Most lighting professionals are aware by now that the Commercial Buildings Deduction has been extended to 2013. Here is an article I wrote for Electrical Contractor Magazine, published in the March issue, that describes the Interim Lighting Rule, which in my opinion is the easiest and fastest path for an indoor lighting project to qualify [...]
Energy + Environment
Education + Resources, Energy + Environment
CLTC Study Demonstrates Major Energy Savings for Bilevel Occupancy Sensors
Earlier this month, I posted a new whitepaper at the Lighting Control Association website that talks about the findings of a new study about combining occupancy sensing and bilevel switching. According to the Advanced Lighting Guidelines, occupancy sensors in private offices can produce up to 45% energy savings. A 2002 study by ADM Associates found [...]
Obama Admin Announces $3.2 Billion in Funding for Local Energy Efficiency Improvements
Vice President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Steven Chu have announced plans to invest $3.2 billion in energy efficiency and conservation projects in U.S. cities, counties, states, territories and Native American tribes. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, funded by President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will provide formula grants for projects [...]
Education + Resources, Energy + Environment, Lighting Industry
New Report Forecasts High Growth in Global Energy-Efficient Lighting Market
Reportlinker.com is offering a new market research report that analyzes the global energy-efficient lighting market and forecasts to 2015. The report attempts to define the energy-efficient lighting industry and associated regulatory framework across the globe, provides info related to current and emerging technologies with comparative cost analysis, assesses market size and forecasts growth, and provides [...]
AEE Predicts Shortage of Energy Professionals
The Association of Energy Engineers, a nonprofit professional society of over 9,500 members, has published the results of a survey on Green Jobs and Energy Independence. Based on 962 responses from experienced Energy Professionals, the survey found: * 72% indicate a shortage of qualified professionals in the energy efficiency and renewable energy fields in the [...]
Top 25 ENERGY STAR Cities
The EPA ENERGY STAR commercial building labeling program has released a list of the top 25 cities with the highest number ENERGY STAR buildings in 2008, available here as a PDF document. LA, San Francisco and Houston top the list. You can access all of ENERGY STAR buildings here.
Energy + Environment, Lighting Industry
NEMA Premium Label Calls Out Industry’s Most Efficient Fluorescent Ballasts
An article I wrote for TED Magazine recently describes the emergence of the NEMA Premium Ballast. Basically, this is a program, with a mark, that identifies the industry’s most efficient fluorescent electronic ballasts available for 4-ft. T8 lamps. It’s a great idea, even if simply to avoid confusion. Everybody calls their electronic ballasts “high efficiency” [...]
NYC Landmarks to Turn Out Lights for WWF’s Earth Hour
Several of New York City’s most recognizable buildings and landmarks have committed to turn off their lights for World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour. Beginning at 8:30 PM on March 28, individuals and organizations around New York City will turn off non-essential lighting on some of the most iconic structures that make up the Manhattan skyline. [...]
Energy + Environment, Products + Technology
Load-shedding Ballasts Lighten the Load
I recently wrote an article for TED Magazine about load-shedding ballasts, available online here. A building’s demand for electric power is the sum of the power required to run its electrical equipment in operation at any given time. Demand rises and falls as equipment is turned on and off. Peak demand is the highest level [...]
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