Funding Energy Efficiency Projects: The SEF's 0% Financing Program</h1> <article> <h1>Funding Energy Efficiency Projects: The SEF's 0% Financing Program</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Tue, 06 May 2014 20:06:00 GMT</p> <p>Do you have an energy efficiency project you’ve been meaning to start? Are you putting off changes and upgrades that could make your business more sustainable and efficient? We’ve got some motivation to get you going! <b>The Sustainable Energy Fund is now offering 0% financing for energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. </b>We’ve provided the details you’ll need in this post, but first, here’s a little introduction of the Sustainable Energy Fund.</p> <h2><b>The Sustainable Energy Fund</b></h2> <p>The Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF) is a non-profit, private organization that assists businesses who want to be more energy efficient by helping them overcome educational and financial barriers. The organization believes in a sustainable future, which they define as “a future in which energy is harvested, converted, distributed and utilized in a manner that allows all to meet their energy needs without compromising the ability of their child and grandchild to meet their needs.” The SEF was founded in 1999 and has been a leader of funding sustainable energy projects in Pennsylvania ever since.</p> <p>Though this particular offer is only for municipal and not-for-profit organizations, the SEF provides financing for both energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at all times for established commercial, industrial, municipal, agricultural, and nonprofit entities. Their main geographic focus is in Pennsylvania, but they also provide financing in some parts of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Read more about the Sustainable Energy Fund <a href="http://www.thesef.org/">here</a>.</p> <h2><b>The Zero Percent Financing Program</b></h2> <p>SEF is offering 0% financing for energy efficiency or renewable energy projects for <b>not-for-profits and governmental entities in Pennsylvania. </b>All projects must reduce energy consumption of non-sustainable resources or generate energy from sustainable resources to be considered. </p> <p>There’s one small catch. This offer won’t be around for long – There are a limited number of loans or leases available, so it’s important that you act fast! The total SEF funding available is $425,000 with funding for each project ranging from $5,000 to $85,000. All project applications will be graded using a merit-based matrix. Some of the projects that will be considered are:</p> <ul> <li>Solar photovoltaic</li> <li>Lighting retrofits</li> <li>HVAC upgrades</li> <li>Building envelope improvements</li> <li>Energy control systems</li> <li>And more</li> </ul> <p>Applications are available now and the deadline for submission is <b>Monday, June 30, 2014 at 4:00PM EST.</b> The chosen applicants will be announced on Thursday, July 31, 2014.</p> <h2><b>Your Next Steps</b></h2> <p>Interested? You can review the program in more detail and download the application <a href="http://www.thesef.org/Financing/tabid/72/Default.aspx">here</a>. Remember to act as soon as possible, as funds are limited and the application deadline of June 30 is quickly approaching.</p> <p><b>Here’s how we can help</b>. If you meet the above criteria and you’ve got a lighting project on your mind, now is the time to get started! The Sustainable Energy Fund's 0% financing program can help you keep first costs low. Give us a call at 866-44-AELUX or <a href="http://www.aelux.com/lighting-retrofit-survey">fill out our form</a> and we’ll provide you with a free, comprehensive lighting audit of your facility. We’ll take care of the SEF 0% financing application for you, as well as any rebates and incentives you may be eligible for. This is a great opportunity, and we wouldn’t want you to miss out!</p> </article> <article> <h1>Lighting Solutions by Industry: Commercial, Parking Garages & Outdoor</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:46:00 GMT</p> <pre><em>Written by Meg Schneider</em></pre> <p>As we learned from last week's post, <a href="http://info.aelux.com/blog/bid/158057/Lighting-Solutions-by-Industry-Industrial-Healthcare-and-Education">Lighting Solutions by Industry: Industrial, Healthcare & Education</a>, one lighting solution doesn't fit all. In this post, we’re looking more closely at the lighting efficiency potential of commercial facilities, parking garages, and outdoor areas. Just like last time, we’ll be showing you a recent case study to demonstrate the power of these upgrades.</p> <h2><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Commercial Facilities</span></b></h2> <p>Within commercial space, facility owners typically replace old fixtures (such as T12s and old T8s) with newer T8s, T5s or LEDs, as well as add sensors and controls. By upgrading to LEDs, a reduction is seen in 3 areas – A wattage reduction of 60%, a maintenance reduction, and a replacement reduction. By adding the controls to dim according to hours of operation, thousands of dollars can be saved on each energy bill.</p> <p></p> <p>If your facility users worry about stark overhead lighting in commercial spaces, volumetric lighting and daylight harvesting can be a great solution. With volumetric lighting, the lenses are changed to create a softer, more comfortable light output to promote more productive work. Daylight harvesting takes advantage of the natural light available, providing a more pleasant workspace. </p> <p><b>Case Study: <a href="http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/104030/file-367989569-pdf/docs/Lake_Plaza_Case_Study.pdf">Lake Plaza Center, Lakewood, Colorado</a></b></p> <h2><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Parking Garages</span></b></h2> <p>Unlike many of the other industries featured, parking garages have large fluctuations in occupancy. Parking garages can immediately take advantage of savings by installing automatic light shut-offs and reducing light by 30% when there is no activity in an area. Additionally, daylighting can be utilized to reduce over lighting an area, and provide more natural lighting for employees and customers.</p> <p>After a base level of light for safety is set, step or linear controls can be installed. Step dimming allows for 2-3 different lighting levels (by switching on and off outer lamps) and doesn't on/off cycle. As the machines aren't continuously turning on and off, the fixtures last longer, reducing maintenance time and investment cost. Linear (also known as continuous) dimmer lighting may work better for larger areas. These linear dimmers work by reducing the voltage current to the lamp. For those looking to invest more, parking garages are also ideal candidates for more advanced controls. In fact, controls in parking garages can save 40-75% of lighting costs.</p> <p><b>Case Study: <a href="http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/104030/file-620324190-pdf/docs/Holy_Redeemer_Case_Study.pdf">Holy Redeemer Hospital, Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania</a></b></p> <h2><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Outdoor Areas</span></b></h2> <p>If you’ve seen full rows of outdoor lights lit up while the sun is shining bright, you may already realize the critical importance of controls for outdoor spaces. By adjusting to daylight levels, outdoor areas are no longer stuck to rigid lighting time schedules. Additionally, sensors and controls are advanced enough to allow facade and landscape lighting, so vital during the day, to shut off at night. </p> <p>For outdoor areas, old high pressure sodium lamps may be costing your company substantially more than necessary. The change to LED fixtures for Georgia Pacific in Brunswick meant annual savings of over $80,000!</p> <p><b>Case Study: </b><a href="http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/104030/file-247817972-pdf/docs/Georgia_Pacific_case_study.pdf?t=1375799743000" target="_blank"><b>Georgia Pacific of Brunswick, GA</b></a></p> <p>If you are wondering about your own facility, calculate your potential savings with our quick <a href="http://www.aelux.com/energy-savings-calculator/" target="_blank">lighting retrofit calculator</a>! Aelux also provides<a href="http://www.aelux.com/lighting-retrofit-survey" target="_blank"> free consultations</a> for any facilities looking to reduce operating costs and greenhouse gases. </p> <p>In case you missed it, check out part 1 of the “Lighting Solutions by Industry”post <a href="http://info.aelux.com/blog/bid/158057/Lighting-Solutions-by-Industry-Industrial-Healthcare-and-Education" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Lighting Solutions by Industry: Industrial, Healthcare & Education</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:15:00 GMT</p> <pre><em>Written by Meg Schneider</em></pre> <p>We all know that one size doesn't fit all, but did you know that the same goes for lighting? Different solutions fit different facilities, and by investing in the right type of lighting for your industry, your company can reap significant financial savings. While client communication to determine objectives, timeline, and process is incredibly vital for individual projects, this post will focus more generally on lighting efficiency for the industrial, healthcare, and education industries. Next week, we will continue with an in-depth look at lighting in commercial spaces, parking garages, and outdoor locations. We’ve provided a case study for each industry type to show you the savings that are possible.</p> <h2><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Industrial Facilities</span></b></h2> <p>For industrial settings, fixtures are generally upgraded to either fluorescent (such as T5HO or T8s) or LEDs. LED fixtures are the most energy efficient and will bring in the most savings. These LEDs can be adjusted to multiple beam patterns<b>, </b>such as the Euro (strong, wide), Flood (wider, short), Spot (narrow, long), and Elliptical (wide, non-round). If you’re not ready to make the switch to LEDs yet, fluorescent induction fixtures are also a great upgrade option, as they have a very long life (up to 11 years if continuously operated).<b> </b>Induction fixtures do not need to have any electrodes or filaments replaced, have a high power and are available in a range of color temperatures.</p> <p>Industrial facilities can also invest in lowbay and highbay lighting systems, which guarantee proper alignment of LED optics and longer performance lives. Highbay lighting is especially vital for warehouses, assembly lines, production factories, and other uses which demand intense rays of light.