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Las Vegas CityCenter glitters with LED lighting

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:15:10 +0000

If any city needs help cutting down on its electricity bill, it's Las Vegas. The newest and biggest casino complex on the strip, MGM's CityCenter, is moving Vegas in that direction with its LEED certified sustainable design. The enormous 18 million square-foot CityCenter complex contains more than just the casino, but retail space, restaurants, hotels and residential condominiums. The 4,004-room resort hotel Aria became the first hotel in Vegas to receive the Gold level LEED certification, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. "From the beginning we believed that intelligent design and sustainable practices would reinforce a sense of permanence for CityCenter and create a healthier, more appealing environment for guests, residents and our workforce," said Bobby Baldwin, CityCenter's president and CEO. MGM said CityCenter saves enough energy from LED lighting, skylight-enhanced natural lighting, and a natural gas co-generation plant on site to power 8,800 households annually. The buildings also recycle waste heat from the power generator to heat water, while water-saving technologies will conserve between 30 percent and 43 percent of water within the buildings and 60 percent in outdoor landscaping.ADNFCR-2708-ID-19424422-ADNFCR

Lighting for Tomorrow 2011 competition focuses on SSL

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:11:33 +0000

With an increased emphasis on solid-state lighting (SSL), the American Lighting Association (ALA) and the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) announced the 2011 Lighting for Tomorrow competition. Launched at the Dallas Lighting Market, the competition includes a category for LED-based replacement lamps and luminaires and a category for lighting-control products. The lighting controls category encompasses everything from stand-alone products to control systems and whole-house devices. Moreover, the control products can be compatible with fluorescent or LED-based lighting. Judging criteria will include functionality, ease of installation and use, innovation, and compatibility with existing lighting and other systems. The 2011 competition will mark the sixth year that Lighting for Tomorrow has included an SSL competition. Companies can enter replacement lamps or SSL luminaires that are designed for the residential market. Judging criteria for the SSL category includes lighting performance, energy efficiency, and style. In the 2011 competition, the judges selected five winning products and three honorable mentions from a field of 93 entries. The ALA and CEE organizations hold Lighting for Tomorrow with the goal of increasing the availability of energy-efficient lighting options for the residential market. The ALA is a trade association that included members from component manufacturers to lighting manufactures to distributor and retailers. The CEE is a non-profit corporation that promotes energy-efficient products and services in the US and Canada. The ALA and CEE are joined by co-sponsors from a host of utility companies, nonprofit groups, and state energy offices that have an interest in energy-efficient lighting. The co-sponsors have pledged $150,000 to support the 2011 competition. Entries for the 2011 competition are due April 15, 2011. The winners will be announced in September at the annual ALA conference. About the Author Maury Wright is the Senior Technical Editor of LEDs Magazine.

Congress to be briefed on LED lighting

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:05:59 +0000

Congress to be briefed on LED lighting 09 Nov 2009 A Congressional Luncheon Briefing later this week will discuss how, with energy-efficient technology becoming a government priority, cities across the country are investing in greener lighting sources. A Congressional Luncheon Briefing later this week will discuss how, with energy-efficient technology becoming a government priority, cities across the country are investing in greener lighting sources. The Optical Society (OSA), in conjunction with the House of Representatives’ Research & Development (R&D) Caucus, is hosting a Congressional briefing on November 12 to discuss how solid-state LED lighting can significantly reduce the amount of energy used for residential, commercial and street lighting. A panel of experts will discuss current and future LED technologies, why municipalities across the country are switching to them, cost savings associated with LEDs and the role of government in LED-related research. The briefing is free and open to the public. It takes place at B340 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 on Thursday, November 12, from 12 to 1:30 pm. Speakers are: Andrew Brix, Energy Programs Manager City of Ann Arbor, Michigan Topic: Ann Arbor: An LED City James Brodrick, Solid-State Lighting Program Manager US Department of Energy Topic: Solid-State Lighting Program Overview: Moving SSL from Lab to Market Mathew Sommers, LED Design Manager GE Lumination Topic: Green Lighting, Inside and Out: LED Lighting Examples Alex Fong, Senior VP, Life Sciences & Instrumentation Gooch and Housego Moderator The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has prioritized investing in energy-efficient technologies and reducing the cost of high-performance lighting products. Continuing advances, with the support of federal funding for energy efficient technologies, can accelerate progress toward creating a US-led market for high-efficiency light sources that save more energy, reduce costs and have less environmental impact than conventional light sources. LEDs use half the energy (or less) and last 10 to 12 years longer than conventional bulbs. Additionally, LEDs contain no mercury, unlike compact fluorescent light bulbs. Studies suggest that a complete conversion to the LEDs could decrease carbon dioxide emissions from electric power use for lighting by up to 50 percent in just more than 20 years. Lighting uses 22 percent of the electricity and 8 percent of the total energy spent in the United States, according to government reports.

