Up to $24 million in loan funds from the California Energy Commission are available at a new low 3% interest rate for energy cost saving projects on a first-come, first-served basis. (The new rate applies to loans made on or after July 9, 2009, and ends when a new notice is issued; it cannot be [...]
Energy + Environment
Codes + Standards, Energy + Environment
New Energy Bill Would Require 30% Reduction Over Today’s Baseline Energy Codes
The passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES 2009) has been highly publicized for its Cap and Trade Program, but there’s another provision that is of significant interest to the lighting community: the requirement that national building energy codes for residential and commercial buildings [...]
Energy + Environment, Lighting Design
Should Lighting Quality Drive Upgrade Decisions?
Writing for the February 2009 issue of Electrical Contractor Magazine, I make the case that lighting quality should be an equal partner to energy savings in an upgrade of an existing building. In fact, doing so can can result in a larger project and more work for the contractor. The article includes references to the [...]
Codes + Standards, Energy + Environment, Lighting Design
DOE Publishes ASHRAE Guidance on Achieving 30% Savings Over 90.1-1999 in Small Office Buildings
The Department of Energy’s Building Codes Resource Center has published a summary of the ASHRAE guidelines for achieving 30% savings over ASHRAE 90.1-1999 in small office buildings. One of the interesting features of the website is a series of layout templates. Check it out here.
Controls, Energy + Environment
NEMA Promotes New Research as Evidence of Opportunity for Lighting Renovations
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has revealed the results of new market research that provides a clear picture of America’s need for information about energy and cost saving through modern lighting systems. The research, conducted in conjunction with Today’s Facility Manager magazine, focused on nonresidential building owners and managers. Findings indicate that 41% of [...]
Education + Resources, Energy + Environment
Rebates & Retrofits: The Stimulus Put to Work
Lighting designer Jim Benya of Benya Lighting Design has published a great presentation on his website talking about opportunities in the retrofit and relighting market, available free here as a PDF file.
Ed Begley Delivers Environmental Keynote at Lightfair
Days after his appearance on the Oprah Show, environmentalist and actor Ed Begley Jr. gave a humorous and empowering keynote address on sustainable living at Lightfair International on May 3. Attendees heard how Begley began his global climate change activism, first in the ’80s with a wind turbine and now with lighting playing a critical [...]
Energy + Environment, Legislation + Regulation
Commercial Buildings Deduction’s Interim Lighting Rule
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 [...]
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 [...]
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