<b> </b></p> <p><b>Case Study: <a href="http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/104030/file-320346450-pdf/docs/Legrand_Case_Study.pdf">Legrand, Fort Mills, South Carolina</a></b></p> <h2><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Healthcare Facilities</span></b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></h2> <p>In the healthcare setting, there are many options depending on level of investment. In patient rooms, CFL fixtures and screw-in LED fixtures are better than not upgrading, although permanent LED fixtures are the most efficient and reliable. LED fixtures average reductions of 59% wattage. For the comfort of patients, the light color and daylighting level can be changed through a wide range of sensors. </p> <p>Outside of patient rooms, in lobbies, hospitals should employ fluorescent lamps or LED fixtures.<b> </b>These changes dramatically decrease the amount of maintenance and replacement needed. In presentation rooms, pendant and cove lighting can be great options. Pendant lighting fixtures are lamps that hang above, while cove lighting fixtures are sleek strips of lights. Be sure to check out our <a href="http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/104030/file-504264462-pdf/docs/Healthcare_Information_Sheet.pdf">Healthcare Information Sheet</a> for more information on lighting in the healthcare industry.</p> <p><b>Case Study: <a href="http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/104030/file-605150406-pdf/docs/Holy_Redeemer_Case_Study_-_Reduced.pdf">Holy Redeemer Hospital, Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania</a></b></p> <h2><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Educational Facilities</span></b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></h2> <p>K-12 schools and universities can also choose from the most basic fixture retrofits to new direct/indirect fixture designs to the most advanced daylight harvesting and controls. Direct fixtures are best for smaller areas, as they light directly below the fixture; indirect lighting is great for providing diffuse lighting across a larger area, such as a classroom. Stairwells can also provide an opportunity for energy efficient improvements in educational settings. According to the building operating management code 90.1 (2010), stairwell lighting should be less than half when school is out of session.</p> <p></p> <p><b>Case Study: <a href="http://info.aelux.com/blog/bid/156777/Kellman-Brown-Academy-Wins-the-Green-Ribbon-Award">Kellman Brown Academy, Voorhees, New Jersey blog post</a></b></p> <p>There are a number of different solutions for each facility type. A solution can be simple and straightforward but are often complex systems that work together to create the best savings. Adding<b> </b><a href="http://info.aelux.com/blog/bid/157785/Control-or-Spark-Your-Energy-Savings-with-Sensors-Controls" target="_blank">sensors and controls</a> to any space type is beneficial and can help you save even more in energy and costs.</p> <p>We have experience in all the above facility types and can help determine the solution that’s right for you. With Aelux, costs are lower with minimal subcontracting and benefits higher with subject matter experts. As the payback for most lighting solutions are only 18-60 months, there's no time to wait for your facility to start saving. Interested? Request a consultation <a href="http://www.aelux.com/lighting-retrofit-survey">here</a>. We’ll help you determine the solution that’s fit for your facility.</p> <p>Be sure to return next week for the second part of our segment - <b>Lighting Solutions by Industry: Commercial spaces, Parking garages, and Outdoor locations.</b></p> <p>P.S. Wondering how much you can save in your facility? Check out our <a href="http://www.aelux.com/energy-savings-calculator/">lighting retrofit calculator</a>.</p> </article> <article> <h1>"Control" or "Spark" Your Energy Savings with Sensors & Controls</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:09:00 GMT</p> <pre><em>Written by Meg Schneider</em></pre> <p>Throwing away 20-35% of your raw materials would be unthinkable, right? Well, you may be wasting that same amount of energy by lighting unoccupied spaces or over-lighting during operating hours! Sensors and controls work with your facility’s needs to ensure light only when you need it and make sure you're not wasting unncessary energy. Additionally, installing efficient lighting controls can be up to 22 points in ⅚ of LEED Credits and may be mandated by municipal codes.</p> <p>Let’s review two of the most popular types of controls.</p> <h2><b>Occupan</b><b>cy Sensors</b></h2> <p>"Occupancy" (also called “vacancy sensing”) is a type of control which automatically turns lights off when people leave a space. There are two major types of these sensors: ultrasonic and infrared. Ultrasonic sensors use changes in sound and are most often used in conference rooms, break rooms, and open offices. In contrast, infrared controls work with heat and motion and are utilized in lecture halls, lobbies, and restrooms. Since these sensors are automatic, occupancy lighting can be very convenient for public spaces that are used occasionally.</p> <pre><em>Occupancy sensor via dimmers.net</em></pre> <h2><b>Daylight Harvesting</b></h2> <p>Are you taking advantage of natural light in your facility? If not, take a look at daylight harvesting, also known as “daylighting.” Daylighting automatically adjusts the amount of watts and the output of light depending on the daylight available in a space. The independently controlled sensors are able to operate on multiple levels of daylight. Facility owners are able to guarantee that the lighting in the room is either at or above the desired amount, no matter the weather outside.</p> <p>Adding these controls means dramatic savings for your facility’s retrofit. By incorporating these sensors along with fixture upgrades, your facility can save even more money! Savings vary depending on the use and current lighting system of the building, but typical Aelux savings are 36% for occupancy sensors and about 50% for daylight sensors. These lighting efficiency controls save energy by automatically switching off and reducing operating costs. Additionally, sensors reduce the cooling loads and the amounts of watts used when the lights are on.</p> <p>Perhaps the only disadvantage to these systems is the required expertise. If placed incorrectly, sensors can be falsely tripped by HVAC systems or neighboring areas. Additionally, the system’s sensitivity must be set accurately to the needs of the facility.</p> <p>Consider the experts and call Aelux at 866-44-AELUX or email <a href="mailto:info@aelux.com" target="_blank">info@aelux.com</a>. Our staff will thoroughly examine your facility and its usage to determine the best fit of sensors and controls. As we are not tied to any one sensor technology or manufacturer, we are able to offer you the most competitive savings in light efficiency sensors and controls. Saving money while your operation "sleeps" is possible with this technology!</p> </article> <article> <h1>"Modest but Meaningful": 2014 Energy Efficiency Bills in Congress</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 21:51:00 GMT</p> <pre>Written by Meg Schneider</pre> <p>Two new energy efficiency bills in Congress could be the beginning of a brand new American energy policy. On Wednesday, The House of Representatives passed the Better Buildings Act of 2014 (also known as the Energy Improvement Act of 2014) by 375-36. Six years in the making, the bill focuses on voluntary efficiency standards for commercial buildings. David McKinley (R) of West Virginia and Peter Welch (D) of Vermont crafted the bill to encourage energy conservation among tenants, who comprise more than 50% of total energy use.</p> <p>In the past week, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D) of New Hampshire and Rob Portman (R) of Ohio re-introduced an updated Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act. This market-driven bill aims to increase energy efficiency across the economy with incentives for new technologies. Additionally, the Department of Energy (DOE) would work more closely with the manufacturing sector to support energy efficiency. The passing of the bill would also increase efficiency in data centers and federally leased buildings.</p> <pre>image source: saveenergysystems.com</pre> <p>Both of these Congressional energy efficiency bills aim to save businesses money and reduce carbon pollution. Welch admitted the first bill is "modest, but in the context of Congress that we're in, it's actually constructive, useful, and meaningful" that the bill passed so easily. Senator Shaheen affirmed the job creation aspects of the bills: they are "part of an energy plan for America that can help bring the jobs back, help fix our trade deficit, help make our manufacturers more competitive". </p> <p>The newest iteration of the Senate's Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act includes 10 new amendments such as energy efficiency retrofits on public housing, schools, and the House-backed "Tenant Star" recognition program. It has also gained additional backing from more Senators (including Hoeven, Manchin, Landrieu, and Isakson) and organizations (NRDC, National Association of Manufacturers, and the US Chamber of Commerce). </p> <p>For commercial landlords, the "Tenant Star" program would be a voluntary program to encourage partnership between owners and tenants. It would be seen as a commercial office building version of the tremendously successful Energy Star Program. It is hoped that more aspects of energy efficiency would become standard during design, construction, and occupancy with the Tenant Star "badge of distinction". This could potentially mean $2 billion annually in utility savings for landlords and tenants.</p> <p>Whether the bills pass or not, your facility can start saving money by implementing energy efficient lighting technology now. After a free facility audit <a href="http://www.aelux.com/lighting-retrofit-survey" target="_blank">here</a>, you can explore your options with experienced representatives. </p> </article> <article> <h1>The Unexpected Benefits of Lighting, an Interview with Jesse Wexelblatt</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 18:16:00 GMT</p> <p><em>Written by Meg Schneider<br><br></em>J<em></em>esse Wexelblatt started his career at Aelux as a summer intern in 2008 and 2009, while earning his BS in Operations Management at the University of Delaware. Jesse is now a Senior Account Manager and here to share his thoughts and experience in the lighting industry.</p> <p>Over his time in the industry, Jesse has seen efficient lighting change dramatically. During his internships, T8 and T5 fluorescent fixtures were mainly dominant. In the past year, Jesse says that “LED technology and controls really have stepped up in the market” as a viable alternative. More and more lighting manufacturers and fixtures have entered the space, driving down the cost for upgrades and increasing options for facility owners.</p> <p>As the Senior Account Manager, Jesse says an unexpected challenge is helping the customer understand the full range of benefits. The big misconception is the belief that if the current lights in the facility work, then why change them? While it can seem like “if it ain't broke, why fix it?” it's undeniable that changing out inefficient lighting saves money. It starts with the simple payback - After this period of paying for the capital investment, you will be saving money on each bill afterwards. As energy prices rise, this only becomes more and more valuable!