Texas A&M selects Infinilux Solid State Low Bay light for parking structure

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:55:26 +0000

Date Announced: 08 Nov 2009

Carson, California and College Station, TX -– Texas A&M has selected the Infinilux, Inc. new light emitting-diode (LED) solid state low bay light for the university’s first SSL feasibility demonstration. The trial installation of the LB36 was selected to help Texas A&M meet energy conservation goals and lower the environmental impact of the campus-parking program.

The demo installation is drawing less than 0.1W/sq-ft max, 68% below the ASHRAE target of 0.3W/sq-ft, and will provide a reduction in overall power consumption of over 65%.

Texas A&M is an environmentally conscious university of over 45,000 students, faculty and staff. The new lighting project will offer a number of benefits for the university as well as for the environment.

If fully implemented, the reduction in energy consumption will be the equivalent of removing 767,000 tons of CO2 from the environment or taking 234 cars off the roads permanently. The improvement in lighting quality will increase driver and pedestrian safety by lowering glare and providing a more uniform light distribution over the legacy 150W HPS lights.

The reduction in maintenance cycles will also provide a tangible savings for the university as the Infinilux LED low bay units have an expected maintenance cycle exceeding 50,000 hours (70,000 hours to L70 at Ta=25°c). The driver section is UL listed and has integrated, auto-recovery over-voltage, transient (ANSI C62.41 Class A) and short/overload protection. The entire driver section of the LB36 is “plug and play” serviceable, and requires no special tools or fixtures for field service.

“The inherently environmentally friendly nature of Infinilux’s solid state lighting (SSL) technologies combined with the reduction of traditional maintenance costs creates a win-win for both the environment and Texas A&M.” Said Anthony Vilgiate, Infinilux Vice President.

“We are very pleased with what we are seeing so far in the demo-installation,” said Doug Williams, Associate Director, Transportation Services. “The installation took less than two hours, and the difference was immediate and clear with much better light quality and uniformity.”

About Infinilux, Inc. Infinilux, a Cree LED Solutions Provider, designs and manufactures high performance lighting products that can be used worldwide in high-profile applications within the architectural, public spaces, theater lighting, retail, residential, landscape, signage, entertainment, hospitality, fine arts, and commercial markets. Infinilux also provides OEM design and manufacturing services for some of the top names in the lighting industry. The Infinilux product line includes a variety of high-output indoor and outdoor Solid State retrofit lamps to replace inefficient incandescent lamps as well as a wide range of color wash and accent LED-lighting strips. These strips are ideal for under cabinet lighting in both homes and recreational vehicles and are suitable for use as a light engine for standard lighting fixtures and displays. For more information or to receive a catalog please contact Infinilux Inc. – 1457 Glenn Curtiss Ave. - Carson, Ca. - 90746 USA; Tel: (800) 353-4001 email: info@infinilux.com, web: www.infinilux.com. About American University

From humble beginnings in 1876 as Texas' first public institution of higher learning, to a bustling 5,000-acre campus with a nationally recognized faculty, Texas A&M University is one of a select few universities with land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant designations. With an enrollment of about half men and half women, 25 percent of the freshman class are the first in their family to attend college. Here, 38,000-plus undergraduates and more than 9,000 graduate students have access to world-class research programs and award-winning faculty. Texas A&M has two branch campuses, one in Galveston, Texas, and one in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar.

This research-intensive flagship university with 10 colleges was recently ranked first in the nation by The Washington Monthly for "tangible contributions to the public interest." U.S. News and World Report ranked Texas A&M third nationally as a "best value" among public universities. Many degree programs are ranked among the top 10 in the country.

