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In California, 90% of ceiling fans sold have light kits with incandescent sources and an average connected load of 120 watts.

Recent Title 24 changes marginally increase energy savings in these applications via dimmers but significant energy savings potential remains by shifting the fan lighting market towards energy efficient sources.

The California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) at the University of California, Davis and Hunter Fans have partnered to design and develop a ceiling fan system that optimizes a combination of emerging LED technology and commerciallyavailable lighting controls to create a cost-effective LED lighting kit for energy savings.

The LED ceiling fan light kit will serve as a direct bolt-on replacement for pre-existing fan systems providing a smart energy-efficient retrofit solution. The retrofit fan light kit will be comprised of an LED array, power supply, glass dome with a hanging tree, and a mounting plate.

• The LED light kit will be designed to have an output of 32 Lumens per watt (approximately 800 lumens at 25 watts). Typical incandescent kit systems usually produce less than 15 lm/W.
• Custom low profile LED driver developed by Hunter Fans and Texas Instruments.
• Pull Chain Switch allows for dimming, ON and OFF functions of the LED luminaire.

The project on LED Residential Fans seeks to develop and commercialize novel LED-based lighting kits for ceiling and exhaust fans in residential applications. Both retrofit and new construction residential applications are indicated with possible opportunities in commercial applications. Additionally, the project will explore the integration of controls systems to the LED fan systems to determine if additional energy savings can be achieved in a cost-effective manner.

The CLTC and Hunter Fan are project partners. This project is part of the latest PIER portfolio — Lighting California’s Future (LCF). LCF program information and reports: www.archenergy.com/lcf/LED-projects/ceilingfan.html

The goal: meet California 's growing needs for energy efficiency and demand response by creating and introducing energy-efficient, advanced lighting technologies in 2008 and 2009.

Lighting California's Future A $3.7 million California Energy Commission PIER Program focused on lighting technologies for buildings. The goal is to meet California's growing needs for   the built environment.

• Improved Daylight Performance of Tubular Daylighting Devices
• Cost-Effective Demand Response (CEDR)
• Integration of Electric Lighting Controls with Utility Demand Response Signals
• Retrofit Integrated Classroom Lighting System (R-ICLS)
• Wireless Integrated Photosensor and Motion Sensor (WIPAM) Lighting Control System
• Advanced LED Downlighting Systems
• Novel LED Downlights
• Smart LED Lighting in Residential Fans
• Advanced, Energy-Efficienct LED Lighting for Residential and Commercial Applications

"decorative fixtures must be more than pretty objects; they must also deliver the light that is needed in a space, to the surfaces that need it, and now they must do it with a minimum of watts.  If you are designing a space with a contemporary, futuristic, or jazzy feel, it's not that big a deal because many manufacturers make some acceptable attractive fixtures in compact fluorescent, LED, or (rarely) in metal halide. "

The Lighting Blog

Get the latest news and ideas from Caliofornia's Lighting programs:
The Lighting BLOG

PIER Visibility...
The California Energy Commission’s PIER inaugural booth experienced significant traffic during the highly attended LightFair International tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV. The booth was organized by the PIER partnership model as well as many successful PIER technologies. The PIER partnership model focuses on finding market-based solutions with manufacturers, building partnerships for demonstrations, integrating feedback for product improvement, and creating a rapid, economic path to market.


The Lighting Forum:
Lighting pros can join the discussion of efficiency, design, energy...etc.

http://thelightingportal.ucdavis.edu/

		PIER Energy Efficiency Demonstration Program Demonstration of PIER technologies at various University of California, California State University, California Community College and Department of General Services facilities to promote emerging energy efficient technologies while assessing their performance and user satisfaction. PIER Partners: California Institute for Energy Efficiency, California Lighting Technology Center, University of California, California State University, California Community Colleges

CONTACT: Wes Morgan, California Lighting Technology Center

PIER Technical Briefs

Learn more about the latest technologies, trends, and resources in energy-efficient design from the PIER Technical Briefs that distill volumes of research into two-page summaries of the problem addressed, the solution, and the benefits of implementing that solution. These briefs are available as a free public resource.