</p> <p>Jesse also emphasizes the non-financial benefits of lighting efficiency: <b>reduced maintenance, worker efficiency, and HVAC savings.</b> With newer lighting, it can often be easier to maintain and replace fixtures (LED fixtures, in particular, require very little maintenance at all). To back up Jesse’s thoughts, a study at the Hawthorne Works factory outside Chicago, IL showed higher rates of productivity with better light levels. It’s also been noted that there needs to be 1 kWh of air conditioning for every 3 kWh of lighting. By replacing your lighting, you will also save on your HVAC bills and maintenance!</p> <p>One of Jesse’s favorite events is the annual <a href="http://www.lightfair.com/lightfair/V40/">Lightfair International Trade Show and Conference</a>. After attending the 2013 conference in Philadelphia, he found its combination of seminars and tradeshow booths an excellent “glimpse into the industry”. The next conference, for those looking to attend, is June 3, 2014 to June 5, 2014 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For Jesse, he loves coming to work knowing that he is selling a project that will really benefit the customer, short and long-term.</p> <p>If you want some of those unexpected worker productivity and maintenance benefits alongside dramatic operating savings, grab our offer for a free consultation <a href="http://www.aelux.com/lighting-retrofit-survey">here</a>. Each facility has its own needs and budget for lighting efficiency, but we are here at 866-44-AELUX to help you achieve cheaper and better lighting. We look forward to hearing from you!</p> <pre><em><br></em></pre> </article> <article> <h1>Busting the Common Myths of LEDs</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 21:56:00 GMT</p> <pre><em>Written by Meg Schneider<br><br></em></pre> <p>Fluorescent tubes still dominate the commercial lighting market, but considering that LED save 50% or more energy over fluorescent tubes, we think it’s time for all to consider making the switch. In fact, we were wondering why more haven’t made the switch by now and after a little digging, we think we’ve found the answer. </p> <p><b>Myths! </b>Unfortunately, there are many myths surrounding LEDs out there today, so we’ve narrowed it down to the three most common myths that we think are holding some back from switching to LEDs. </p> <p><b>Myth #1: Technology is ever-changing: If I upgrade to LED tubes today, there will only be better LEDs out on the market tomorrow.</b></p> <p>We agree that technology is ever-changing and we know that fear is normal when upgrading your lighting. However, we also know first-hand that the longer you wait to upgrade your lighting, the more savings you’re missing out on. In fact, the longer you wait to upgrade your lighting to LEDs, the more <b>and more</b> savings you’re missing out on. LEDs are now incredibly efficient, affordable, high-performing, long-lasting, and great looking. </p> <p><b>Myth #2: LEDs are just too expensive.</b></p> <p>Cost can be a huge setback for those looking to upgrade their lights. But it doesn’t have to be! Yes, we know the upfront number can be a little intimidating, but what really matters is the savings overtime. An LED solution is most likely going to have a higher upfront cost, but the overall savings can’t be beat. With LEDs, you are pretty much eliminating maintenance costs due to their long life-span, you’re reducing your energy costs, and you’re improving the quality of light in your facility. If you’re stuck on the up-front costs, there are many resources that can help you – Multiple financing options are available and utilities offer rebates and incentives to help cut costs. Don’t let cost hold you back!</p> <pre> <em> Image via: www.ledke.com</em></pre> <p><b>Myth #3: Fluorescent tubes are just as good as LED tubes. </b></p> <p>Though the two fixtures look similar, LED tubes function differently and much more efficiently. LED tubes overcome some of the disadvantages of fluorescent tubes - With much less power, the LED tubes can operate without a costly ballast or flicker and substantially reduce energy and CO2 use for a facility. Here are just a few of the many benefits of LEDs:</p> <ul> <li>They are Mercury free unlike fluorescents and other lighting options</li> <li>LEDs have a 4 times longer life span than fluorescent tubes</li> <li>Improved quality of light = Improved safety & employee comfort = Improved productivity</li> <li>LEDs give off a very natural light color</li> </ul> <p>LED lighting is now better than ever and priced to sell, both for interior and outside lighting. Adding sensors in your facility can help you save even more. If you wait to upgrade your lighting to LED, you could be losing thousands on your energy bills. Not sure what to do or where to start? Take advantage of our free audit and consultation offer <a href="http://info.aelux.com/led-lighting-retrofits-now-is-the-time?&__hssc=&__hstc&hsCtaTracking=dcfd7548-0a37-47b0-b990-8fd011658b8a%7C28ef99c1-0d81-4eaa-a71c-beabff05bca2">here</a>. We'll walk you through the advantages and disadvantages of the latest in lighting technology, and find the right solution for your facility.</p> </article> <article> <h1>New DOE Rule on Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 19:31:00 GMT</p> <pre><em>Written by Meg Schneider</em></pre> <p>This past month, the US Department of Energy has finalized the latest energy efficiency rules for metal halide lamp fixtures that expand on the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Wondering if this change could affect you? Read on to find out.</p> <p><b>Let’s first review the basics of metal halides</b> – what they are, where they’re found and what they look like. Metal halide lamps are high intensity discharge (HID) fixtures and are distinguished by their “warm up periods” – It can take a metal halide up to five minutes to reach its full light capacity. These fixtures also have a chemical "burn-in" period as well as a lifetime shift of 200-600K in color temperature so the output of the light doesn't remain consistent. For this reason, when one light is broken, metal halide lamp fixtures usually require a group replacement to maintain appearance.</p> <p>Metal halides are often found in parking lots, sports arenas, big-box stores, warehouses, and other wide, open areas and are composed of an arc tube, with electrodes, outer bulb, base, and ballast. The image on the left shows a metal halide lamp alone, while the image on the right is a metal halide fixture.</p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <pre><br>Image sources: supplybid.com and kasonind.com</pre> <p><b>Why the new rule? </b>Despite their prevalence, metal halide lamps & fixtures are inefficient and expensive long-term (LEDs can be five times as efficient as metal halide lamp fixtures!). According to US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, the move to replace these outdated fixtures is a way to save both capital and energy. It is a vital part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan to reduce carbon pollution and energy waste and create a new sustainable energy future. </p> <p>The final rule from the DOE will become effective by April 11, 2014 and compliance will be required by February 10, 2017. The new standard results in a significant conservation of energy, with an estimated $1631.94 average life-cycle cost savings and .8 year payback period for larger outdoor (500 and 1000W) metal halide lamp fixtures. Cumulatively, the lifetime savings is estimated to be $.29 to $1.1 billion at a 7% discount rate as well as 22.5-27.8 million metric tons of Carbon Dioxide. For the past four years, test procedures and comment periods for updated standards have been released leading up to this final rule, as mandated by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Additionally, states such as Maryland, Connecticut, and Vermont have released their own standards (the stronger Tier 2 standards of California, for example, will be effective at the beginning of January 2015). The rule also changes the previous EISA 2007 ruling to include coverage of lamps 50-150W, 501-1000W and 150W outdoor metal halide lamp fixtures. This is because 150W metal halide lamp fixtures sales have increased, leaving a large potential opportunity for economic and environmental savings after the rule exemption. See the full rule guidelines <a href="http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/product.aspx/productid/49">here</a>.</p> <p><b>What does this mean for you? </b>If you own or manage a warehouse or any industrial building, your wide overhead lighting (be sure to check your outside lights too!) could be affected by upcoming rule changes from the Department of Energy. If you’re in need of an upgrade, even using the newest standards for metal halide lamps can be highly inefficient and cost more money when compared to better lighting technology such as fluorescents and LEDs. Unsure of what to do next? Give us a call (1-866-442-3589) or request a free consultation <a href="http://www.aelux.com/lighting-retrofit-survey">here</a>. We can help you figure out the right solution for your facility that generates the most energy and cost savings!</p> <p><em><br></em></p> </article> <article> <h1>Kellman Brown Academy Wins the Green Ribbon Award!</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 16:58:00 GMT</p> <p><em>Written by Meg Schneider</em></p> <p><b>Aelux is proud to congratulate Kellman Brown Academy for winning the 2014 New Jersey Green Ribbon Award!</b> </p> <p>The U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Award recognizes and honors schools that show exemplary achievement in a number of sustainable areas: Environmental impact and costs, improved health and wellness, and effective environmental and sustainability education. </p> <p><a href="http://kellmanbrownacademy.org/">Kellman Brown Academy</a> (KBA), a premier Jewish Day School located in South Jersey, <b>is the first day school in the country</b> and one of only two schools selected across the state to receive the Green Ribbon Award. After a move from their old Cherry Hill location, KBA transformed an empty warehouse in Voorhees Township into a model sustainable school. The school followed LEED for Schools guidelines in the design process, making sure to incorporate as many energy efficient measures as possible.</p> <p><br></p> <p> </p> <p>Aelux helped KBA install energy efficient lighting (T8 fluorescent fixtures) and occupancy sensors to replace the facility’s original outdated fixtures. By replacing close to 475 fixtures, KBA saved 91,948 kWh (equivalent to 12 cars off the road and 1,626 trees planted!) – A huge help towards their sustainable goals! </p> <p>Aside from efficient lighting, KBA implemented a number of other sustainable measures, such as low flow sinks, glazed concrete blocks of partially recycled materials, renewable linoleum floors, recycled plastic for bleachers, brand new HVAC (heat and air), and "Environmental Tips of the Week" crowd sourced from students.