The recently released 2018 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that the total floorspace in commercial buildings had increased but energy consumption had not, compared with the last survey analyzing commercial building energy use, in 2012. This difference indicates that the consumption per square foot (energy intensity) had decreased, [...]
Energy + Environment
Energy + Environment, Legislation + Regulation
U.S. DOE Proposes Major Increase In General Service Lamp Efficacy Requirements
Earlier this week, the US Department of Energy (DOE) proposed a new energy efficiency standard for General Service Lamps (GSL). The new standard would impact an enormous variety of lamps, including A-lamps (CFL & LED), directional R & PAR lamps, and LED tubes (TLEDs). Right now it is still a proposal, but odds are good [...]
Energy + Environment, Legislation + Regulation
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Adds $550 Million To Energy Efficiency And Conservation Block Grant Program
The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), released a Notice of Intent, on 11/22/22, announcing $550 million to support community-based clean energy in state, Tribal, and local governments — serving more than 250 million Americans. This investment is through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program in order to support communities [...]
Energy + Environment, Light + Health
Combining WELL And LEED Building Certifications
The US Green Building Council and the International WELL Building Institute have formed a partnership to simplify certifying buildings for both health and sustainability. The USBGC’s LEED certification rates a building’s sustainability credentials, while WELL ratings consider a building’s impact on the wellbeing of people who use it. Both LEED and WELL building certifications have [...]
Energy + Environment, Research
New Photocatalyst Could Revolutionize Green Hydrogen And Ammonia
The field of photocatalysis chemistry is producing important breakthroughs in industrial chemistry. In July, LightNOW reported on a new photocatalyst revolutionizing the conversion of methane into liquid methanol, here. Now Rice University researchers have created a small, LED-powered device that converts ammonia to hydrogen on the fly Ammonia might carry hydrogen exceptionally well, but if [...]
Agriculture, Energy + Environment
Ontario Offering New LED Grow Light Incentives To SW Ontario Greenhouses
The Ontario provincial government announced new funding to help greenhouses switch from traditional lighting sources to LEDs.
Energy + Environment, Products + Technology
Laser Surface Finishing Technology Creates Bio-Inspired, Optical Functional Surfaces
German company Fusion Bionic’s laser technology improves the surface performance of products, applications, and components using their new DLIP – Direct Laser Interference Patterning.
Dark Sky, Energy + Environment
Federal Government Develops Window Film To Prevent Bird Collisions With Windows
It has been well documented that artificial light at night (ALAN) can disorient birds and increase bird collisions with buildings, especially windows. The reflectance of windows can lead birds to not realize that windows are solid objects to be avoided. New window film developed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) can prevent deadly bird-window collisions.
Codes + Standards, Energy + Environment
ENERGY STAR Proposes Sunset Of Lamps, Luminaires & Ceiling Fan Light Kit Programs
On Monday, November 14, 2022, ENERGY STAR issued a memo proposing to sunset its Lamps, Luminaires, and Ceiling Fan Light Kit programs.
Energy + Environment, Interviews + Opinion
Sustainability And Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
A recent editorial in LD&A magazine noted that we no longer have to single out “LED” lighting projects because now almost all projects use LEDs. There is no question that LEDs have drastically reduced energy use in both new construction and retrofit projects. So much so that some are arguing if we even really need lighting energy codes anymore.
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