In July 2009, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued new energy efficiency standards for commercial general service fluorescent lamps and incandescent (and halogen) reflector lamps. The new rules take effect July 14, 2012, and will basically eliminate products with the lowest efficiency and lowest cost.

What is a “high-efficiency electronic ballast?” After all, aren’t all electronic
ballasts inherently high-efficiency electronic ballasts? What’s the benefit?
Why should I pay more for them? And how can I tell the difference between
these and other electronic ballasts?

Demand is the sum of all electric power required to run a building’s equipment currently in operation. As equipment is turned on and off, demand rises and falls. Peak demand is the highest level of demand recorded by a demand meter during a given time period. This is the most expensive power the utility has to produce, as the utility must build sufficient capacity to satisfy these short periods or buy the power needed from other sources at market rates.

LEDs are one of the most exciting developments to occur in the lighting industry. Already, they offer color changing, highly compact size, zero mercury and easy dimming. LEDs are now starting to make inroads into niche architectural white-light applications such as cove and display lighting.

In late February and early March, NALMCO™ Headquarters sent out two invitations to members inviting them to take a survey describing their business. The survey generated 29 responses & a 59% response rate. The results can be used to create a profile of the statistically average NALMCO™ member.

LEDs appear to be all the rage, which is at least partially justified by unique advantages this light source can bring to some projects, one of which is long service life.

Many corporations have traditionally resisted the idea of “green” buildings for a variety of reasons. Some think it’s a radical idea, others an unnecessary cost, and still others a fiction created by environmental extremists rather than an investment that can produce tangible economic and environmental benefits.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 includes few provisions directly related to lighting, but most people are already familiar with one of them: the phased elimination of today’s 40-100W general-service incandescent lamps starting in 2012.

One of the most remarkable stories in the lighting industry is the ascendance of electronic ballasts. Back in 1986, electronic ballasts represented less than one percent of all domestic ballast shipments.

The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005 created the Commercial Buildings Deduction (CBD), which established an accelerated tax deduction rewarding investment in energy-efficient interior lighating, HVAC/hot water systems and building envelope.

America is calling for a super-efficient light bulb, and has pinned its hopes on solid-state lighting.  Are LED screw-in replacement lamps ready to step up and take on that venerable workhorse, the 60W incandescent A-lamp, confirming industry talk that the CFL is going to turn out to be just a transition technology between incandescent and LED light sources?

Manufacturers of these lamps claim potentially impressive benefits for their LED products, including energy savings, long service life, suitable for cold-temperature applications, directional light output, no mercury or load, and resistance to shock/vibration.