the expanding universe of lighting

Inside:n OLEDs: The Other Solid-State Lighting n Lighting up Retail, Sports, and Historic Architecturen Keying into the Intelligent Cityn Bringing Down the Cost of LEDs

The Expanding Universe of Lighting

the magazine of the electroindustry

2015 Hermes Award W

inner

Published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association | www.NEMA.org | February 2016 | Vol. 21 No. 2

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FEATURESFight or Flight: Facing the Expanding Universe of Lighting ....................................................................14

Exhorting the Case for Spectral Freedom ..............................................................................................16

Small-Package, Mid-Power LEDs Enable Big Changes .............................................................................19

OLEDs: The Other Solid-State Lighting Technology ................................................................................20

Roots of Modern Light Bulb Set Precedents for Innovation ....................................................................22

Past as Prologue: What’s Ahead for Solid-State Lighting? ......................................................................24

Simplifying LED Control, Creating New Standards .................................................................................26

LEDs on Retrofit Fast Track for Historically Styled Lighting Applications ..................................................28

Lighting: The Key to the Intelligent City ...............................................................................................30

Illuminating the In-Store Experience ...................................................................................................32

Shedding Light on Advanced LED Sport Lighting Technology..................................................................34

ei, the magazine of the electroindustry text and cover pages are printed using SFI®-certified Anthem paper using soy ink.• SFIfibersourcingrequirementspromoteresponsibleforest managementonallsuppliers’lands.

• SFIworkswithenvironmental,socialandindustrypartnersto improveforestpracticesinNorthAmerica.

• TheSFIcertifiedsourcinglabelisproofei, the magazine of the electroindustryisusingfiberfromresponsibleandlegalsources.

ECO BOX

ei, the magazine of the electroindustry Publisher | Tracy Cullen

Editor in Chief | Pat WalshContributing Editors | Ann Brandstadter,

Christine Coogle, William E. Green III

Economic Spotlight | Tim GillCodes & Standardization Trends | Vince Baclawski

Government Relations Update | Kyle PitsorArt Director | Jennifer Tillmann

National Advertising Representative | Bill Mambert

CONTENTS

ei, the magazine of the electroindustry (ISSN 1066-2464) is published monthly by NEMA, the Association of Electrical Equipment and Medical Imaging Manufacturers, 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 900, Rosslyn, VA 22209; 703.841.3200. FAX: 703.841.5900. Periodicals postage paid at Rosslyn, Va., and York, Pa., and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NEMA, 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 900, Rosslyn, VA 22209. The opinions or views expressed in electroindustry do not necessarily reflect the positions of NEMA or any of its subdivisions.

Subscribe to ei, the magazine of the electroindustry at www.nema.org/subscribe2ei.Contact us at [email protected].

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MonthComing Next

Next month, ei explores the new generation of sustainability. We’ll go beyond the three traditional pillars—economic, social, and environmental—to include new technologies that promote energy efficiency, new models for financing them, and new perspectives on regulations.

Look also for a new take on an old program—Gold Medallion Homes. It’s all part of a yearlong celebration at NEMA’s 90th anniversary.

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NOTESNewsmakersNEMA Officers .......................................................................................................................................................................................5

Comments from the Chairwoman........................................................................................................................................................5

Views from the Top ...............................................................................................................................................................................6

We Are NEMA......................................................................................................................................................................................52

DEPARTMENTSGovernment Relations Update ...............................................................................................................8

Congress Suspends Device Tax, MITA Continues Push for Permanent Repeal .....................................................................................8

Testimony on EPS Improvement Act Addresses SSL Drivers ................................................................................................................9

Regulatory Updates for NEMA Products Foretell 2016 Activities .....................................................................................................10

U.S. Supreme Court Affirms FERC Role in Demand Response ...........................................................................................................12

Call to Action: Senate to Begin Debate on Energy Policy Modernization Act ...................................................................................12

NEMA Opposes Language Related to California Appliance Efficiency Regulations ..........................................................................12

Electroindustry News ..........................................................................................................................36

Make Safe Lighting a Fixture of the Home .........................................................................................................................................36

Technology to Remain Relevant in the New Year ..............................................................................................................................37

Bidding Adieu .....................................................................................................................................................................................38

Code Actions/Standardization Trends ...................................................................................................40

Code Adoption Remains Active in West Coast Region .......................................................................................................................40

A Brief History of the ANSI Z535 Standards .......................................................................................................................................41