State of the State shows Huntsman's optimism toward future

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:41:43 +0000

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

January 27th, 2009 @ 10:03pm By Richard Piatt Gov. Jon Huntsman says he's worried about the state's finances, but he didn't dwell on the situation in his annual State of the State address tonight. Instead, he struck an optimistic tone. "We are in this together, and together we will find creative solutions to critical problems," Huntsman said. In spite of tough work ahead, especially with the 2010 budget, the governor reinstated 39 transportation projects that were put on hold in November. He also emphasized a continued financial commitment to education -- out of necessity, he says. "We can and must do better in embracing our knowledge based economy," he said. Huntsman stated an ambitious goal of 2012 for significant system reform. He addressed health care professionals, also weary of the current system. "I assure you and the people you serve, we will fix this problem," he said. The governor also set a 2012 goal for being a renewable energy hub, creating infrastructure to harness wind, sun, natural gas and geothermal energy. "Don't tell me it can't be done," he said. Legislators share that optimism. "We can do it with consideration to the environment, but we can do it," said House Speaker David Clark, R-Santa Clara. There is bipartisan support on key issues like education. Sen. Pat Jones, Senate Minority Leader: "He seems to extend it 0-16, where we're trying to prepare our kids for the workforce and take care of teachers; and those things are very important to us," said Senate Minority Leader Pat Jones, D-Salt Lake. But many in the House and Senate wanted a crack at the budget problems earlier. "He put us a little behind. We've got a lot of decisions to make, and we're hoping we can get with him so we can close the books on '09," said House Majority Leader Kevin Garn, R-Layton. In tonight's address, Huntsman says he believes that in working together, the state's budget shortfall will be solvable. The Legislature will go back to the work of deciding where to make those cuts tomorrow morning. Click here to read or view the governor's speech and the Democratic Response E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com

Obama Calls for Recovery With Energy-Efficient Public Buildings

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:40:39 +0000

As part of his Economic Recovery Plan that he hopes will create 2.5 million new jobs, President-elect Barack Obama is calling for an effort to make public buildings more energy-efficient. In his weekly radio address, Obama announced a plan to seek energy-efficient upgrades for federal and public school buildings (see video below). Obama provided few details on how the green building makeover would work — or how many jobs it could provide — but he said he would start by replacing old heating systems and installing energy-efficient lighting. “Our government now pays the highest energy bill in the world. We need to change that,” he stated. He said he would unveil more about the plan in the coming weeks and push to have congress start working to get the plan approved in January. While clean energy initiatives like adding solar to the roofs of buildings tend to receive the bulk of attention, making buildings more energy efficient is typically a more cost-effective way to cut carbon emissions. There’s a great article in the Christian Science Monitor from November detailing how this works and some of the programs from energy-efficient building startup Sustainable Spaces. The federal government has largely been slow to recognize the importance of making buildings more energy efficient, and states and local organizations have been leading these efforts. Oregon’s governor Ted Kulongoski wants to mandate a rating and certification program that would disclose the energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of buildings that would start in 2011 for homes and in 2012 for commercial buildings. Nevada has a similar law. But many in the building industry, green and otherwise, would prefer a national standard — Sustainable Spaces CEO Matt Golden tells us that state programs are part of the solution but that these need to be standardized nationally. Compared to varying standards across states and counties, a national standard could simplify and unify the effort to make buildings more energy efficient, as well as help to give a boost to the nascent market.

LED light fixture company gets $16.5 million

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:39:31 +0000

November 5, 2007 9:36 AM PST

LED light fixture company

gets $16.5 million

by Michael Kanellos North Carolina's LED Lighting Fixtures has received a $16.5 million injection as the push to bring light-emitting diodes to the home gains momentum. The company makes light fixtures for commercial buildings and homes around LEDs. LEDs consume far less energy than incandescent bulbs--LED Lighting Fixtures, for instance, sells a lighting unit, the LR6, that puts out 650 lumens but only consumes 12 watts. One or more LEDs can be combined into a single light fixture as well. Individual LEDs are beginning to challenge compact florescent bulbs in lumens per watt. LEDs also last longer--some go as long as 50,000 hours before burning out--which reduces maintenance costs. You also don't have the messy mercury recycling problem you do with CFLs. Toronto, Ann Arbor, Mich., and Raleigh, N.C., have all launched initiatives to replace conventional light fixtures with LED fixtures and some builders are incorporating LED fixtures into new homes. LEDs, however, are more expensive than CFLs or incandescent lamps. The price will go down over time because LEDs are chips and will take advantage of the economies of scale that come from mass manufacturing. Still, a five pack of LR6s goes for $130. Other companies making LED lighting fixtures include Lemnis Lighting LED Lighting Fixtures gets its LEDs from Cree, which is also in North Carolina. The lead investor was Digital Power Capital.

