earth energy Solutions applauds DOE shift to energy saving lighting products
January 24, 2012
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a report that documents the increased adoption of energy-efficient lighting products in the United States over the last decade. The 2010 U.S. Lighting Market Characterization examines the current conditions and broad trends in the U.S. lighting market, broken down by technology and sector.
The report also details specific products, including comprehensive and detailed estimates of the national inventory of installed lighting products, as well as their performance characteristics, associated energy use, and lumen production – a measure of brightness. The report helps chart progress made toward the goal of transitioning to more energy-efficient lighting technologies across four sectors: residential buildings, commercial buildings, industrial buildings, and outdoor applications.
The study shows that in 2010, lighting used approximately 700 terawatt-hours (TWh), or nearly19% of the electricity produced in the United States. Of the total energy used for lighting, the commercial sector consumed nearly half, or 349 TWh, primarily with fluorescent lighting products. While there are nearly 6 billion light bulbs installed in the residential sector, far more than the approximately 2 billion lamps in the commercial buildings sector, the mostly incandescent residential lamps were not used nearly as much per day, on average, as lights in the commercial sector.
Green For All recognizes need for energy efficiency
Dear Earth Energy,
Tonight, President Obama presents his State of the Union address. He’s expected to present a forceful vision for 2012.
The problem, of course, is that we need to be building an American economy today that will position us for the next hundred years, not just the next one. There’s a clear path to doing so, but political obstacles will make it difficult.
So today Green For All is announcing a “Plan To Keep America First,” a four-step outline of how the President can ensure that our nation remains strong and competitive well into the next century, while putting Americans back to work now:
- Recognize long-term growth opportunities. Specifically, the on-going growth of renewable energy, green jobs, and pollution controls
- Make direct entrepreneurial investments in green technology. Leverage the government’s resources to support the clean energy economy and ensure a robust return on its investment.
- Make direct investments in infrastructure – with an eye toward the future. Build infrastructure now that considers long-term sustainability and energy use trends.
- Use full power of the executive branch. It’s vital that the private sector work with President Obama to figure out creative ways to make progress.
The plan is ambitious and not politically easy. That’s where you come in. Take a few minutes to read the plan. Then, contact your member of Congress using our online tools. Let the President and your member of Congress know that you support Green For All’s bold, forward-looking agenda for America.
We’ve seen repeatedly over the last few months the power of speaking out, both on Wall Street and online. It’s time for us to step up once again and demand the jobs that will keep America first.
Sincerely,
Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins
P.S. Please share the “Plan To Keep America First” with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. Here’s a tweet you can use:
Let’s put America back to work today. I support @GreenForAll #KeepAmericaFirst plan. Read + share the plan: http://bit.ly/y7GSBE
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Reality on the changing technology of Light Bulbs
Reality unveiled about why newer technology light bulbs, they cost far less to run, are energy efficient and will last a decade or longer (usage dependent).
Let’s talk LUMENS vs. WATTAGE, watch the video, short and informative as seen on MSNBC Today Show.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
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Improve energy efficiency in U.S. industrial facilities with $3M from DOE
Program aims to improve energy efficiency in U.S. industrial facilities, spur global competitiveness
January 19, 2012
The Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $3 million to administer DOE’s Superior Energy Performance (SEP) program that will help American manufacturers continually increase the energy efficiency of their domestic facilities, boost their global competitiveness, and create jobs. The funding will support at least one organization to launch, operate, and promote the SEP program. When launched later this year, the voluntary program will provide a transparent, step-by-step certification process to help industrial and commercial facilities implement and validate improvements in their energy performance and reduce their energy costs.
The SEP program will be a key component of DOE’s efforts to improve energy efficiency throughout the nation’s manufacturing sector. The SEP Program Administrator selected for funding through this solicitation will be responsible for launching and overseeing the program during its initial stages. The administrator will develop and execute a sustainable business model to enable SEP to become a fee-based, self-sufficient program within three years of the award.
