January 11, 2012 - The purpose of this article is to go beyond the quantifiable opportunities for solar shading to the LEED Green Building Rating System by outlining many qualitative points of solar shades which, when properly designed and installed, provide the end user better use of the space.

November 26, 2011 - When Mike Colwill heard about BC Hydro’s Energy Fix contest, he knew it was a great fit for the 100-year-old Fernwood Inn he owns in Victoria with several co-investors. A $35,000 “energy makeover” would help them take a giant step toward the green principles they support.

November 26, 2011 - The co-owners of the Super Suds laundromat in Quesnel are in the business of helping people get their whites white and their colours bright. But, until recently, aging, dim and energy-intensive fluorescent lights cast everything—the laundry and the space—in dull shades of grey. That’s why Vera Bishop and Carol Pitkin entered BC Hydro’s Energy Fix contest last spring.

November 18, 2011 - With the U.S. federal phase-out set to commence January 1, 2012, the fourth annual Sylvania “Socket Survey” finds that—for the first time since the study’s inception in 2008—a majority of Americans (55%) report they are aware of 2007 congressional legislation that will phase-out most standard incandescent light bulbs. However, just under half of Americans remain unaware of the impactful changes coming into effect in the lighting industry.

The Government of Alberta is introducing a new commercial lighting incentive program that it says will give business owners some bright ideas to boost energy efficiency. Under a $4-million pilot program, Albertans who operate restaurants, offices, warehouses and other businesses are eligible for a provincial rebate of between $37,500 and $375,000, depending on the building type, when energy-efficient lighting is installed in their businesses. 

 

The initiative takes effect immediately and will provide a range of rebates, depending on the type of retrofits. All participants must undertake a pre-retrofit assessment and demonstrate the potential for energy savings to be eligible for rebates.

 

“Lighting accounts for approximately 50% of Alberta businesses’ annual electricity use,” said Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner. “Commercial property owners play a crucial role in our commitment to improve energy efficiency, and this initiative will help curb the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions and lower business costs.”

 

The commercial lighting incentive program aims to reduce 191,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking approximately 40,000 cars off the road by 2020. The rebate program will be administered by Climate Change Central, a non-profit organization.

 

“This energy-efficiency program is a great incentive for Alberta’s commercial property owners,” said Simon Knight, president and CEO of Climate Change Central. “We expect this to be one of our most popular programs and we encourage owners to apply quickly.”

 

The program will continue until December 31, 2011 or until funding is exhausted.

 

For specific information on eligible retrofits and how to apply for a rebate, visit www.LightitRight.ca.

The IES (Illumination Engineering Society of North America) has announced the launch of the new IES Toronto Section website, which the company says features the latest information on the lighting information in the GTA.

 

The IES says the newly updated site—designed as a meeting point for members of the lighting, architectural, engineering and design communities—is a valuable resource for educational and technical program details, recent and upcoming industry events and recognition for the contributions made by members of the Section. Customers can now register online for all Section activities using the secured PayPal system.

 

The IES is a Toronto-based non-profit organization dedicated to all aspects of the art and science of illumination.

 

To learn more about the IES, go to www.iestoronto.ca.

BOSTON, MA — Just over one year ago, a prominent group of building controls manufacturers formed the EnOcean Alliance to promote interoperable wireless sensor networks based on the EnOcean wireless standard. Today 113 companies, including Leviton, Masco, Distech Controls, Philips Ledalite and Osram Sylvania, have engineered products that simplify BAS (Building Automation System) installations using wireless and energy harvesting sensors, switches and controls. Its widespread adoption within the building lighting controls segment was manifested this year at the industry's most prominent show, Lightfair. Eighty per cent of the companies demonstrating wireless lighting controls at Lightfair were based on the EnOcean Standard.

"EnOcean's showing at Lightfair 2009 clearly illustrates the separation between the EnOcean wireless standard and standards that are dependent upon batteries or line-power," said Jim O`Callaghan, President of EnOcean operations in North America. "Lighting professionals welcome the simplicity and flexibility that comes standard with EnOcean-based controls. The combination of energy harvesting and radio technologies is creating an equally compelling story in the HVAC market."

Today, more than 100,000 buildings worldwide are automated using EnOcean-based controls, according to the Alliance — more than any other wireless standard. EnOcean`s emergence as the wireless lighting leader is attributed to the unique behaviors of the controls — they operate without wires and without batteries. This frees integrators from the confines and invasiveness that has stalled widespread BAS integration. In addition to overcoming installation barriers, notorious maintenance issues are averted. Batteries are cheap but replacing them is not. The controls regenerate power for radio communications using ambient sources of energy such as light, temperature and motion.

The EnOcean standard is anchored upon interoperability. EnOcean-based controls are interoperable, regardless of the manufacturer. Another important hallmark is the ability to self-power sensors and switches, based upon patented technology from EnOcean. No other standard has the energy-efficiency required by energy harvesting. All other standards require a battery or line power. Analysts anticipate that more than a billion wireless sensor nodes will penetrate the market within the next decade.

For more information visit www.enocean.com.

 

Last January 2010, Jacobs and Thompson Inc—a manufacturer of foam and gasket products—decided to perform a complete lighting retrofit of its 89 Kenhar Drive facility, located in Toronto’s west end. The main purpose of the retrofit was to create energy savings, as well as reducing the facility’s carbon footprint.

Well, it’s that time of year again — RRSP season is just around the corner. Every year I leave this to the last minute. The delay is usually due to my procrastination over where to put my money. Where can I get a decent return? My choices are usually pretty limited.

Many companies have come to realize the tremendous value in switching to energy efficient light fixtures, enticed by savings of 50 per cent or more. Typically, existing fixtures are replaced with new fixtures such as T5 or T8 fluorescent lamps and ballasts. But there are alternatives that allow companies to use their existing fixtures – and enjoy the same savings.