ASC C136 Publishes Standards with Significant Updates, Continues Work on New Projects ...........................................................42

IEC Pays Tribute to Longtime Members ..............................................................................................................................................42

This Month in Standards ....................................................................................................................................................................42

ANSI Lighting Group Looks Forward to Dynamic 2016 .....................................................................................................................44

Revised SSL 7A Heralds National, International Impact ...................................................................................................................44

International Roundup .......................................................................................................................46

TTIP: One Step to Increased Competitiveness? A European Viewpoint .............................................................................................46

Economic Spotlight .............................................................................................................................48

Lighting Indexes for Third Quarter Indicate Mixed Results ...............................................................................................................48

NEMA Business Conditions Indexes Retreat in December .................................................................................................................50

We Are NEMA

52Serra Temizer Tracy Cullen

9Pekka Hakkarainen (left) represented NEMA and the lighting industry in testimony before the Subcommittee on Energy Power, which is chaired by Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY).

8Michael Wendt (left), Siemens Healthcare, Congressman David Joyce (R-OH), and Sheldon Schaffer, Hitachi, discussed repeal of the medical device tax during a recent visit to Capitol Hill.

Save the dateNEMA’s 90th Annual Membership Meeting

Hilton Cleveland Downtown, Nov. 16-17, 2016

FROM THE CHAIRWOMANOfficersChairwoman

Maryrose Sylvester President & CEO GE Lighting

President & CEO Current, Powered by GE

Vice ChairmanMichael Pessina Co-CEO & President Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.

TreasurerDavid G. Nord Chairman, President & CEO Hubbell Incorporated

Immediate Past ChairmanDon Hendler President & CEO Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.

President & CEOKevin J. Cosgriff

SecretaryClark R. Silcox

In the January issue of ei magazine, NEMA President and CEO Kevin Cosgriff posited three questions for membership to consider:

• Who are we now?

• What do we believe?

• Where should our industry be in 10 years?

I am pleased to offer some thoughts. But first, let me say it is my honor to succeed Don Hendler as Chair of the NEMA Board of Governors for 2016—our 90th year and a pivotal one for our industry.

As the world changes, and our industry with it, NEMA will by necessity evolve to keep apace. The Internet of Things (IoT) and the connectivity of consumer, commercial, industrial, and medical devices are good examples. Whereas in the past we have been the industry that made the components that generated, delivered, controlled, and protected electricity, now and in the future we add “connected” to that list of attributes. This is no small change, but it is one we must embrace wholeheartedly in order to grow as an industry.

This issue of ei is devoted to lighting, and in some respects it shows how the IoT is transforming this space. Each of the articles has unique insights, but they all rest on the genius of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Be it to revolutionized shopping (“Illuminating the In-Store Experience,” page 30) or sports viewing (“Shedding Light on Advanced LED Sport Lighting Technology,” page 32), the world is transforming before our eyes. It is the new face of lighting.

As we have done throughout our entire history, NEMA will continue to collaborate across all sectors to develop the shared knowledge necessary to advance our interests and those of our customers. We will deliberately move in the direction of systems standards to complement ongoing product-based ones. The convergence of digital and physical equipment allows for systems fortified with sensors, controls, and transmitters that capture data and communicate with other devices to facilitate living and working in new ways.

We believe in the future and our industry’s place in it. We embrace the notion that we have the presence, power, potential, and imperative to enact meaningful change for the betterment of our society.

As we reflect on the many accomplishments of our industry over the last near-century, we esteem the innovators and leaders who have enabled us to take the electroindustry (and our medical imaging partners) to the next level. We must be the group that drives change in the electrical world. This will require innovation at all levels, by companies big and small, component makers, and systems integrators. The same spirit and drive that literally electrified the world in the past is ours to build on.

Where do we wish NEMA to be—members and staff alike—in the coming years? Simply stated: out in front, adding value to our industry and our way of life. That will be our legacy when NEMA turns 100. ei

Maryrose Sylvester Chairwoman NEMA Board of Governors

NEMA electroindustry • February 2016 5

The transformation towards the Internet of Things (IoT) and a connected future is happening at an accelerated rate. As we see an increase in the adaption of smart lighting

systems, we are also seeing a dramatic change in products, business models, and the industry as a whole. This has had a direct impact on the innovation, standardization, and regulation cycle, creating new challenges in generating effective standards that are necessary to support design efficiency and cost effectiveness yet still give the industry freedom to innovate.

