to set the pace, and we invite other municipalities to join us in developing energy-efficient civic centers,” said Chuck Swoboda, Cree CEO and chairman. “This leading-edge effort establishes an important driver for LED adoption within the United States.”

About the City of Raleigh, N.C.
The City of Raleigh is the municipal government for North Carolina’s capital city. Raleigh’s  reputation for the high quality of living has grown the population to more than 350,000. The City is proud to provide the leadership, direction and daily services that have contributed to Raleigh being among America’s most livable cities.

About Lighting Science Group Corporation
Lighting Science Group Corporation (www.lsgc.com) designs and sells highly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting solutions based on its proprietary Optimized Digital Lighting® (ODL®) technology. The Company's patented and patent-pending designs and manufacturing processes enable affordable, efficient and long-lasting LED-based lighting systems to be quickly deployed in existing lighting applications and produce immediate cost savings and environmental benefits. Products include low bay fixtures for parking garages and industrial facilities, MR-16, R30, R25, G11, G25, candelabra and flame tip bulbs, which can be purchased at store.lsgc.com.

About Cree, Inc.
Cree is a market-leading innovator and manufacturer of semiconductors and devices in solid-state lighting, power and communications products for energy performance and efficiency. Key to Cree’s market advantage is its materials expertise in silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) for chips and packaged devices that can handle more power in a smaller space while producing less heat than other available technologies, materials and products.

Cree licenses its  technology into multiple applications, including  alternatives in brighter and more-tunable light for general illumination, backlighting for more-vivid displays, optimized power management for high-current, switch-mode power supplies and variable-speed motors, and more-effective wireless infrastructure for data and voice communications. Cree customers range from lighting-fixture makers to defense-related federal agencies.

Cree’s product families include blue and green LED chips, lighting LEDs, LED backlighting solutions, power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices. For additional product specifications please refer to www.cree.com.

More than 20% of the electricity generated
in the U.S. is used for lighting.

Approximately half of this energy is wasted by lighting empty rooms or as heat produced by inefficient lamps. But it's easy to save money and energy with ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs and fixtures. They meet strict energy efficiency and quality specifications, using up to 75% less energy and lasting up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs.

The new generation of ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are longer lasting, brighter and much more efficient than lighting of the past. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting is diverse, versatile and elegant, with an energy efficient solution for almost every lighting fixture type and any design need.

CFLs

• ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs save up to 75% in energy consumption compared to standard bulbs.
• ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs last six to ten times longer than traditional lighting.
• CFLs have light quality closest to daylight.
• There are many shapes, sizes and color temperatures available for all household applications.
• CFLs are ideal where lights are on for long periods of time or are difficult to reach.

CFL Disposal

CFLs should be disposed of properly with other household hazardous waste products such as paint, batteries and thermostats.

Avoid throwing out spent CFLs in the household trash.

Check with your local or municipal government entity responsible for solid waste or household hazardous waste collection for CFL disposal options.

Some communities offer disposal or recycling programs that accept spent CFLs.

Visit http://www.lamprecycle.org to research the disposal laws and recycling programs in your state.

Energy Star standards and specifications are developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance is a non-profit corporation supported by electric utilities, public benefits administrators, state governments, public interest groups and energy efficiency industry representatives. These entities work together to make affordable, energy-efficient products and services available in the marketplace.

Hard-Wired Fixtures

ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures use pin-based CFLs that last 10,000-20,000 hours. Many ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures carry at least a two-year warranty. ENERGY STAR models are available with dimmable ballasts. Available ENERGY STAR fixtures are appropriate for any design application and include ceiling rounds, pendants, wall sconces, under-cabinet lighting, chandeliers, bath-bars, and outdoor lighting.

Portable Fixtures

ENERGY STAR qualified portable fixtures use pin-based compact fluorescent circline or 2D bulbs which last an average of 10,000 hours.

• ENERGY STAR qualified portable fixtures are relatively cool to the touch at 100° F, a sharp contrast to some halogen torchieres that can reach up to 1,000° F.
• ENERGY STAR qualified portable fixtures are available for little more than the cost of standard torchieres but can save hundreds of dollars in energy costs over the life of the fixture.

Recessed Lights 

ENERGY STAR qualified recessed cans use one-third to one-quarter of the energy of standard incandescent recessed cans. ENERGY STAR qualified recessed cans use bulbs that last up to ten times longer than incandescent reflector lamps. Qualified models operate much cooler, eliminating ‘hot spots’ in the building shell. ENERGY STAR recessed cans are brighter, necessitating fewer cans to produce the same light level as an equivalent incandescent recessed can lighting system.

While ENERGY STAR recessed cans generally cost more than incandescent recessed cans initially, the savings on lighting and space conditioning costs can pay for itself within a few years.

Ceiling Fans with CFLs

ENERGY STAR qualified ceiling fans sometimes include compact fluorescent light kits, which generate 70% less heat and save up to 75% in energy costs compared to standard incandescent kits.

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
800-539-9362
info@northwestenergystar.com
http://www.nwalliance.org/.