Welcome to Smart Solutions Quarterly. Brought to you by Philips Lighting Electronics, N.A., this eNewsletter explores
sustainable and energy-efficient lighting solutions, and provides information and insight on industry trends, as well
as Philips Advance products and initiatives that can help you and your customers capitalize on lighting upgrade opportunities.
Protecting the environment is everyone's responsibility, and with lighting accounting for 19% of global energy consumption, we have a great opportunity to partner together to build towards a more sustainable future.
Through Smart Solutions, Philips Lighting Electronics N.A. is helping you and your customers design and use energy efficient lighting components to achieve maximum energy savings. And via a variety of Smart Solutions tools and services, we are raising awareness of the critical role that energy-efficient lighting plays in reducing global energy consumption and costs, and in supporting environmental sustainability.
Throughout the next several months, we will make available a series of informative brochures, white papers, displays, advertisements, presentations, training opportunities, recycling programs, and energy calculators.
Stay tuned for the ongoing rollout of new Smart Solutions tools and materials and let Philips Lighting Electronics N.A. help you down the beneficial path to a more energy-efficient and sustainable future. For more information on our Smart Solutions program go to www.philips.com/advance
Commercial Building Tax Deductions Extended Through 2013
Expanding the window of opportunity for tax deductions associated with EPAct 2005, we are pleased to report that with the passing of recent legislation, the Commercial Building Tax Deduction (CBTD) identified in EPAct 2005 has now been extended for another five years, through December 31, 2013.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 established new product efficiency standards and also offered unprecedented Federally-sponsored financial incentives rewarding the use of energy-efficient lighting, HVAC, and other high-efficiency building envelope technologies in qualifying new installation and retrofit applications.
Originally available for eligible technologies placed into service between January 1st, 2006 and December 31st, 2007 (and later extended another year); these new financial incentives have been offered in the form of tax deductions. These deductions provide up to $.60 per square foot on the installation of energy-efficient lighting products that result in a building's increase in energy efficiency by 25-40% or more over the ASHRAE 90.1-2001 standard.
The Energy Independence Act of 2007 (EISA) Enforces New Efficiency Standards
Taking effect on January 1, 2009, EISA promises to have a significant impact on the lighting industry for 150W-450W HID luminaires. Similar to California's
Title 20 legislation, EISA outlaws the manufacture of probe start luminaires (by requiring a lofty 94% efficiency rating for the ballast), and pushes end
users to instead utilize pulse start luminaires that contain ballasts with a minimum efficiency of 88% for magnetic or 92% for electronic.
The only exceptions to the legislation are luminaires that utilize regulated lag ballasts, or 150W luminaires that are rated for use in wet locations and
contain a ballast rated for use in ambient temperatures above 50ºC.
Indicating federal compliance, all new luminaires and ballasts manufactured after January 1, 2009 must have an E symbol on packaging and labels, respectively,
to differentiate them from non-compliant products.
It is important to note that this legislation only affects new installations and that probe start ballasts will continue to be made available to end users for replacement.
Forced conversion to 88% efficient pulse start luminaires is a step in the right direction, supporting both energy efficiency and sustainability. With more lumens, more fixtures per
circuit (pulse start luminaires generate more light using less watts of power vs. probe start luminaires), energy savings, longer life lamps, and cooler running ballasts, pulse start
lighting systems also offer end users an attractive return on investment.
Philips Lighting Electronics N.A. fully understands EISA regulations and its significant impact on the lighting industry. In preparation for the conversion, a complete line of EISA-compliant
Philips Advance ballasts have been created to support the changing demands of the marketplace, and - combined with the newest Philips lamps - provide a total solution for your luminaire
needs. For more information on EISA legislation, our full line of Philips Advance compliant ballasts, or to download our informational product bulletin and brochure, visit the sustainability
section of our website at www.philips.com/advance.
NEMA Lighting Division Launches "enLIGHTen America" Campaign
This summer, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) officially launched a new initiative aimed at reducing energy use and costs in the 5 million existing commercial,
industrial, and institutional buildings in the United States. The innovative campaign, called "enLIGHTen America," will target building owners, operators, and executives who make upgrade
decisions in their buildings and inform them of the broad range of benefits that accrue from a lighting upgrade.
Sponsored by NEMA on behalf of its member lighting companies, the "enLIGHTen America" initiative will raise awareness of its message among the target audience through press releases,
feature articles, direct mail, trade show graphics, and a dedicated website located at www.nemasavesenergy.org. The campaign will also be supported by a personal message from Secretary
of Energy, Samuel W. Bodman, who "invites our nation's leaders to become full participants in a national effort to make our buildings more energy efficient."
As charter members on the campaign planning committee, Philips Lighting Electronics N.A. and Philips Lighting have been extremely active in bringing this unprecedented initiative to launch.
For more information on this proactive new campaign, please email NEMA at lightinginfo@nema.org.
Philips Advance Products Participate in New NEMA Premium® Ballast Program
In an effort to enhance the ease of energy-efficient ballast specifications, a broad range of Philips Advance electronic ballasts have recently become charter products within the voluntary
NEMA Premium® Ballast Program.
Consistent with Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) specifications and tested in accordance with ANSI standards, products eligible to participate in the new NEMA Premium® Ballast Program
include instant-start or programmed-rapid start electronic ballasts designed for use with four-foot 32-watt T8 fluorescent lamps with a lumen output greater than or equal to 3100 lumens.
Qualifying products will bear a special designation which will help lighting professionals recognize the market's highest-performing ballast products available and optimally support your
energy-efficiency and sustainable lighting objectives.
Currently, a wide variety of Philips Advance Optanium® high-efficiency ballasts have been registered under the NEMA Premium® Ballast Program. As reflected by their participation, these
elite products can be part of an overall high-efficiency lighting system that may help you achieve certification for LEED, ASHRAE, Title 24, or any other local energy code you desire to meet.
Please visit www.philips.com/advance to see a full list of the Philips Advance products participating in the NEMA Premium® Ballast Program. We hope that the list will help make ballast
specification choices easier and provide clear visibility to the Philips Advance products that can help maximize energy savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and drive
sustainability in both retrofit and new construction applications.
Philips Lighting Electronics is proud to announce the introduction of its revolutionary new ActiLume offering, an easy-to-use and install lighting control system designed to deliver maximum comfort and energy savings of up to 65% without sacrificing the quality of light. Comprised of a Philips controller, state-of-the-art multi-sensor, and a Philips Advance-branded DALI ballast, this high-performing
system enables commercial users the ability to enjoy all of the benefits of dimmable lighting control without the hassles of complicated commissioning.
Ideal for small open offices, meeting rooms, and private office configurations, the compact ActiLume system enables occupancy sensing, daylight harvesting and easy commissioning with the
simple touch of a button on the sensor unit. This provides in one convenient package what previously required several separate devices to deliver. Furthermore, the controller and sensor
are located right in the fixture itself, enabling ActiLume to deliver a cost-effective local control with easy-to-install, plug-and-play capabilities.
High-performing and energy-efficient, our revolutionary ActiLume system has truly simplified the art of lighting control, enabling commercial users to enjoy the personal comfort and productivity enhancements associated with controllable lighting all while driving significant energy savings and promoting green, sustainable design.
For more information on this exciting new sustainable lighting system, contact your local sales representative or agent.
According to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration in October 2008, the nation's total average retail price for electricity in June 2008 reflected a 4.8% increase over total prices 12 months earlier in June 2007, rising from 8.93 to 9.36 cents per kWh. This growth was led by a 7.4% rise in electricity prices to Industrial customers during that time, followed by 4-5% increases in Commercial and Residential rates respectively.