The SEP Program will address several fundamental challenges that energy managers face within both the industrial and commercial sectors. The program aims to improve awareness of energy efficiency opportunities within companies across both sectors, develop consistent models to evaluate the business merits of competing opportunities, foster commitments to energy efficiency from company leadership, and provide guidance to implement energy-saving upgrades. There are currently 35 companies in 20 states addressing these challenges by participating in SEP industrial demonstration projects. Eight SEP commercial pilot facilities have also been established to test the SEP program elements and overall scheme.
The funding is expected to be awarded to at least one entity over a period of up to three years and will be subject to an annual performance review to evaluate progress toward meeting program goals and deliverables. Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity include U.S. domestic entities or consortia composed of academic institutions, non-profits [except 501(c)(4) non-profits] and for-profit private entities.
For more information and application requirements, please visit the Funding Opportunity Exchange website. Letters of intent in connection with this opportunity are due February 21, 2012. Applications will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 21, 2012. DOE anticipates notifying applicants selected for awards by May 2012 and making awards by June 2012.
DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. Learn more about how DOE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office is working to identify, explore, develop, demonstrate, and deploy new, energy-efficient processes, products and materials that can help U.S. manufacturers secure a competitive advantage in the global economy.
Winning Energy Efficient Light Bulb — What to Expect in 2012
Image via Wikipedia
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is offering a webinar on Wednesday, January 18, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST, titled “The L Prize-Winning LED A19 Replacement—What Commercial Building Owners and Operators Can Expect in 2012.” Register now to attend this free webinar. Light emitting diode (LED) light bulbs are energy-saving lighting choices available today to replace some of the most inefficient incandescent bulbs.
In this webinar, Kelly Gordon of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will present an update on the status of LED A19 light bulb options for commercial businesses, provide an overview of DOE’s Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize (L Prize) competition, and discuss the winning bulb. Todd Manegold, director of LED Lamps Marketing at Philips Lighting, will outline the best applications for the winning bulb in commercial settings, Philips’ plans for commercial distribution, and a financial calculator showing expected cost and payback.
In August, 2011, DOE named Philips Lighting North America as the first winner of the L Prize competition in the 60-watt replacement bulb category, one of the most widely used lighting types. Philips developed a highly efficient LED product to meet the rigorous requirements of the L Prize competition—ensuring that performance, quality, lifetime, cost, and availability met expectations for widespread adoption and mass manufacturing.
The winning Philips product excelled through rigorous short-term and long-term performance testing carried out by independent laboratories and field assessments conducted with utilities and other partners.
DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. Learn more about DOE’s support of research and development of energy-efficient lighting, and visit our Energy Savers lighting choices website to start saving money by saving energy.
Join the clean energy conversation on Facebook at DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and Energy Savers pages.
Dr. Ulrich Eisele shares OSRAM’s Organic LED insight
OSRAM is one of the leading companies developing (and marketing) OLED lighting. Dr. Ulrich Eisele, head of OSRAM’s OLED unit, was kind enough to answer a few questions we had for him regarding OSRAM’s OLED program:
Q: You recently presented a new flexible OLED that features 32 lm/W. Can you us some more information on this panel?
A: The outstanding feature of the flexible OLED shown is that the production is based on well-tried OSRAM OLED processes. The production line is located in Regensburg (Bavaria), so we can benefit from our local expertise.
Q: What kind of applications do you see for a flexible OLED lighting panel? What are the use cases?
A: There are 3 different kinds of use cases:
- Traditional: thanks to the flexible OLED, designers and light planners enjoy greater freedom of design. They can break up with classical rigid forms of luminaires, for example creating flexible lamp shades. Such an application has clear efficiency benefits. While a classical one is absorbing photons from the light source behind, a flexible OLED is directly emitting diffuse light.
- Traditional applications with additional benefit: for example automotive rear lamps that have a three-dimensional character and that combine design and safety.
- New applications: for example flexible room dividers or furnishings that become a light source at night (vase, mirror, window).
Q: A few weeks ago the University of Toronto announced the “world’s most efficient flexible OLED” – with very little details. How does your OLED panel compare?
A: So far, there is no real technical data available. That is why we are not able to compare our flexible OLEDs with real data of the OLED of the Toronto research group.