LED there be light

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:38:02 +0000

Q: How many LED engineers does it take to change a light bulb? A: Why on Earth would you ever need to change a light bulb? While LED (light-emitting diode) costs are still high, this type of lighting is extremely long-lasting. And as prices come down, its efficiency could lead to huge energy savings. The first consumer LED products lit up in the 1970s, with red light numbers on pocket calculators and push-button displays on big, geeky Pulsar watches. Then came those centered, high-mounted brake lights in the rear windows of cars. Now LEDs are found in everything from traffic lights to operating rooms to greenhouses. An LED is a device that produces light when an electrical current flows through it. The color it emits depends on the materials used to make the diode. "It won't be long before LED lighting technology has a space on your desk, has a space on your ceiling, certainly has a space on your car," says Russell Dupuis, an electro-optics professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dupuis was awarded the 2002 National Medal of Technology for his work on LEDs. "Most cars today have a whole lot of LED, certainly the instrument cluster," he says. And some cities are also investing in LED for their roads. Dupuis says LED traffic signals would pay for themselves in about three months because of energy savings. And how long do they last? "Until somebody knocks the pole down!" he laughs. Here are some numbers from the U.S. Department of Energy comparing lifetimes of LEDs to traditional lighting: - Incandescent bulbs (750-2,000 hours): These bulbs haven't changed much in 120-plus years; they give off 80-percent heat and only 20-percent light. - Compact fluorescent bulbs (8,000-10,000 hours): CFLs are more efficient than incandescent, but do contain small amounts of mercury. - High-power white LEDs (35,000-50,000 hours): The Department of Energy estimates a quarter of the electricity in the United States is used for lighting, costing $50 billion per year. The agency says new technology could reduce lighting energy use by 50 percent. For some big companies, the transition already makes sense. "Walmart decided to replace the lighting in all of its refrigerated cases with LED lights," Dupuis says. "Every store is going to save enough in six months to pay for this change." There's also a niche for special lighting needs. Some surgical teams are using LED headlamps and operating-room lighting. LEDs also light up the words of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence at the Jefferson Memorial. And at the British Museum they illuminate the Beatles' "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" uniforms so the fabric doesn't decay. OLEDs, or organic light-emitting diodes, have other intriguing potential. They can be created on paper-thin plastics, and made into wallpaper, window blinds, even clothing. But it will be several years before consumers can pick up a pack of LEDs at the hardware store. "Designing lights with LED has inherent challenges," says Michelle Murray, a spokeswoman for LED lighting manufacturer Cree Inc. Those challenges prompted the Department of Energy to launch the L-Prize, a competition offering millions in cash prizes for the creation of a "high-quality, high-efficiency solid-state lighting products to replace the common light bulb." The Department of Energy admits major consumer confusion when it first started promoting the efficiency of compact fluorescent lights. It says the United States cannot afford to squander the enormous energy-saving potential of LEDs, so it wants to make sure the products are ready for prime time when they do hit the market. The Department of Energy is setting 2012 as a target for large-volume production and replacement of incandescent lighting. recommend email print share Buzz up! Join the discussion The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

Lagotek & ACT Enter Into Commercial LED Lighting Partnership

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:36:13 +0000

First step in revolutionizing commercial lighting BELLEVUE, Wash., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Lagotek Corporation, a developer of residential and commercial building automation systems, today announced an agreement with Advanced Control Technologies (ACT), a leader in the development of wired and wireless residential and commercial control products. Under the agreement, Lagotek will integrate ACT's StandAlone and controlLED LED tubes into Lagotek's new Building Intelligence System (BIS), designed to manage commercial lighting, HVAC, and motorized window coverings for maximum energy efficiency, with an emphasis on providing highly efficient and durable LED lighting control to small and medium-sized commercial applications. "It has long been accepted that LED lighting will one day be the new standard for commercial and residential lighting because of its great efficiencies and long life," said Eugene Luskin, CEO, Lagotek. "LEDs are 60% more efficient than fluorescent tubes and last at least five times longer. ACT's approach is to provide an easy retrofit model which fits perfectly into Lagotek's wireless system design. We have not seen a more efficient lighting product that is ready for market." "This partnership helps both companies create awareness for the benefits of LED lighting," said Gary Colip, CEO, ACT. "Our StandAlone and controlLED Lites are a direct replacement for existing fluorescent tubes and provide a very friendly and attractive light source in addition to reducing heat (LEDs do not use the heat generating ballasts needed with fluorescent lights). With Lagotek, we will be able to include dimming controls that further reduce energy consumption and make daylight harvesting and other multi-system advantages possible by combining motorized window coverings, lighting and climate control." About Lagotek Founded in 2005, Lagotek Corporation develops residential and commercial building automation systems based upon patent pending, and company-owned intellectual property. Applications for this technology include audio, climate control, security systems, intercom systems, lighting, video monitoring, window coverings, IR control, and irrigation systems. About ACT In addition to manufacturing LED StandAlone and controlLED (dimmable) lighting products to replace fluorescent lamps, Advanced Control Technologies, Inc. (ACT) designs and manufactures powerline carrier products to control lighting and other electrical loads which include programmable transmitters, coupler/amplifiers (for multiple phase power) and receivers. ACT also designs and manufactures a family of Z-Wave home and office automation products that use radio frequency signals to control lighting and other electrical loads. SOURCE Lagotek Corporation