Traditionally, standards and regulations (S&R) activities have focused on established lighting technologies (e.g., incandescent/halogen, fluorescent, and high-intensity discharge lamps and ballasts), which have benefitted from strong standards that were developed over decades. These standards first addressed safety and later expanded to focus on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction. With a solid framework of standards and norms in place, regulators have and continue to focus on performance metrics and levels without worrying about how parameters are measured and defined.

Through the years, NEMA has led successful cycles of revising performance standards for established technologies and continues to address rulemaking issues involving several mature products. These products still account for significant business and finance innovation even though the applicable product standards have been in place for many years.

Ű Driving Innovation in an Accelerating MarketAmy Huntington, President, Market Group Americas for Philips Lighting.

However, the last 10 years have seen a significant intensification of S&R activity. With the fairly recent introduction of LED-based lighting technologies, which offer the promise of massive energy-saving benefits, newer and heavier regulations are being introduced much faster than before and almost immediately after new standards are put in place.

Within this new reality, standards still need to be thorough and comprehensive without hindering industry advancement and innovation. This is highlighted with the impending California Title 20 regulations for LED lamps and the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® V2.0 for both lamps and luminaires. For the new category of smart products, standby power requirements have already been regulated, which can ultimately stifle innovation in this area.

For the new category of smart

products, standby power

requirements have already been

regulated, which can ultimately

stifle innovation in this area.

Now, with newer innovations in areas such as intelligent lighting systems and services focused on human-centric lighting, performance-based metrics, and overall system efficiency, we can expect even more regulations to be rolled out at an even quicker pace. Currently, the Design Lights Consortium is working diligently to create a networked lighting controls specification even as it recognizes that all required standards are not in place yet.

Never has there been a greater sense of urgency to develop effective standards. Yet given the rush to regulation, there are numerous risks that can impact future innovation, including unforeseen consequences and loopholes and unenforceable requirements.

PreParing for futureTo avoid these risks, it is critical that NEMA and the industry at large work together to better prepare for increased regulatory activity and protect the industry so that it can continue to grow and prosper. This work will require

• better understanding and further educating customers about proposed regulations, including potential benefits and unintended consequences;

• actively engaging with policymakers by providing comments on proposed regulations and standards; and

• stimulating further industry participation by encouraging non-members to join NEMA and help shape the industry response.

With the rapid transformation taking place in our industry, the role played by the inter-company S&R teams coordinated and led by NEMA is crucial to the success and wellbeing of the electrical industry.

The next 10 years hold huge potential for the lighting industry but will require extensive industry participation and collaboration to adjust to the dynamic industry. ei

Watch Amy Huntington discuss connected lighting systems and services at

www.nema.org/Insight-Amy-Huntington

6 NEMA electroindustry • February 2016

Views

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Shortly before leaving for an extended holiday recess, Congress passed legislation suspending the 2.3percent medical device tax for 2016 and 2017. Repealing the medical device tax is MITA’s #1 legislative priority. The two-year moratorium was included in a bipartisan budget package that funds the government and extends several popular tax breaks. The agreement came several months after the House of Representatives passed legislation to permanently repeal the device tax with record-breaking bipartisan support.

Since the law’s inception, MITA has aggressively led efforts with other stakeholders to permanently eliminate the tax, successfully arguing that the device tax harms jobs and the economy and stifles innovation by slowing the pace of research and development. In addition, industries subjected to an excise tax in the Affordable Care Act were thought to be able to make up the costs through volume, but that has not been the case for the medical imaging industry.

While MITA members and staff have participated in a campaign to permanently repeal the tax for years, they intensified efforts as the budget package came together late in 2015. Part of MITA’s strategy included frequent

meetings with congressional members and staff, the launch of an extensive advocacy campaign through social and traditional media, and engaging “grass-tops,” mobilizing stakeholders and organizations in key targeted states.

MITA’s Board of Directors also held three Capitol Hill fly-in days in 2015 to share with lawmakers the device tax’s negative impact on jobs, innovation, and its effect on patients. The collective strategy led to the two-year delay.

Although the tax has not been permanently blocked, a two-year suspension is seen as a positive first step toward full repeal. As Congress enters an election year, making the two-year moratorium permanent remains MITA’s top legislative priority. The progress made on this issue has been due to the strong advocacy of MITA members. It is critical that MITA members continue to stay engaged as the push for full repeal continues. ei

Andy Dhokai, Director of Federal Relations, MITA |

[email protected]

Ű Congress Suspends Device Tax, MITA Continues Push for Permanent Repeal

MITA members organized a fly-in meeting on December 10, 2015 to voice support for repeal of the device tax. Seen in the halls of Congress are (from left) Eleanor Kerr, Siemens Healthcare; Paul Biggins, Toshiba; Sheldon Schaffer, Hitachi; Joe Robinson, Philips; Val Veitengruber, Sonosite; Dave Shoultz, Philips; and Michael Wendt, Siemens Healthcare.