PIER Partners: E-Source

In 2008, Lighting for Tomorrow will once again recognize excellence in design of energy-efficient residential lighting fixtures - not just for new products but for innovative technologies as well. The competition will include separate categories for:

• Indoor and outdoor fixture families using pin-based linear or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs); and
• LED-based fixtures encouraging manufacturers to use LEDs in innovative, energy-efficient designs.

Competition Rules, Entrant Guides:

• Yearbook (CFL) 2008 Entrant Guide (PDF, 35 KB)
• SSL 2008 Entrant Guide (PDF, 42 KB)
• Competition Rules (PDF, 24 KB)

Important Dates:

• January 17-21, 2008 - Lighting for Tomorrow 2008 Competition Launched at the Dallas Lighting Market
• March 14, 2008 - Intent-to-submit forms were due
• April 30, 2008 - All entries due
• September 14-16, 2008 - Lighting for Tomorrow 2008 Competition Winners Announced at the American Lighting Association Annual Conference

SOURCE:

http://www.lightingfortomorrow.com/

LEDs have improved rapidly in both luminous efficacy and color quality.

LED’s small form factor make them a good candidate for downlight applications but the high brightness LED products can cause visual discomfort and the constricted thermal environment in downlights can be extremely challenging for LEDs.

The California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) at the University of California, Davis is developing a downlighting system based on indirect optical designs that will reduce direct LED glare, decrease installation time and improve thermal management. Collaborators include Architectural Energy Corporation (AEC), California Lighting Technology Center, Capri, and  Samsung.

Features and benefits include a single central power supply that  is utilized for cost savings and energy efficiency.  Low Voltage (class 2) wiring between the centralized power supply and the downlights to allow for
easier wiring which allows for easier and cheaper installations. Indirect Optics increase visual
comfort and produces a downlight with uniform brightness. Better Thermal Management  from the Indirect Optic places the LED sources in a location where they can be more easily thermally managed, which improves LED output and life. And central power supply architecture allows for easy espandability for additional downlights as well as other LED fixtures such as under cabinet fixtures.

Applicatons for advanced LED downlights include most living and working areas such as residential kitchens and hallways; commercial corridors, conference rooms and breakrooms; and hospitality locations such as restaurants, corridors and lobbies.

This commercialization research project is part of the latest PIER portfolio—Lighting California’s Future (LCF).

Components include scene controls, occupancy sensors and daylight harvesting. 

Manufacturers and integrators of advanced classroom lighting systems include:
• Finelite-ICLS
• Lutron-BalanceLC
• Lighting Control & Design
• Peerless

Limitations of advanced classroom lighting systems include the high cost of integrated systems:
    New fixtures and HVAC rerouting
    Labor intensive installation
    Commissioning to measure performance

Retrofit kit approaches can provide limited savings with a fixture-based approach, occupancy-dual circuitry and sometimes, daylight harvesting.

"Best" solutions are products that replace luminaires with high performance recessed luminaires; adding a whiteboard luminaire and incorporating teacher controls. 

Good solutions include delamping luminaires if necessary; changing lamps to high performing 3100 lumen T8 lamps; changing reflectors; changing ballasts to dimming ballasts and incorporating teacher controls.

White Board Lighting

The research project on Retrofit Integrated Classroom Lighting System (R-ICLS) by Lighting California's Future is dedicated to developing retrofit lighting solutions for classrooms to ensure that the luminaires, sensors, and controls work together to provide proper lighting for General and A/V requirements together with lighting for the white board.

Retrofit Lighting for Schools

R-ICLS will help develop and demonstrate new technologies that will give schools a "good", "better", "best" way to combine state-of-the-art luminaires, lamps, ballasts, sensors, and controls into cost-effective, retrofit system solutions.

The goal is development of an integrated system that meets CHPS and LEED standards for classroom lighting
• General & AV Modes
• Whiteboard illumination
• Teacher Controls
• Integrated occupancy and daylight sensors.