Raleigh Installs First Solar LED Lights

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:30:07 +0000

By NBC 17, Press Release, 3 days, 2 hours ago Updated: Jun. 19 12:35 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. -

The City of Raleigh has completed its first outdoor lighting project that combines light emitting diode (LED) technology with solar renewable energy in place of traditional electricity. The City's contractor on the project, Progress Solar Solutions, LLC of Apex, installed the solar-powered lighting at the City Parks and Recreation Department's Marsh Creek remote operations facility near New Hope Road and Daly Road.

"The City of Raleigh is very excited about the implementation of its first solar LED lighting project," said City Building Superintendent Billy Jackson, whose staff oversaw installation of the solar LED light systems. "The Marsh Creek location provides a good opportunity to capitalize on the solar LED lighting technology due to the savings acquired for wiring infrastructure. The location also will provide an excellent opportunity to document the effectiveness of the new technology."

Standing approximately 30 feet tall, the 16 new high-performance solar LED light systems at the Marsh Creek remote operations facility generate brilliant white lighting. Each light is totally independent, and each pole has a solar array to harvest unlimited free energy from the sun, which is then stored in long-life, no-maintenance batteries. Each light has an internal controller that manages the solar energy storage and usage. The internal controller also automatically turns the lights on in the evening and off at daybreak; or can be programmed to control the lights at other timed intervals.

"Energy costs for municipalities can be significant," said Julian Prosser, assistant city manager for the City of Raleigh. "Our sustainability team is a strong advocate of adopting proven, high-performance technologies that can save local taxpayers on energy costs and at the same time protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions. We are excited about the opportunity to move to a cost-effective, renewable energy alternative. It seems like a win-win for everyone."

Dan Robertson, a partner with Progress Solar Solutions, agreed. The City of Raleigh awarded Progress Solar Solutions the bid to install the solar LED light systems at the Marsh Creek remote operations.

"The City of Raleigh and other North Carolina municipalities can obtain significant savings, from day one, by converting to solar LED lighting," he said. "It eliminates the need for building expensive electrical infrastructure (trenching and electrical lines), minimizes maintenance costs (12-plus years between light source changes), and totally eliminates ongoing, ever-increasing electrical energy costs."

Installation of the solar LED light systems at the Marsh Creek remote operations facility continues the City of Raleigh's use of LEDs as a source of energy-efficient light. Raleigh became an officially recognized "LED City" in 2007 when it teamed with Triangle-based Cree Inc. to install 141 LED light fixtures on the third level of the municipal parking garage at the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex in Downtown Raleigh. Cree is a leader in producing LED lights. The City also has installed 23 LED streetlights on public streets surrounding the Raleigh Convention Center, in the underground Convention Center Parking Deck, and in the Cree Shimmer Wall on the west face of the convention center.

Dan Howe, an assistant city manger for the City of Raleigh who oversees the City's "LED City" project with Cree, said installation of the solar LED light systems at the Marsh Creek remote operations facility "was a very logical next step in the City's application of highly efficient LED lighting technology with solar renewable energy."

ABOUT PROGRESS SOLAR SOLUTIONS LLC

Progress Solar Solutions, LLC is a privately held company in Apex that specializes in providing high-performance, cost-effective solar LED light systems for streets, parking and other outdoor areas. The company's environment-friendly lighting systems are an alternative to traditional electrical lighting. Progress Solar Solutions serves commercial, government, institutional and residential customers.

For more information, call Progress Solar Solutions, LCC at (919) 363-3738 or visit the company's website at www.ProgressSolarSolutions.com.

Hello World

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:36:33 +0000

Hello World