Q: The new panel was made as part of the TOPAS project. Can you explain this project and give us some updates?
A: The TOPAS project received public support, i.a. by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and Aixtron. Its fundamental goal was to link transparency and lumen/watt. This goal was achieved.
Q: OLEDs can be made flexible and/or transparent. What do you think is more useful for lighting purposes? What kind of panels will reach the market first in your opinion? And when will that be?
A: Of course the combination offers additional potential for the 3 OLED use cases (please see above).
Q: You recently unveiled a new production line in Regensburg. You claimed it will reduce your panel prices by 90% – mostly due to volume. When will that happen?
A: The OLED cost trend (lm/W) will face a similar cost trend such as LED.
Q: Can we expect Orbeos-like panels for 16 euros or so then? Will it make its way into retail?
A: It is very likely that OLED will be supplied via several channels in the future (similar to LED). However, in our opinion, OLED Retrofits are not to be expected.
Q: The new line will be able to produce transparent panels, too. Do you have any actual plans to start offering such panels?
A: We actually can produce transparent panels in Regensburg. The product mix, however, will be aligned with the specific needs and wishes of our customers.
Q: OSRAM’s current Orbeos panels aren’t very efficient. Philips and KM already produce more efficient panels (using phosphorescent materials). When do you plan to start making more efficient panels? Will you use phosphorescent materials too?
A: With an efficiency of 87 lm/W, OSRAM currently holds the record. At light+building we will present OLED panels which remain at benchmark level, regarding performance and quality. For example, OSRAM OLED don’t need any getter thanks to our innovative thin film encapsulation. The customer benefit is obvious: The back side of the panel is almost as beautiful as the front side (no big black “disc”).
Q: Where do you see OLED lighting in the future? Do you think OLEDs will penetrate the ‘general lighting’ market or will it remain a niche premium product?
A: The future of OLED has only just begun, and its development will be as dynamic as it is for LED. Based on the 3 defined use classes OLED will be well suited for mass market applications. At the same time OLED will become a tailor-made product which fit the specific needs of customers (design, performance).
Thank you for your time Dr. Ulrich, I wish both you and OSRAM good luck!
earth energy Solutions supports local Community energy conservation actions
Webinar – Making an Impact on Energy Use in Your Community
January 18, 2012, 1:00 – 2:15 pm Eastern Time
EPA’s Green Power Partnership and State and Local Climate and Energy Program will co-host a webinar to highlight how municipalities from around the country are leveraging EPA programs to reduce the impacts of their communities’ energy use. EPA program managers will discuss the Green Power Community and Climate Showcase Communities programs as well as the tools and resources these programs offer participating communities. Representatives from two EPA Green Power Communities — Washington, DC and Corvallis, Oregon — will present information on their Green Power Community experience; Corvallis will also discuss its Climate Showcase activities.
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How to Evaluate Light Sources; LED or not to LED
Electrical Contractor recently published an article by Craig DiLouie about a simple methodology for evaluating light sources based on a basic series of questions:
• What is the distribution of the light? Distribution is measured in candelas (cd).
• How long does the lamp last? Service life is measured in hours.
• How much light does it produce? Light output is measured in lumens (Lm).
• How much electric power does the system require? Power is measured in watts (W).
• How efficient is it compared to others? Efficacy is measured in lumens per watt (LPW).
• What is the color appearance of the source? Color tone is measured in kelvins (K).
• How well does the source render colors? Color rendering is expressed on the color rendering index (CRI).
Check it out here.
Posted on December 20, 2011, 6:19 AM, by Craig DiLouie, under Craig’s Electrical Contractor Articles, Education + Resources, Lighting Design.
Image courtesy of Peter Ngai.