Project Goals

• Deliver energy savings of 20% compared to California's Title 24 (Energy Law)
  
• Develop “Good”, “Better” and “Best” solutions to meet different payback requirements.

     Good: De-lamp luminaires where possible. Install dimming ballasts and Super T8 (3100 lumen lamps). New optical systems will be evaluated. Provide wall mounted and remote controls.
     Better: Add a whiteboard luminaire to the “good” definition. Provide wall mounted and remote controls.
     Best: Replace luminaires with new high performance 2x4 luminaire and add a whiteboard luminaire. Provide wall mounted and remote controls.
 

Finelite and the CLTC are key project members.

Utilities need additional demand response (DR) capacity to avoid rolling blackouts during peak usage periods and meet regulatory requirements. Most existing, commercial lighting does not currently contribute to peak demand reductions. Existing retrofit lighting control solutions are too expensive for DR use, which leaves existing, interior, commercial lighting as a largely untapped DR resource.

Cost-Effective Demand Response (CEDR) research by Lighting California's Future seeks to introduce a novel demand response (DR) lighting control technology that can be easily retrofit to existing buildings.

CEDR makes retrofit installation economical by using existing power wiring to transmit a load shed signal to designated lighting loads. This signal, introduced at the lighting panel and transmitted to receivers installed in existing bi-level light switches, tells receivers to turn off half the lights.

This research project will develop a new system capable of receiving a utility demand reduction signal and transmitting, over the building power lines, a load-shed signal to multiple receiver devices. The outcome of the project is the development and commercialization of a novel demand responsive lighting technology.

CEDR takes a low-tech approach, doing only one simple task inexpensively - reducing loads during DR conditions.

Applications
■ Buildings with lighting controlled by bi-level switching.
■ Buildings with significant sheddable plug loads.
■ ESCOs with the above customers.
■ Utilities requiring more automatic DR capacity.

Key project members are the CLTC, NEV Electronics, and SCE. Collaborators include NEV Electronics, Benya Lighting, California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC), Southern California Edison, and Architectural Energy Corporation.

CEDR LCF program information and reports

Technical information  and CLTC/UCDavis

Licensing

Lighting represents a large portion of a building's energy use. 

Take charge of your energy costs with an energy audit for your facilities. As an Energy Star partner, Everblue Energy offers a comprehensive approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort, while protecting the environment. Whether your facility is warehouse or office space, retail or cubicles, we can help you reduce your energy costs.

Audits start with a top-to-bottom diagnostic inspection by a specially-trained technician using state-of-the art equipment & computer analysis software. An audit includes an inspection of  internal processes along with an inspection of lighting, air-conditioning, heating, and other energy-intensive equipment.

Why should you conduct an Energy Audit?

• You want to increase profit


Energy savings go straight to your bottom line!  Many savings can come from behavior changes, such as encouraging creative ways to use natural light...or turn off lights and equipment at night and during downtimes.


• You want to lower your utility bills


Good lighting solutions can lower energy bills for light by as much as 30%.


• You want to increase the comfort of your space


Quality lighting can not only reduce energy costs -- but improve your team's productivity and health -- thus reducing absenteeism.


• You are planning to remodel or upgrade


Getting an energy audit before your remodel can save you thousands of dollars with rebates, incentives and energy savings.


• You want to reduce your carbon footprint and environmental impact


Reduce your environmental impact in smart ways -- you'll be glad with each passing year if we work together to keep violent storms down, heat waves down and energy costs down.


• You want to reduce American reliance on foreign energy


We can rebuild a strong American infrastructure is every building block is strong, efficient and doesn't waste precious resources.


• You want to see what rebates and incentives that you can qualify for


Many cities, counties, state and even federal departments are offering rebates and incentives to replace high consumption lighting fixtures with CFLs, LEDs and other high efficiency models.  Check with you lighting dealer, as well as your government environmental departments and utility companies to see what's available in your area.  Programs vary widely by location...and program timing.


One company that provides energy audits is Everblue Energy, Charlotte, NC 28203

http://www.everblueenergy.com/commercialenergyaudits.html