</p> <p>The Green Ribbon Award is the first of its type to formally organize health, environment, and education in a comprehensive federal policy (read more about Green Ribbon Schools <a href="http://www.greenribbonschools.org/">here</a>). The Green Ribbon Schools selection committee is composed of the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), the Educational Information and Resource Center (EIRC), New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA), New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Project Learning Tree – Green Schools, New Jersey Audubon, USGBC NJ, The Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education, and Sustainable Jersey. The news honoring Kellman Brown Academy was announced on Monday, January 27 by the managing organization, The Educational Information and Resource Center (EIRC).</p> <p>We’re so proud of KBA and thrilled that we were able to be a part of their success. Read the full KBA/Green Ribbon Award article <a href="http://www.eirc.org/website/programs-services/2014-green-ribbon-schools-home/2014-nj-green-ribbon-schools-honorees/kellman-brown-2014-application-summary/">here.</a> If you’re interested in updating the lighting in your school (or in any company facility!) give us a call (866-442-3589) or fill out our audit request form <a href="http://www.aelux.com/lighting-retrofit-survey">here</a>. Congrats, KBA!</p> </article> <article> <h1>Becoming Energy Efficient: Lighting Options & Benefits</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 20:57:00 GMT</p> <p><em>Written by Meg Schneider</em></p> <p>There are many ways to reduce your energy use and become more efficient, but are you doing everything you can? Turning off the lights is energy efficient, right? Well, yes, but if that’s all you think of when you think of being efficient, you’re losing out on significant cost savings. </p> <p>Want to be more energy efficient? We can help you out. There’s no better place to start than lighting. <b>Lighting accounts for 18% of energy use in commercial buildings.</b> Reducing your lighting operational costs can generally be achieved in three ways: Behavior change, initial design, or a technology retrofit.</p> <p><b>Behavior Change: </b>While behavior change has low or zero upfront costs, it requires more investment of labor over time. Common elements of successful lighting conservation include “champions” (leaders enforcing guidelines in their own departments), competition, and awards. For example, facilities may compete for energy conservation in order to receive a small yearly acknowledgment or company perk.<b> </b>Behavior change is adopted much more readily when objectives are aligned among the owner of the facility and the workers. Otherwise, saving energy can seem to be a public good or a social dilemma problem. Though behavior change can be somewhat effective, you won’t experience the same savings as upgrading your facility’s lighting.</p> <p><b>Figure 1: Energy Savings Estimates of Light Emitting Diodes in Niche Lighting </b></p> <p><b><br></b></p> <p>Image: Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). <a href="http://www.management.energy.gov/documents/Energy_Savings_Light_Emitting_Diodes_Niche_Lighting_Apps.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.management.energy.gov/documents/Energy_Savings_Light_Emitting_Diodes_Niche_Lighting_Apps.pdf</a></p> <p><b>Initial Design: </b>In the initial stages of construction, architects and land planners can design more efficient lighting sources such as skylights, windows, and window orientation. Designing a building using natural light as a regular light source (known as daylighting) is an effective way to cut lighting costs. Initial design can also include the most efficient lighting options available today (LED) and incorporate sensors for optimum results. However, how many of us have the opportunity to move into a brand new building and design an efficient lighting system? If you’re like most of us, we’ve got to work with what we have.</p> <p><b>Lighting Retrofits: The most profitable form of energy conservation! </b>Upgrading lighting will save you money and energy while improving the quality of light in your facility. Better lighting means more productive and safer work environments.<b> </b>Installing new and efficient technology in your existing building, such as LEDs, tremendously reduces maintenance costs as the general life of LEDs is over 100,000 hours. If you’re not ready for LEDs yet, there are many other affordable and efficient technologies, such as T8 and T5 fluorescent options, that guarantee great results. Any solution can be combined with occupancy or daylighting sensors to even further reduce energy use and costs. <b>Bottom line: Upgrading your lighting makes sense! </b>Outdated lighting wastes energy and requires unnecessary maintenance.</p> <p>Though a lighting retrofit may have higher upfront costs, it will save you money over time. Utility rebates, tax incentives and financing options are all available to help reduce the upfront costs of lighting retrofits, creating an affordable long-term solution with high energy and cost savings. Lighting upgrades also have one of the best ROIs of any energy efficiency upgrade!</p> <p>Interested? You’ve come to the right place. If you’re ready to get started, request a <a href="http://www.aelux.com/lighting-retrofit-survey">free lighting audit</a> with Aelux. Just looking for more information? Take a look at our White Paper: <a href="http://info.aelux.com/7-essential-guidelines-for-every-lighting-retrofit?&__hssc=&__hstc&hsCtaTracking=b03498b9-95f3-4991-a14e-26c9ad3c7400|6f1a23d1-83e3-451b-a9ae-07a603075cf0">7 Essential Guidelines for Every Lighting Retrofit</a>. We’ve put together our thoughts, advice and recommendations that we think every decision-maker should know before jumping into a retrofit. <b>Not all lighting retrofits are created equal.</b> Make sure you know what to look for before you get started.</p> <p>Whichever method you choose to move forward with, we commend you on becoming more energy efficient! </p> </article> <article> <h1>The Science Behind White LEDs</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 21:21:00 GMT</p> <p><em>Written by Meg Schneider</em></p> <p>Ever wonder what makes certain LED lights so white? What appears as that bright, white color we commonly see in many LED lamps, is actually a colored LED (amber, red, green or blue) lamp mixed or covered with phosphor. Phosphor, a unique yellow substance, converts the original color of an LED to the white color we see in our office or home lamps. By passing a current through a semiconductor material, many small light sources (known as chips) brighten and together create LEDs. White LEDs range from yellow to white in light color, depending on color temperature.</p> <p>Color temperature (for both LED and Fluorescent lamps) ranges from “warm” to “cool” and is measured in Kelvin. The lower the Kelvin, the warmer the light source. This is shown in detail in <b>Figure 1</b> below. White LEDs can be customized in temperature to appear how you want them to appear. For example, if you want a “warm white” the color temperature ranges from 2700-3500 Kelvin and produces a more yellow light, similar to a typical incandescent bulb. Warmer whites cast more of a yellow tint and are a softer type of lighting. In contrast, cooler tones have higher temperatures and cast a bright white or icy blue color more appropriate for offices and detail-oriented work. Depending on your needs in your facility, you may want to have a range of temperatures for your LED bulbs. See more examples in <b>Figure 2</b> below. </p> <p><b>Figure 1: Light Color Temperatures</b></p> <table style="border-color: #000000; border-width: 0px; width: 549px; height: 268px; border-style: solid; background-color: #dcdcdc;" frame="border" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <h3><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Color Temp</strong></span></h3> </td> <td> <h3><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Example of Source</strong></span></h3> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 1900K</td> <td> Candle light or sunlight at sunrise or sunset</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2000K - 2700K</td> <td> Often used as accent lighting to blend in with fluorescent 2700K applications.</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3000K - 3200K</td> <td> Used as a primary light source for retail applications.</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3700K</td> <td> Coated lamps. Used where a "softer" metal halide light source is desired.</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 4000K</td> <td> Used in general lighting; factories: parking lots, warehouses</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 5000K - 5500K</td> <td> Daylight lamps: horticulture, aquariums, high color definition.</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 5600K</td> <td> Nominal sunlight (mid day during mid summer)</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 6000K</td> <td> Starts to get a blue tint like some automotive headlights</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><b>Figure 2: White LED Color Temperatures</b></p> <table style="border-color: #000000; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 652px; height: 146px; background-color: #dcdcdc;" frame="border" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <h3><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Name of White LEDs</span></strong></h3> </td> <td> <h3><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Kelvin Color Temp</span></strong></h3> </td> <td> <h3><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Comparable to:</span></strong></h3> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Warm White</td> <td> 2700-3500 Kelvin</td> <td>A typical incandescent light bulb</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Natural White</td> <td> 4000-4500 Kelvin</td> <td>A typical retail space white fluorescent lighting</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Day/Daylight White</td> <td> 5000-6000 Kelvin</td> <td>Used for high color definition - typical noon day sun in many parts of the world</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Cool/Commercial White</td> <td> 6000-7000 Kelvin</td> <td>Used in many industrial and commercial typical incandescent light bulb applications like hospitals</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Image source: <a href="http://www.eaglelight.com/category/lighting_tutorials.color_temperature/" target="_blank">http://www.eaglelight.com/category/lighting_tutorials.color_temperature/</a></p> <p>Instead of matching the color of an illuminated object (think of an object getting hotter and creating a blackbody spectrum), LEDs now use “Correlated Color Temperature” (CCT) to match the light emitted from the LEDs. Additionally, LEDs are sorted based on metrics such as chromaticity, lumen output, and voltage to produce a better, more consistent light experience.