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LED Patent News: ATG, Philips, Everlight, Nichia, OLEDWorks, Osram, Samsung, Dominant
 Organic LED technology… 14 Dec 2011 by LEDs Magazine |
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ATG Electronics joins Philips’ SSL licensing programLED lighting manufacturer ATG Electronicshas obtained a license under Philips’ LED Luminaires and Retrofit Bulbs license program. ATG Electronics Corp. was established in 1999 and later formed partnerships with companies in California. ATG designs, produces and distributes LED-based illumination and decoration lighting systems. Through the license agreement with Philips, ATG Electronics has obtained access to basic system and control technologies for LED luminaires and retrofit bulbs. “As the world’s No.1 solution provider for indoor lighting retrofit products, we believe that intellectual property is the basis for a company’s continued development,” said Nick Ni, president of ATG. “We are pleased to have the agreement with Philips, which grants us access to a comprehensive patent portfolio and opens up new opportunities for us as a leading company in the development of the LED industry.” ATG recently received multiple utility patents and a design patent in China for its LED products. Everlight fights back in LED patent battle against Nichia Tawian-based LED maker Everlight has filed an unfair competition lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court against Nichia, a Japanese rival. Everlight says that it has “decided to fight back” against Nichia, claiming that Nichia has “affected fair competitive market mechanisms by filing patent-infringement lawsuits” – lawsuits that Everlight describes as “baseless.” In October of this year, for example, Nichia filed lawsuits against a Japanese distributor of Everlight’s LED products. LED patent disputes between Everlight and Nichia date back to 2006, when Nichia brought a patent-infringement lawsuit against Everlight in Taiwan and sought damages of NTD 80 million. However, according to Everlight’s press release, the patent in question (patent no. 089036) was eventually ruled invalid earlier this year. GOT and OLEDWorks sign OLED patent license agreement OLEDWorks LLC and Global OLED Technology LLC (GOT) have signed a royalty-bearing patent license agreement, which grants OLEDWorks the right to use certain GOT patents in connection with the production of OLED lighting-related products. Michael Boroson, CTO of OLEDWorks, states, “We are very pleased to have access to this important patent portfolio. We believe that the technology developed at Kodak and now owned by GOT offers a superior approach for OLED lighting.” GOT continues to invest in, develop and license intellectual property that originated with Eastman Kodak Company. OLEDWorks LLC is a Rochester, NY-based company established in 2010 for the production of OLED lighting panels. Samsung’s ITC complaint against Osram The latest news from the LED patent dispute between Samsung and Osram concerns the complaint made by Samsung to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). Samsung claims that certain LED products manufactured by Osram and imported into the USA infringe one or more patents owned by Samsung. Samsung sought to change the complaint to add both Siemens, Osram’s parent company, and Hella, a Germany-based automotive-lighting manufacturer, as respondents. However, the ITC rejected Samsung’s attempt to add these companies to the case. Dominant and Osram LEDs Magazine recently reported that a German court had ruled in favor of Osram in its patent-infringement lawsuit against Dominant, a Malaysian LED manufacturer. However, according to Dominant’s press release on the same subject, the court rejected 10 of the claims made by Osram. Dominant also says that the infringement confirmed by the court only relates “to product lines that have been terminated since 2004/2005 due to on-going improvements.” |
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| About the Author … Tim Whitaker is the Editor of LEDs Magazine. | |||
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We WELCOME HOME our Troops with Gratitude
earth energy Solutions GROUP extends a very warm WELCOME HOME to all our troops.
We wish you, your family’s, extended family’s and friends abundant favor and blessings.
We will never fully know the sacrifices, the hardships, the ache and struggles you endured on behalf of our Country.
Hold your PRIDE high as do we for you. Stand strong as you are not alone.
We HONOR you and APPRECIATE all you have done for us and the United States of America.
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Key Energy Saving Activities for Smaller Facilities Webcast on Jan 10
Join us for a webinar on January 10Space is limited. Many small- to medium-sized manufacturers do not have the access to the resources and capital that larger corporations enjoy. This webcast will focus on key energy-saving activities that small- to medium-sized manufacturers can implement in their facilities. The webcast, featuring Richard Feustal of Briggs & Stratton and an Industrial Assessment Center representative, will highlight strategies such as implementing no-cost energy saving measures, such as turning off machines and shutting down process operations when not needed; targeting “low-hanging” fruit; and building a business case for projects that require capital. Title: Tuesday Webcast for Industry: Key Energy-Saving Activities for Smaller Facilities System Requirements Macintosh®-based attendees |
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