David Shiller

  The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) approved $4.3 billion in investments for energy efficiency efforts from 2024 through 2027, along with a forecasted budget of $4.6 billion from 2028 through 2031. Roughly 14% of the budget will be channeled to programs that target disadvantaged and underserved communities to ensure equitable access to energy efficiency programs. The [...]

The current California energy code (Title 24 Nonresidential) requires luminaires or lamps that are used for plant growth to have a photosynthetic photon efficacy (PPE) of at least 1.9 micromoles per joule (µmol/J) for indoor grow facilities with more than 40 kW of horticultural lighting load. Luminaires or lamps used for plant growth in greenhouses [...]

  The American Institute of Architect’s (AIA) Consensus Construction Forecast panel has projected nonresidential building spending in late 2023 and beyond and predicts that spending on buildings will increase by 20% this year. This would be the highest rate since the years leading up to the Great Recession. The panel found an extremely strong start in [...]

Last year, I wrote about the release of the first Artificial Light At Night (ALAN): State of the Science Report 2022, available here. DarkSky (formerly the International Dark Sky Association – IDA), has now released an updated version of the report titled Artificial Light At Night: State of the Science 2023 Report. It is a [...]

  You may have heard that the IEEE has released a new and important LiFi standard for light communications, 802.11bb. What you may not have heard is that the standard is based on a portion of the infrared spectrum, which effectively separates LiFi from visible light sources. Light fixtures will no longer hold any advantage [...]

  The Rhode Island fluorescent ban was signed by the Governor on June 22, 2023. After Jan. 1, 2024, it will be illegal to sell most compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) in Rhode Island. A year later, the sale of pin-based and linear fluorescent bulbs will become illegal. More information on Rhode Island’s ban is here. The [...]

  A new white paper by Parks Associates and Cox Communities sheds insights into the greater adoption and desire for smart home devices among apartment and condo residents (aka multi dwelling units or MDU). Their research found that 83% of MDU residents with smart home devices were satisfied or highly satisfied with their apartment or [...]

  In April, 2023, I wrote about the evolving and escalating trade war between the U.S. & China. One of the developments was the U.S. and some of its allies banning the sale of advanced AI computer chips to China. On July 3rd, China retaliated with an announcement that it would impose export restrictions on [...]

  Amazon dominates retail e-commerce but not B2B e-commerce. Here is a closer look: Amazon dominates retail e-commerce with $431 Billion in sales projected this year. Amazon’s retail Ecom market share is 37.6%. In second place is Walmart with $73.5 Billion in retail e-commerce sales, 1/6 that of Amazon. Amazon’s top retail e-comm categories are [...]