</p> <p>Although some LEDs appear as an incandescent or compact lamp, they are much more efficient and last much longer. With LEDS, the amount of light and color appearance slightly change with lumen depreciation rather than burning out, as other lamps typically do. </p> <p>Take the guesswork out of upgrading your systems by talking with Aelux's experts by visiting our <a href="http://info.aelux.com/led-lighting-retrofits-now-is-the-time">LED information page</a>. Trained in the latest in LEDS, rebates, and solutions, Aelux will help determine whether LEDs are right for your facility with a free audit and investment grade retrofit proposal. </p> </article> <article> <h1>EPACT Tax Deduction: Energy Efficiency Incentives Set to Expire</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 18:25:00 GMT</p> <p>The federal government (when it’s not shut down!) provides some tax incentives to encourage building owners to engage in projects that improve their facility’s energy efficiency. These incentives were designed to speed up paybacks and ease the financial burden of these projects. <b>One of the mos</b><b>t </b><b>e</b><b>ffective energy efficiency tax incentives was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, </b><b>and is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2013.</b></p> <p>We’ll explain how EPAct’s 179d tax deduction works, and then why it’s in jeopardy.</p> <p>EPAct created the <em>Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction</em> in 2005. It allowed private building owners to deduct the entire cost of an indoor lighting or building upgrade project in the year the equipment is placed in service. The benefit isn’t a tax credit (you may often hear it called the EPAct tax credit!), it’s an accelerated tax deduction (or a 179d tax deduction). That means that instead of depreciating the cost of a new lighting system over the usual 39 years, the IRS allows building owners to fully depreciate the cost of the lighting improvements in Year One, up to $0.60 per square foot for lighting projects (and up to $1.80 per square foot total for other energy saving projects).</p> <p>If the building is publicly owned, the person who creates the technical specifications for installation can claim the tax deduction. Typically, this is the lighting retrofitter or designer. For some retrofitters (like Aelux), a portion of the tax deduction can be removed from the first cost of the project if it is assigned.</p> <div> <p>In order to qualify for the accelerated depreciation, certain energy reduction targets must be met. For lighting, the Lighting Power Density (watts per square foot) must be reduced by at least 25% (50% for warehouses) from the baseline in ASHRAE 90.1-2001. There are also requirements for mandatory control and minimum illuminance: average measured illuminance levels must meet or exceed the IESNA recommended minimum illuminance levels and bi-level switching requirements must be met. Energy use must be modeled and verified by a qualified engineer, and a certificate must be issued and stamped. To learn more about these requirements, read the National Renewable Energy Lab’s guidelines <a href="http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/40467.pdf">here</a>.</p> <p>The total deduction is $0.30 to $0.60 per square foot depending on the percentage that the Lighting Power Density (LPD) is reduced beyond the ASHRAE standard. Reducing lighting energy consumption by 40% (as measured by LPD) gives you the full $0.60 per square foot deduction. </p> <p>One of the best resources out there for understanding EPAct is the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) website, <a href="http://www.lightingtaxdeduction.org">www.lightingtaxdeduction.org</a>. They provide a very comprehensive review of what EPAct offers with external links to verifythe details.</p> <p>Applying for EPAct can be complex, which is why Aelux provides this service at no cost to all of our clients as part of our turnkey lighting retrofit package.</p> <p><b>So, that’s th</b><b>e good </b><b>news.</b> The bad news is that this energy efficiency tax deduction, though it’s proven to be extremely effective in encouraging investment in these projects, is expiring at the end of 2013. The original incentive was only in place for a few years, and was then extended for a 5-year term in 2008. The Senate has proposed a bill that would extend the EPAct benefit, but it is unlikely to pass both houses this year. The bill, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (SB 761),would extend EPAct as well as provide a number of other boosts to energy efficiency. Some of those include:</p> <ul> <li>Strengthening national model building codes to make new homes and commercial buildings more energy efficient</li> <li>Training the next generation of workers in efficient commercial building design and operation</li> <li>Promoting and providing funding for more coordination and partnerships between industry and government agencies to improve industrial efficiency, and</li> <li>Requiring the DOE to issue guidance to other federal agencies to implement energy efficient strategies that save both energy and taxpayer dollars.</li> </ul> <p>Earlier this year, energy efficiency advocates were confident the bill would make its way through both chambers of Congress and become law before EPAct expired this year. Given the shutdown and world events, it is unlikely that this bill will be prioritized in time to avoid expiration.</p> <p><b>What does this mean for you?</b> It means that anyone thinking about doing an energy efficiency project needs to hurry up! If installation begins in 2013, you should be able to claim the EPAct tax deduction. If your facility needs a lighting audit, call us to schedule one right away at 866-44-AELUX, or <a href="http://info.aelux.com/epact-tax-deduction-expiring">schedule a consultation online</a> ASAP. Aelux provides free facility audits, so there’s no risk in learning what your facility’s potential savings are, and there’s still a little bit of time to take advantage of the EPAct tax deduction. </p> </div> </article> <article> <h1>T12 Fluorescent Lighting Goes the Way of the Dodo</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 19:36:00 GMT</p> <p>It’s pretty rare to come across a facility manager or building engineer who hasn’t heard the news about T12s, but since utility rebates are really starting to wind down, we thought now would be a good time to highlight a good program still out there (for Chicago) and refresh your memories on the federal phase-out of energy inefficient T12 fluorescents.</p> <p>As of July 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy mandated the discontinuation of many T12 lamps and ballasts. Though T12s are still often in use in commercial and industrial spaces, they are among the least efficient lighting options. </p> <p></p> <p>The mandated “phase-out” is intended to encourage the switch to more efficient options to help save money and energy. For more information on the T12 phase-out or to learn about the specific lamps that have been discontinued, <a href="http://info.aelux.com/download--t12-fluorescent-lighting-discontinued">download our information sheet here</a>. </p> <p>Manufacturers were required to stop producing new T12 lamps and most T12 ballasts more than a year ago, so we are currently buying down existing inventory. T12 replacement lamps are becoming scarce and we’ve already seen an increase in price. As inventory continues to shrink, we expect prices to continue to rise. </p> <p>We all know utilities are often required by law to provide rebates for energy efficiency improvements, to decrease the use of peak energy generation, which is often the dirtiest (and most expensive for the utility) energy available. Because the federal government is requiring that companies upgrade T12s regardless of whether the utilities incentivize it or not, fewer and fewer utilities are still willing to give a rebate for T12 conversion. These T12 rebates are already hard to come by and will unfortunately continue to disappear in the near future. Many utilities cut T12 rebates at the end of 2012 and most others will be cut by 2014. <b>If you haven’t made a plan for upgrading your T12s, now is the time to do it!</b></p> <p><b><br></b></p> <p><b>Still time for a great T12 rebate in the Chicago area.</b> ComEd is offering a very strong incentive program for T12s called “Zero T12 Reward” which offers bonus incentives for any facility looking to eliminate all T12 lamps. If you still have T12s in your facility, this program can cut initial costs to upgrade your lighting significantly. </p> <p>The “Zero T12 Reward” is being offered on top of the standard incentive already offered by ComEd for energy efficient upgrades. Typically, utility rebates often account for 10 percent or more of your project cost. </p> <p>Here are all the important details: </p> <p><b>Removed Lamp Reward </b>(lamps currently installed in your facility’s ceiling):</p> <ul> <li>$2 for each 2-foot T12 lamp removed and recycled</li> <li>$2 for each 3-foot T12 lamp removed and recycled</li> <li>$3 for each 4-foot T12 lamp removed and recycled</li> <li>$4 for each 8-foot T12 lamp removed and recycled</li> </ul> <p><b>Stock Lamp Reward </b>(spare lamps kept in maintenance closet, inventory, stock room, etc):</p> <ul> <li>$0.50 / T12 stock lamp recycled (any length)</li> </ul> <p><b>There are a few criteria you should know about: </b></p> <ul> <li>Incentives are for facilityies removing ALL T12s</li> <li>Lamps must be recycled (recycling receipts are required)</li> <li>Incentives are for indoor lighting t12 retrofit/replacement only</li> <li>Incentives may not be used in combination with ComEd Smart Ideas bonuses (but can be used with regular rebates)</li> <li>You cannot receive a reward for stock lamps only. You must remove T12 lamps as part of a Smart Ideas indoor lighting project to receive a Zero T12 Reward.</li> </ul> <p><b>Ready to apply? </b>ComEd is requiring a pre-approval application which must be accompanied by a “Zero T12 Reward” Coupon. The pre-approval application must be received by April 1, 2014 and the final application by May 15, 2014. If you think you’re interested in replacing your T12s, <a href="http://www.aelux.com/lighting-retrofit-survey/">let us know by requesting an audit here</a>. We’ll apply for the “Zero T12 Reward” for you and show you a variety of options to fit your facility’s needs. </p> <p>Replacing T12s can reduce illumination costs by as much as 90%. Newer lighting dramatically increases light levels, creating a more comfortable environment for employees and helping to improve productivity. If you’re interested in replacing your T12s and you don’t live in the Chicago area, give us a call or send us an email at <a href="mailto:info@aelux.com">info@aelux.com</a> and we’ll tell you what T12 rebates, if any, are still available in your area. </p> <p>Any questions? Leave a comment.