Flanking Congressman David Joyce (R-OH) during the December 10, 2015 fly-in are Michael Wendt, Siemens Healthcare (left) and Sheldon Schaffer, Hitachi. Photos by Cassie Ricci.


Government Relations Update

Pekka Hakkarainen, vice president of Lutron Electronics, testified in January before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power on behalf of NEMA and the lighting industry regarding the EPS Improvement Act. The industry advocates that Congress fix the external power supply (EPS) rulemaking, which affects solid-state lighting (SSL) drivers.

The hearing was another forward step in the process begun in May 2015 to resolve this issue before the new EPS standards go into effect on February 10, 2016. This bill fixes the issue by excluding SSL drivers from the EPS energy standards and preventing solid-state drivers from being included in other wide-ranging rulemakings

The bill was offered by Representatives Charlie Dent (R-PA), Dianne DeGette (D-CO), Renee Ellmers (R-NC), Doris Matsui (D-CO), and Mike Pompeo (R-KS) as a standalone bill for consideration. They offered identical language as an amendment to the House energy package in December.

The same bill is slated to be introduced in the Senate as a companion piece of legislation.

NEMA has been working with energy efficiency advocates on this issue. Jennifer Amann, of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), testified at the hearing in support of the bill, saying, “The provision in the bill explicitly granting [the Department of Energy] authority to set future standards on these products

is critical to ACEEE’s support for the bill. Absent passage of this technical correction, manufacturers would be at risk of selling LED lighting products that cannot be shown to meet the standard.”

Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) added, “The Obama administration’s Department of Energy has enacted 34 energy conservation standards since 2009. Many of these standards are not perfect and contain flaws that need to be corrected. I thank my colleagues Renee Ellmers and Diana DeGette for their draft bill that would address this issue and benefit both the manufacturers and users of these products.”

NEMA staff and members will continue working with stakeholders and our supporters in Congress to resolve this issue. ei

Joseph Eaves, Director, Government Relations, NEMA |

[email protected]

Ű Testimony on EPS Improvement Act Addresses SSL Drivers

Pekka Hakkarainen (left), Lutron, represented NEMA and the lighting industry in testimony before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, which is chaired by Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY). Photo by Joseph Eaves

Jennifer Amann (left), ACEEE,, and Pekka Hakkarainen, Lutron, testified that Congress needs to correct the external power supply rulemaking, which affects solid-state lighting drivers. Photo by Rebecca Card


NEMA expects the Department of Energy (DOE) to conclude the General Service Lamps (GSL) rulemaking this year and lay out a path for light-emitting diode (LED) lamp innovation through 2020, in addition to moving other rulemakings farther along. We anticipate implementing new specifications for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® lamps and luminaires and developing program guidance for ENERGY STAR distribution transformers.

In California, we look forward to beginning the revision cycle for the California Building Efficiency Regulations (Title 24) with an open, collaborative approach involving industry and utility stakeholders and the California Energy Commission (CEC).

u.S. DePartment of energy

The DOE issued a number of milestone rulemaking documents and other documents of interest in 2015. These include several related to the rulemaking for GSL, related to updates to test procedures and reviews of data gathered to date about the performance and potential of the many lamp types being investigated.

By February 1, the DOE is expected to have published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) for minimum

energy conservation standards for GSL. In support of this NOPR, the DOE has been working to update test procedures for LED lamps and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), in addition to reviewing standards for fluorescent ballasts and reviving the rulemaking for battery chargers.

It was interesting to see the DOE remove uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) from the scope of the battery charger test procedure, ostensibly to bring them in the scope of another rulemaking for computer systems. NEMA noted that the CEC references DOE’s previous test procedure in standards for UPS, and we pledged to assist the agency in resolving any gaps that might result from the changes.

In December 2015, the DOE finalized its decision not to set energy standards for high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. This event is the first of its kind, as these decisions have typically been made early in the process; the HID rulemakings for test procedures and energy standards were well underway, and significant resources had already been expended. Though some may criticize the DOE for its negative determination in view of the resources and time invested, this was a very positive outcome. The analysis concluded that standards were not technically feasible or economically justified in this case, and the DOE was therefore obliged to decline to establish standards.

