LightNOW

Lighting manufacturer Precision-Paragon [P2] has published a guide to help building owners and lighting professionals identify and maximize potential sources of energy savings. The 21-page publication, “6 Steps to Getting the Most From Every Lighting Retrofit,” is available for free as a downloadable e-book on the lighting manufacturer’s website here.

The guide’s first chapter opens at the starting point for nearly all lighting upgrades: a one-for-one replacement, where existing fixtures are swapped out with more energy-efficient replacements. The book covers additional steps, including performing a comprehensive layout and specification, adding automatic lighting controls, addressing outdoor lighting, addressing specialty lighting, and finding and qualifying for rebates and incentives. These steps can ensure that energy savings and other benefits are maximized.

The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) has announced the IALD Enlighten Europe conference for November 9-11, 2014 at the andel’s Hotel Berlin in Berlin, Germany.

Enlighten Europe will provide an inspiring and cutting-edge educational program in three subject-matter tracks, while offering exciting networking opportunities in the vibrant city of Berlin.

Click here to learn more.

SALARY: $34.32 – $39.96 Hourly
LOCATION: 901 – 5th Ave, 19th floor, Seattle,, Washington
JOB TYPE: Classified Civil Service, Regular, Full-Time
SHIFT: Day
DEPARTMENT: Seattle City Light
BARGAINING UNIT: PTE, Local 17 – Professionals
CLOSING DATE: 04/28/14 04:00 PM Pacific Time

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle’s electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. The Conservation Resources Division of Seattle City Light provides energy conservation programs which are the most cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly mechanism to meet the energy needs of our customers

The Conservation Resources Division is looking for two (2) Energy Research and Evaluations Analysts who will complete a three person evaluation team in the Planning, Implementation and Evaluation group. Research enables City Light to stay on top of emerging technology opportunities and evaluation entails rigorous review, monitoring, and verification of energy program impacts and other information. These positions work under the general supervision of an Energy Planning Supervision.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Energy Research and Evaluation Analysts plan, develop and conduct evaluations, and research, analyze, interpret, and presents statistical reports and evaluations in support of the energy conservation division’s programs and activities.

• Experience in study design and methodologies, evaluation procedure, statistical techniques, analysis and inference, database designs.
• Knowledge of statistical and economic analysis as well as research methodologies.
• Awareness and understanding of current and emerging techniques in energy program evaluation.
• Serves as project manager and conducts evaluation of energy efficiency and conservation programs. Plans and conducts analyses, and interprets, prepares and presents statistical reports substantiating evaluations in support of department programs and activities.
• Manage large consultant contracts. Define scope of work, coordinate RFP processes, participate in selection and manage the work of independent contractors.
• Significant computers skills. Ability to establish and maintain databases as well as using word processing, spreadsheet, and statistical software.
• Provides recommendations to modify and/or continue programs and regulations.
• Present finding in orally and in writing.
• Participates in planning committees and provides technical assistance as required.
• Interact with City, City Light and Conservation Resources Division Leadership and staff to assist with the development of new and innovative programs and delivery mechanisms and identify appropriate evaluation methods. Represent the Conservation Resources Division.
• Performs other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in social or behavioral science or in a related field involving research design and statistical analysis

Experience: Three years related work experience.

(or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience that provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Certification/License: Washington State Driver’s License or equivalent mobility.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Desired Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in Statistical Analysis, Business Administration, Public Administration or thou field that provides experience in research and evaluation methods.
• Substantial professional experience in research or evaluation of energy efficiency or conservation programs, services or related areas. This experience is typically gained through five or more years of experience performing relevant progressively responsible assignments.
• Experience in study designs and methodologies, evaluation procedures, statistical techniques, analysis and inference, database designs, and recommendations to modify and /or continue programs and regulations.
• Awareness and understanding of current and emerging techniques in energy conservation and energy program evaluation.
• Significant computer skills. Ability to establish and maintain databases as well as using office products and statistical software.
• Ability to deliver oral presentation.
• Experience producing statistical and research reports, manuals, customer and program data analysis and annual reporting.
Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process including the completion of a background check which includes criminal history and driving history review.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: http://www.seattle.gov/light/.

Chris Bailey, Director of Lighting Solutions Center – Hubbell Lighting, recently published a post on the Hubbell blog, “Right-sizing Light,” that you might find interesting. He writes:

“Most designers strive to achieve a balance in the perceptions of safety, security and nighttime enjoyment. While it is essential for designers and customers to understand the technical requirements of outdoor lighting, the implications of failing to yield to the more elusive requirements of the environment can be equally significant. However, we should hold one governing tenant in mind at all times; applying light outdoors should be driven from a real need and with great care to avoid both unintentional human an environmental consequences.”

Click here to read the rest of this post.

After starting out the year on a positive note, there was another minor increase in the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) last month. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the February ABI score was 50.7, up slightly from a mark of 50.4 in January. This score reflects an increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 56.8, down from the reading of 58.5 the previous month.

(Click here for an interesting report on how the construction industry can use the ABI to its advantage.)

“The unusually severe weather conditions in many parts of the country have obviously held back both design and construction activity,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “The March and April readings will likely be a better indication of the underlying health of the design and construction markets. We are hearing reports of projects that had been previously shelved for extended periods of time coming back online as the economy improves.”

Key February ABI highlights:

• Regional averages: South (52.8),West (50.5), Northeast (48.3), Midwest (47.6)

• Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (52.5), commercial / industrial (51.9), institutional (49.6), mixed practice (46.6)

• Project inquiries index: 56.8

Note the regional and sector categories are calculated as a 3-month moving average, whereas the national index and inquiries are monthly numbers.