</p> </article> <article> <h1>LEEP Campaign: Energy Efficient Lighting in Parking Facilities</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 15:34:00 GMT</p> <p>Last year, Aelux joined the <a href="http://www.greenparkingcouncil.org/">Green Parking Council</a> (GPC) to take a leadership role when it comes to energy efficient lighting in parking garages and lots. We have been retrofitting parking facilities for years and our experience has shown that often dramatic savings are possible via efficient lighting solutions.</p> <p> </p> <p>One of GPC’s top initiatives is the Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking campaign (LEEP). LEEP offers free guidance and recognition to those interested in implementing energy efficient lighting solutions in their parking facilities, showing owners ways to take advantage of saving opportunities. The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, the Green Parking Council, and the International Facility Management Association make up the LEEP campaign and work together to help facility owners find the right solutions for their needs.<em> </em>To find out more about LEEP, become a participant or a supporter, check out their website <a href="http://www.leepcampaign.org/about.html">here</a>. You do not have to own or manage a parking facility in order to become a supporter. If you’ve completed a facility or are contemplating it, you can sign up to become a LEEP participant and use your case study to earn recognition, get support and join a community of owners/managers with experience lighting parking facilities.</p> <p><b>The unique needs of parking facilities.</b> More than most spaces, parking decks have variable occupancy. Though the whole space should be lit at all times at minimum safety levels, only active areas need full illumination. Step or linear dimming controls allow you to use as much or as little light as you need given the exact occupancy and use of the facility. Advanced controls allow you to set maximum light levels by area, and can even tell you when a lamp is burned out or malfunctioning. In some cases, attendant-staffed garages need even less illumination and controls become even more important.</p> <p><b>Inefficient vs. Efficient Technology. </b>If you still have HIDs or T12s in your facility, then it’s time to update your lighting. Both technologies are inefficient and T12s have actually been taken off the market. As of July 2012, the Department of Energy required the discontinuation of many T12 lamps and ballasts and replacement fixtures are no longer available. Learn more about the T12 phase-out <a href="http://info.aelux.com/Portals/104030/docs/T12%20Phaseout.pdf">here</a>. Various configurations of T8, T5, LED and induction are much more efficient technology and can save you drastic lighting and energy costs. LED solutions continue to be more cost competitive and offer maintenance savings that lead to high ROIs. </p> <p><b></b><b>What to remember when updating lighting in parking facilities: </b></p> <ol> <li>Consider occupancy/vacancy sensors with dimming ballasts. These will allow you tailor your light levels appropriately in real time in a variable occupancy setting.</li> <li>Set your maximum light levels by area. “Full on” doesn’t always mean the same thing everywhere. The human eye cannot detect a 20% decrease in light levels, so 80% illumination is typically just as effective.</li> <li>Have an above ground facility? Where appropriate, daylight harvesting (photocells) maintains fixed light levels and decreases your artificial light load when daylight will suffice, saving you more money than energy efficient fixtures alone.</li> <li><b>Every</b> garage should consider both elements of efficient lighting: <b>Fixtures and Controls.</b> Ignoring the benefit of controls wastes 40% to 75% of potential savings.</li> </ol> <p>If you’re ready to update your parking facilities lighting, give us a call or <a href="http://www.aelux.com/lighting-retrofit-survey/">request an audit</a> to get started today. Interested in seeing an example of potential savings? Check out our case study <a href="http://info.aelux.com/Portals/104030/docs/parkway%20casestudy.pdf">here</a>. </p> <p><br>Any questions? <b>Leave a comment!</b></p> <p><em> </em></p> <pre><b><em>Alyssa Modica </em></b><em>is the Marketing Associate at Aelux and has been with the company for a little over a year. She is a Temple alum and likes to rock climb in her spare time.</em></pre> </article> <article> <h1>Aelux Helps Owners with Philly Building Energy Benchmarking</h1> <p>Emily Schapira — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 15:06:00 GMT</p> <p><b>Attention Philadelphia building owners!</b> Starting in October 2013 the City of Philadelphia will require owners/operators of buildings with more than 50,000 square feet of indoor floor space to track and report their annual energy use and water consumption. Regulations regarding this new benchmarking legislation were issued in July 2013 and all information must be submitted by building owners by October 31, 2013. Failure to comply will result in a fine of a minimum of $300. The City is offering plenty of resources to help make compliance easier. Learn more at <a href="http://www.phillybuildingbenchmarking.com/">http://www.phillybuildingbenchmarking.com/</a>.</p> <p></p> <p><b>Why benchmarking? </b>Mayor Nutter’s goal is to reduce building energy use throughout Philadelphia by 10% by 2015 compared to a 2006 baseline. So far, building energy use actually increased by 4% over that baseline in 2012! Mandatory benchmarking will provide building owners with a snapshot of how much energy their building uses and how their building relates to comparable buildings. Not only will building owners receive their scores, but all scores will be posted online starting in June 2014. Owners will be able to compare their buildings’ energy use with similar buildings and explore options to reduce usage. </p> <p>Benchmarking has its detractors, but in many cities nationwide, it has proven to have a positive impact on energy use and provides building owners with tools to reduce consumption. It will be critical for owners and tenants to work together, since behavior change can often impact energy consumption dramatically. We believe upgrading inefficient lighting is also a key component to improving energy use and reducing costs, so we are getting involved in helping our local clients comply with the benchmarking requirements.</p> <p><b>How does it work? </b> All reporting will be done through the Environmental Protection Agency’s free online Portfolio Manager tool. Users will be prompted to enter building data – age, size, type, use, and all utility consumption information. Once the data is entered, all buildings will receive their performance results with an Energy Star score, which will compare your building with other relatable buildings on a scale of 1 to 100. A score of 75 will earn your building a nationally recognized ENERGY STAR label. The City of Philadelphia will collaborate with the EEB Hub on the analysis of the results to ensure accurate and detailed reports. Learn more about the EEB Hub <a href="http://www.eebhub.org/">here</a>. </p> <p><b>Aelux can help! </b>Aelux is an ENERGY STAR partner and can help you reach your energy efficiency goal. Lighting retrofits are the most profitable form of energy conservation, with one of the lowest up-front costs, great rebates available, and fast paybacks. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your energy use, lighting is a great place to start. If you become an Aelux client by September 15, 2013, or are a current client, we’ll enter your data into Portfolio Manager on your behalf. <a href="http://www.aelux.com/lighting-retrofit-survey/">Request an audit</a> to get started on your lighting project today, or give us a call (866-44-AELUX) to ask for help with benchmarking.</p> <p>We’re proud to see Philadelphia taking major steps to reduce energy use. Aelux is committed to helping the city reach its 2015 goal. Let’s work together to create a greener Philadelphia!</p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>How Much Does a Turnkey Lighting Retrofit Project Cost?</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:38:00 GMT</p> <p>By Todd Tiberi, <em>Director of Strategic Accounts</em></p> <p>I’ve been asked this question hundreds of times and there is no easy answer. I’ve completed lighting projects ranging anywhere from $.25/sqft to $2.00/sqft. There are many variables in each lighting project and all can raise or lower the project cost depending on a customer’s goals, needs, and project obstacles.</p> <p>The lower cost projects tend to be facilities with easy access to all fixtures and applications that can utilize a “one for one” replacement. A one for one replacement means that we take down the old lighting fixture and replace with a new lighting fixture in the same location. In addition, this type of retrofit usually just has us match the current light levels and maximize the return on investment. The customer does not typically care about the aesthetics of the fixture or big increases in light levels.</p> <p>High cost projects tend to have a new lighting layout created and redesigned to meet the facilities’ current light level needs. Typically this requires the addition of fixtures which could possibly mean additional circuits or full breaker panels added. These customers look for more long term benefits and have maintenance savings as a higher priority or want to approve the look and feel of the environment. They tend to look for more of an architectural lighting fixture rather than base on simple performance.</p> <p>Ultimately this question is difficult because the real answer depends on what each customer’s goals, needs, and obstacles are. Having time to sit with customers and learn about these issues could be the most important step of a successful turnkey lighting project. After this step it would be dramatically easier to determine a price range but even then it should only serve as an estimate.</p> <p>To understand an exact cost of a particular project a complete lighting survey must be performed. Going through the entire facility counting every light and understanding what is needed for each particular area. From the lighting survey details we can create a scope of work and understand labor cost. Through photometric analysis we can engineer a solution to provide proper light levels and meet goals set forth by the customer. We recreate the facility digitally and run it through our proprietary lighting engineering software to determine future light levels. This is the best way to come up with exact cost of a turn-key lighting project.</p> <p>There are benefits of a turn-key lighting project that add value and should be considered in the project cost. These include recycling/disposal, rebate administration, EPACT certification, and project management. These additional benefits can actually lower the project cost. Rebates can sometimes take 70% off the top of a lighting project and the tax deductions can help the customer write off the total cost of the project.</p> <p>I’ve talked to a lot facility managers that completed lighting retrofit projects and didn’t define their needs and goals or left rebate/tax deduction money on the table. They were disappointed after reviewing what they could have saved in dollars and watts. Most of them did projects in house but used too many watts to light their space and never saw the benefits of using a full turn-key lighting partner. It pays to have a partner that can help you get the best bang for your buck. Not all retrofits are created equal!</p> <p> </p> <pre><em><strong>Todd Tiberi</strong> is Director of Strategic Accounts and has been with Aelux since 2006. He is a certified Lighting Consultant and Penn State alum. </em></pre> </article> <article> <h1>Not an Expert on Lighting Retrofits? You Don't Have To Be!</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Wed, 29 May 2013 15:23:00 GMT</p> <p>By Chris Herner, <em><span dir="ltr" id=":l">Administrative Support Associate</span></em></p> <p>I began my career at Aelux about three months ago. I am a complete newbie to the lighting business (and yet they let me blog!) and honestly had not given much thought to looking “up” when entering a building before I began working here. But starting from scratch has helped me develop a good short list of important things to know as you begin to think about a lighting retrofit project, so here it is!</p> <p><b>Fluorescent tubes:</b> These are the most common lights in office and “low-bay” environments. They come in 3 types – T12s, T8s and T5s – and various lengths and lamp configurations. The number in fluorescents refers to the diameter of the tube – T12s are 12 eighths of an inch wide (1.5”), T8s are 8 eighths (1”), T5s are 5 eighths of an inch. That makes them pretty easy to tell apart! T12s are the oldest, most inefficient technology and are being phased out by order of the U.S. DOE. <b>If you have T12s, you should call us to take a look, since pretty soon you won’t be able to find replacement lamps!</b></p> <p><b>LEDs:</b> You might hear a lot of conflicting information about what LEDs are ready for prime time and which are not. I’ve learned that every single retrofit should at least consider an LED solution. The technology is here – aesthetics, energy use, lamp life, light quality and color are all fantastic on LEDs and they now make them for every situation. Some are more expensive than others, though simple payback still tends to run under 5 years (even faster for LED tubes!). <b>Just consider LEDs. </b>In the end you’ll make an informed decision from the multiple solutions your Aelux rep will show you, but my advice is to always consider LEDs.</p> <p><b>Simple Controls and Sensors:</b> While not every project is right for the fanciest, most advanced control systems, there isn’t a lighting project on earth that won’t benefit from some simple sensoring. Whether this is on/off occupancy or vacancy sensors, step dimming, linear dimming or basic daylight harvesting, these controls can save you over 30% more energy than a fixture retrofit alone! If your lighting partner isn’t mentioning controls, insist! I’ll write more about sensors another time but I’ll give you one tidbit here: Occupancy vs. Vacancy. Occupancy is your standard sensor – it turns on when you walk into a room, senses your motion and then turns off after a certain amount of time of inactivity. Vacancy sensors require the user to flip the switch to turn the light on. Everything else stays the same. The savings for vacancy sensors come into play for when you’ve left your office, you forgot your car keys and you run back, grab them off your desk and run back out. In that scenario, your lights don’t turn back on, so there’s no waiting period for them to turn off again. </p> <p><b>Why Retrofit? </b>Retrofits provide better looking, energy efficient lights which save in energy and maintenance costs and improve productivity. Utilities nationwide provide rebates and there are federal tax incentives to further reduce costs. Lighting retrofits are the “most profitable” form of energy conservation. They have comparatively low up-front costs, energy savings begin immediately, and the energy savings can be as high as 85% of your lighting costs! If you haven’t retrofit before or it’s been more than 4 years, it’s time to take a look (again). Lots of facilities waste huge amounts of energy because they don’t know how fast the technology has advanced. <b>Aelux audits for free so there’s little risk in finding out how your facility could improve. </b></p> <p> </p> <pre><em><strong>Chris Herner</strong> is the Administrative Support Associate at Aelux and the newest member of our team. Chris has a background in B2B Sales (of candy!) and the Administrative Arts, and is an alum of Penn State University. In Chris’s spare time, you might find him hanging out at breweries and rock shows.</em></pre> <p><b><br></b></p> </article> <article> <h1>LED Street Lighting: Looks Good, Saves Money</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:34:00 GMT</p> <p>More and more, our clients are asking about LED street lighting. We wrote about it in our <a href="http://www.aelux.com/newsletters/">newsletter</a> a handful of times and recently hosted a Lunch N Learn in our own Montgomery County, PA to share the benefits of LED streetlight retrofits. Converting streetlights to LEDs with controls gives towns and cities the opportunity to potentially save more than <b>50% in energy and maintenance costs</b>. LEDs last longer than any previous lighting solution and are significantly more efficient. They’ll not only cut energy usage and cost, but will also produce better quality light and cut maintenance time and expense. Better light quality improves safety and can even encourage economic development! </p> <p>So what’s the hold up? Why isn’t every municipality converting to LED? There is definitely a lack of knowledge and misinformation on the subject, but we’re placing our bet on cost barriers. Municipal street lighting can be one of the largest single expenses for municipalities. And because of a range of ownership structures between municipalities and utilities, tap fees, and other issues, street lighting isn’t always as straightforward as you might like. </p> <p><b>Don’t worry! </b> There are a wide variety of funding options available to help get you started, and both Aelux and our street lighting partners are experts in helping you navigate the rules specific to your situation. Municipal street lighting can account for 30 to 40% of your city’s electric bill. Add in maintenance costs and the system can become one of your largest budgeted expenditures. </p> <p>Still not sure? Just take a look at California. The state is leading the way when it comes to street light retrofitting, with many cities having already converted their street lights to LEDs. Los Angeles, which owns and operates the nation’s second largest street lighting system, converted their street lights to LEDs over four years ago. Recently, the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting published an update on the status of the project: The LED conversion project has saved Los Angeles <b>$5,325,793 in annual electricity savings!</b> You can read the full article on the Los Angeles project <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2013/01/25/los-angeles-saves-millions-with-led-street-light-deployment/">here</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Los Angeles Before LED Conversion</strong> <strong>Los Angeles After LED Conversion</strong></p> <p><strong><br></strong></p> <p>Philadelphia completed an LED Street Light pilot last summer, and though the utility tariffs haven’t changed yet to reduce energy costs, the maintenance savings were more than enough to justify the project! The Department of Energy conducted a Gateway study on Philly’s project, and you can learn more about how it was done in Philadelphia <a href="https://conduitnw.org/Pages/WebLink.aspx?RID=807">here</a>. Interestingly, one of Philly’s sites was underneath an elevated rail, and the LEDs were much less prone to premature failure due to the vibrations of the train than the old High Pressure Sodium lights. </p> <p>The benefits of LED street light retrofits are endless and we suspect that when initial cost barriers and utility structures have been worked out, we’ll be seeing a lot more smart cities converting to LED. </p> <p>Stay tuned to learn more about street lighting controls, which further improve safety and reduce maintenance costs even more.</p> <pre><br><br>Photo Credit: Forbes.com</pre> </article> <article> <h1>Beyond Commercial Fluorescent Lighting: Reflections of an LED Skeptic</h1> <p>Emily Schapira — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:25:00 GMT</p> <p>By Bart Pasternak, <em>Principal</em></p> <p>I have been associated with the lighting business for longer than I would like to admit. I’ve witnessed a lot of changes and growth, some which I could not have imagined. LED technology has developed quicker than expected, offering the world a <b>more</b> <b>efficient lighting solution</b>. I was skeptical at first, but I am confident saying that the time has come to consider LEDs as a viable alternative to other traditional commercial and industrial lighting.</p> <p>About 20 years ago, engineers and scientists began discussing the possibility of solid state lighting (SSL). This originated from the electronics industry, where low level lighting was being produced on silicon chips for indicator lights. Remember the red and green on/off lights on electronic gadgets? Well, engineers were wondering whether it might be possible to produce higher levels of light from the combination of certain chemicals layered on a silicon chip and powered by low levels of electricity. And so started the search for a light source electronically created and controlled.</p> <p>The first real breakthrough came in traffic signals. Since the first efficient LEDs were only available in red, traffic engineers used a red LED head along with traditional lamps for green and yellow. Eventually, green and yellow LEDs became commercially available, bringing traffic lights to a new level of efficiency. Electric costs fell by more than 50%, while maintenance costs dropped by over 80%. The <b>LED as a commercial lighting source </b>had arrived.</p> <p>Even with this progress, compared to fluorescent lamps LEDs were a long way off. The manufacturing was expensive, the efficiency was still far below, and the cost of the solution was much greater. I, like many “experts” in the industry, thought that LEDs might become commercially viable by no earlier than 2020. </p> <p>It turns out I was wrong! In the last 24 months, LEDs have become widely popular. They are <b>35% more efficient </b>than the most efficient fluorescents and come in a full range of “colors” from the warmest to the coolest. LEDs routinely last for more than 80,000 hours (almost 10 years of nonstop burning!), maintenance is reduced dramatically and light level satisfaction is very high. I believe that as the efficiency continues to rise and the cost continues to fall, LEDs will likely be the first choice of energy conscious consumers. </p> <p> </p> <p><b><em>Bart Pasternak</em></b><em> is Principal at Aelux. He joined in 2008 after a 25-year career with Westinghouse Lighting Corp. Bart began at Westinghouse Lighting as General Counsel and most recently served as Executive Vice President. Bart holds several US patents dealing with lighting and lighting controls. </em></p> </article> <article> <h1>Lighting Retrofits as Marketing: How Good Design Makes a Difference</h1> <p>Alyssa Modica — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 19:20:00 GMT</p> <p>On my recent trip to California, I drove past an auto mall of car dealers where I found the lighting to really stand out. I wasn’t able to tell if the lights were energy efficient, as I drove past in the daytime from the highway. The lights were clean and simple. The pole color matched part of the building and there was a simple band of color around each shoebox that complimented the dealership sign.