Prescolite has introduced a 12,000+ lumen LED luminaire designed for high-ceiling commercial and architectural interiors where recessed depth is not available—the MegaLum Cylinder. With all the performance advantages of the company’s MegaLum luminaire, the MegaLum Cylinder can be surface, cable or pendant mounted and offers a viable alternative to T4 quartz (up to 500W) and metal halide (up to 250W) sources for ceiling heights of 20 to 60 feet.

Delivering over 12,000 lumens out of a 10” cylinder with 168W of input power, the MegaLum Cylinder uniformly illuminates large, open spaces including convention centers, airports, auditoriums, churches and performing arts centers. It’s available in four lumen packages (3,000, 6,000, 9,000 and 12,000) and five color temperatures (2700K, 3000K, 3500K, 4000K and 5000K), utilizing up to 480 individual LEDs specifically mixed to provide a minimum of 80 CRI with 3 SCDM color consistency. The reflectors create precise optical control in 25-, 35-, 45- and 55-degree distributions.

Rated life of 50,000 hours. The entire external housing can be simply lowered by loosening two side screws and sliding the tube down to a safety stop, making the drivers and wiring easily accessible. Housings available in brushed aluminum, matte black, matte white, zet, and bronze. The fixture can be configured to be Hubbell Building Automation wiHUBB compatible. It comes standard with 0-10V dimming to 10%, with multiple 1% dimming options.

Click here to learn more.

Rebate organizations have been busy updating their rebate and incentive programs for 2014. While not all of them operate on a calendar year, BriteSwitch, LLC still sees a lot of changes and trends in the industry. Right now, 71% of the country is covered by an active commercial lighting rebate. BriteSwitch has also noticed a few other trends:

Programs are getting new funding. Last year, quite a few rebate programs, such as Consumers Energy in Michigan and SureBet Nevada, exceeded their budget, ending the programs earlier than planned. This year, they have new funding again and are accepting applications for 2014 projects. Click here to see a map with how lighting rebates have changed in the past 5 years.

More prescriptive programs for LED products. More organizations are now offering prescriptive rebates for a larger variety of LED solutions such as LED high-bay fixtures, LED outdoor pole lights, TL fixture replacements, and even some LED T8 replacements. In 2014, LED rebates have continued to expand with 16% more prescriptive rebates than last year. The dollar amounts have remained relatively stable compared to last year, which is surprising given the falling prices of LEDs. Click here to see the average rebate amounts for LEDs.

T12 rebates continue to decline. As expected, T12 to T8 rebates took a tumble this year compared to 2013. Because it is becoming harder to find replacement T12 lamps and ballasts, many rebate programs feel they don’t need to offer incentives anymore for people to upgrade. Between this year and last year, the number of rebates available for T8 installations decreased by 18%. While the dollar amount of the rebate remains relatively stable from last year, many programs are requiring the use of high performance or reduced wattage T8 lamps. In fact, 60% of T8 rebates require lamps and ballasts that satisfy CEE specifications. Click here to learn more about T12 to T8 rebates.

Shipments of halogen A-line lamps increased for the sixth consecutive quarter in 2013Q4, posting an increase of 41.8% over the previous quarter. Similarly, the index for LED A-line replacement lamps increased 42.3% during the quarter.

Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and A-line incandescent lamp shipments trended in the opposite direction by slipping 0.4% and 10.6% q/q, respectively. The index for CFLs declined by 2.4% for the whole of 2013 versus 2012. Meanwhile, the A-line incandescent index registered an annual decline of 13.5%.

Incandescent lamps ceded 4.3 percentage points of the combined A-line market during the quarter, with a share of 51.5%. Shipments of CFLs garnered a share of 33.8%, a decline of 0.3 percentage points. Shares of halogen and LED A-line lamps increased to 13.6% and 1.1%, respectively.

Now in its third year and hosted by the Designers Lighting Forum of New England, Boston Lights Exposition 2014 is a biennial event taking place on Thursday, September 18, 2014 from 11:00AM-8:00PM at the Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel.

Boston Lights 2014 will feature more than 100 of the country’s leading lighting companies showcasing the latest in architectural lighting products. Guests have the opportunity to attend AIA accredited seminars, with speakers including Keith Bradshaw, principal of Speirs + Major, and John Curran, PhD, president of LED Transformations, LLC. This year, seminars will be presented specifically for interior design and landscape design professionals in addition to the CEU presentations for architects.

Admission to Boston Lights Exposition 2014 is free, but registration is required. Click here to learn more.

The Senate Finance Committee recently voted to approve a two-year extension of the Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction, also known as Section 179D, as part of the Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act.

The provision allows a taxpayer to take a deduction equal to commercial building energy-efficiency expenditures made by the taxpayer as part of the building’s interior lighting systems, heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water systems, or building envelope. Certification must be obtained to verify that the retrofits are installed as part of a plan to reduce energy costs by 50% or more in comparison to a specified minimum standard.

The bill passed today makes some modifications to the 179D incentive. Tribal governments and 501(c)(3)non-profit organizations would be permitted to transfer the deduction to the architect or designer primarily responsible for designing the energy efficiency project. The ability to transfer the deduction is currently available only for public building projects.

Also, under the new provision the 50% energy savings certification would be calculated on energy efficiency improvements above a new baseline reference. The approved modification moves the baseline to a more current standard. This will make achieving the accelerated tax deduction with lighting more difficult.

The Commercial Building Tax Deduction was enacted into law as a provision of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and represented the first performance-based federal tax incentive aimed at energy efficiency improvements in commercial buildings. Congress has acted twice to extend the provision. The last extension was for five years and expired on December 31, 2013.

In other news, Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) recently introduced the Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives Act (S.2189), which includes language that would similarly reinstate and improve the Commercial Building Tax Deduction.