</p> <p class="Default">The design was subtle but the impact was big. The dealer was able to brand the entire parking lot with the use of lighting. This is a significant impact, as many dealers create an inside image only. Branding the outside creates more opportunity to attract customers. Lights are first a function and while energy savings can be obtained with new technology, I believe much additional value has been overlooked!</p> <p class="Default">These guys got it right! They simply added aesthetics to a necessary function and now have successfully expanded their show room image to reach the borders of the property. </p> <p>The next time you pass by a car dealer, take notice of the lighting. Is the value any different than normal? Apply this to almost anything – stores, supermarkets, malls, parking lots, etc! Consider what the lighting does for the branding and whether you find such an area more attractive. Have any thoughts on this matter or a similar experience to share? Leave a comment – we’d love to hear from you!</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p><em>Ryan Wilson works as a Sales Support representative for Aelux. Ryan graduated from the University of Bridgeport, CT in 2004 with a major in industrial design and comes from a background of installations and 10 years of experience in the commercial lighting and construction industry. In Ryan’s spare time you will likely find him rock climbing, cycling, or white water kayaking.</em></p> <p><em><br></em></p> </article> <article> <h1>New Report: $1 Trillion in Savings Potential in US Energy Efficiency</h1> <p>Emily Schapira — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:50:00 GMT</p> <p>According to a report released by Deutsche Bank's <a href="http://www.dbcca.com/dbcca/EN/" target="_blank">DB Climate Change Advisors</a> (DBCCA) and the <a href="http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Rockefeller Foundation</a>, the estimated 10-year yield in energy savings by investing $279 billion in upgrading and replacing energy-consuming equipment in U.S. real estate is <strong>$1 Trillion.</strong></p> <p>The full research study report from DBCCA and The Rockefeller Foundation, "United States Building Energy Efficiency Retrofits: Market Sizing and Financing Models," is available for free download by <a href="http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/publications/united-states-building-energy-efficiency" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Aelux is Hiring a Marketing Associate!</h1> <p>Emily Schapira — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:18:00 GMT</p> We are hiring! Check out our job description below. To apply, email your personal, persuasive cover letter and resume to eschapira@aelux.com.<br><br><strong>MARKETING ASSOCIATE JOB DESCRIPTION</strong><br>Aelux LLC, a fast-growing energy services company focused on turn-key energy efficient lighting and lighting controls for commercial and industrial clients nationwide, is seeking an energetic, organized, creative, savvy Marketing Associate.<br><br>Based in Glenside, PA, we are a fun, young company with a collaborative, fast-paced culture. Aelux works to save our clients money and reduce their carbon footprints through the assessment, analysis, engineering, sales and installation of large-scale energy-saving lighting retrofit projects.<br><br>JOB SUMMARY:<br>The Marketing Associate reports to the Vice President of Marketing and will help build our new marketing program from planning, tracking and evaluation through implementation, refinement and improvement. The role will include projects related to: origination and targeting of leads, online presence, social media, SEO, print and electronic collateral, messaging and branding, channel partner program implementation, email campaigns and more. The Marketing Associate will need to be comfortable juggling multiple projects and deadlines, have the confidence to take on project leadership, and have the smarts, skills and pride in your work to help drive the success of our marketing efforts. The Marketing Associate will gain exposure to many areas of the business in addition to marketing, including strategy, sales and operations and will have the opportunity for advancement within the company.<br><br>ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:<br><br> <ul> <ul> <li>Support the development, tracking, and performance reporting of pay-per-click and other advertising efforts, as well as website development and partner landing page efficacy</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Manage a quarterly e-newsletter, social media activities and drip marketing implementation in partnership with VP of Marketing</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Assist in the implementation of new channel partner strategy stretching from recruitment through ongoing support, work with Executive Team to track and analyze results and refine programs</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Create case studies, and assist in the development of collateral and other sales support materials.</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Help generate and execute formal PR, media and networking plans (may include writing press releases, building relationships, running email campaigns, developing targeted outreach projects, etc.)</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Perform other duties as requested. We are a small team in which everyone at every level of the company is busy, so we all pitch in and take on extra responsibilities as needed.</li> </ul> </ul> <br><br>REQUIREMENTS:<br><br> <ul> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, or applicable field.</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills, particularly for marketing, PR and journalism applications. Great PowerPoint skills required. Strong Excel skills a plus.</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Strong preference for experience with Google AdWords, Analytics, SEO, blogging and simple web design. Some experience with Adobe Creative Suite preferred. HTML, CSS and graphic design experience would be a bonus.</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Should be comfortable with social media tools (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WordPress) and broader web strategy. Experience with CRMs (Salesforce), telesales (to support our internal team), data.com, Jigsaw, Hoovers and other webtools is a plus.</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Is a flexible, detail-oriented, fast learner with a great sense of humor (required).</li> </ul> </ul> <br><br>BENEFITS and Compensation:<br><br> <ul> <ul> <li>Competitive salary commensurate with experience</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Employer-paid health care plan, 401(k) plan with company match</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Paid time off and personal days</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Free lunch every day!</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Opportunities for advancement, training and skills development</li> </ul> </ul> <br> <ul> <ul> <li>Laid-back, team-based work environment close to Philly and SEPTA</li> </ul> </ul> <br><br>TO APPLY:<br>Send a personal, persuasive cover letter (including salary requirements) and resume to Emily Schapira, VP of Marketing at eschapira@aelux.com.<br><br><em>AELUX LLC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER</em> </article> <article> <h1>Aelux VP, Philadelphia Energy Authority host first public hearing</h1> <p>Emily Schapira — Wed, 23 May 2012 06:57:00 GMT</p> <p>Aelux's Vice President of Marketing, Emily Schapira, will join four other professionals on the Philadelphia Energy Authority at their first public hearing today. An article in Wednesday's Philadelphia Inquirer explains that the authority was founded two years ago by Philadelphia City Council and Mayor Nutter regards the authority as a means to advance his Greenworks Philadelphia initiative. </p> <p>The public hearing will be held at 4 p.m. in City Council Chambers and the goal is to gather suggestions on how to fulfill its mission of reducing city government's energy consumption and to facilitate the development of renewable energy projects.</p> <br><a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120523_Philadelphia_Energy_Authority_to_hold_Wednesday_hearing_on_projects.html" style="font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">Read more about the authority and its mission on philly.com.</a><br><br><br> </article> <article> <h1>Philly Joins NYC, D.C. on Energy Efficiency Benchmarking</h1> <p>Emily Schapira — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:57:00 GMT</p> <p>The Philadelphia City Paper reported last week that Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown introduced a piece of "green" legislation to the Philadelphia City Council. The legislation's plan is to require benchmarking of energy and water use for nonresidential buildings or spaces that are 25,000 sq. ft. or more. These measures are similar to those introduced and implemented in D.C., New York and San Francisco.</p> <p>The full article and actual ordinance can be read on City Paper's website by <a href="http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/nakedcity/philly-energy-benchmarking.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</p> </article> <article> <h1>PA Utility PP&L Adopts Green Button for Energy Conservation</h1> <p>Emily Schapira — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:18:00 GMT</p> <p>Pennsylvania utility PP&L has joined several other early adopters of the nationwide Green Button initiative. The Green Button technology will allow residential and commercial utility customers download easy-to-read and user friendly energy usage data online via computers and smartphones, to help them better understand their consumption and engage in energy conservation. The Green Button has been implemented at utility companies such as NSTAR, PG&E, Reliant and SDG&E. Other utilities, including Pennsylvania's PECO & PP&L, have committed to adopt the Green Button by the end of 2012.</p> <p>Check out this video of the Green Button demo at Grid-Interop 2011:</p> <br> </article> </main></body></html>