NEMA and its members congratulate the DOE on its decision. Fundamentally, gains across the class were largely impossible due to potentially onerous design, testing, and reporting burdens and unrelated market erosion from solid-state lighting (SSL) products. Throughout the process, NEMA stressed technical challenges, arguing that there was little to gain from upgrading an obsolescing technology.

energy StarENERGY STAR saw significant activity in 2015 for NEMA member products. In lighting, performance specifications for luminaires and lamps were updated. NEMA is pleased that these updates took place with strong stakeholder involvement by the EPA and with several meetings and interactive webinars. The proactive involvement encouraged by the EPA early in the process made the updates quicker and cleaner.

As the draft specification evolved for ENERGY STAR lamps, there were some areas of performance the EPA decided to relax rather than tighten. For example, power factor and minimum lifetime were reduced because of information submitted by utility partners indicating that these are not strong consumer satisfaction drivers. There is market evidence that relatively lower power factor and shorter lifetime allows for less-expensive products, which in turn drives increased adoption. Initial cost remains one of the most significant adoption barriers.

Some might criticize the EPA for this decision, but given that some utilities had walked away from ENERGY STAR to rebate lamps that did not qualify

Ű Regulatory Updates for NEMA Products Foretell 2016 Activities



for Version 1.1, the EPA had to decide whether to increase stringency or relax some parameters. The EPA did elevate existing requirements in several areas, almost eliminating CFLs from the program. This decision reflected market factors and careful consideration of the program’s overall focus and opportunity for impact.

NEMA was actively engaged in exploring the potential of the emerging ENERGY STAR distribution transformers program. At the core of the discussion is the fact that transformer efficiency varies not only as a result of its construction and materials used but also in terms of field conditions. Making sure a transformer is matched to the needs of the customer and grid is critical.

The fact that a product bears the ENERGY STAR mark is not a guarantee of energy savings or optimum performance if the selection process does not involve appropriate use factors. The program being explored seeks to consider total ownership cost, which takes into account field conditions and individual customer needs, instead of providing a list-based selection process.

California energy CommiSSionThe CEC pursued several updates to the California Appliance Efficiency Regulations (Title 20) in 2015. New efficiency regulations for electronic fluorescent dimming ballasts were adopted, and late in the year the CEC proposed ambitious requirements for LED and small diameter lamps. These requirements are very strict, putting some categories in danger of elimination.

NEMA worked over the past two years to educate and influence stakeholders and the CEC in the science behind LEDs and to help them understand the interplay of performance parameters. NEMA submitted dozens of pages of technical comments over the update

process and is still working with CEC staff to clarify the delicate interplay of the parameters proposed for regulation. The core challenge is that LED technology is still developing, and the right answer is not always clear when contrasting an emerging technology with a well-established one. Because the CEC has elected to set aggressive minimum standards early in the lifetime of the LED lamps market, stakes are high in terms of balancing product performance, consumer acceptance, and market factors.

Part of the challenge lies in the well-established regulatory models being applied, where product performance and price trends are examined for trends and then requirements are set at the upper limits of those trends (or lower limits if

one is addressing cost). The problem with this model is that the data sets are small because the product is new.

Without comprehensive data sets, it is easy to err in estimating future performance and market impacts of regulations. Setting aggressive requirements on an emerging product can stifle innovation and steer products down a development path that leads to dead ends. It is NEMA’s goal to influence the CEC to set more moderate requirements that weed out poor performers while allowing for wider consumer choice and opportunities for competition. ei

Alex Boesenberg, Manager, Government Relations, NEMA |

[email protected]

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On Monday, January 25, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has the authority to regulate demand response—that is, pay consumers to use less electricity during times of peak demand—in wholesale energy markets.

Throughout the proceedings, NEMA has supported FERC’s authority to regulate demand response in wholesale markets, which should reduce electricity demand during peak hours, reduce wholesale electricity prices, reduce strain on the electric grid, and potentially reduce instances of brownouts and blackouts.

Justice Elena Kagan authored the majority opinion and was joined by five other members of the Court in overturning a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that held that FERC

As the U.S. Senate scheduled debate on an energy bill that includes many important provisions for the electroindustry, NEMA encourages members and others in the industry to take action and contact their senators to urge them to support S 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act.

In recent comments to the California Energy Commission (CEC) on behalf of Lighting Division member companies, NEMA urged commissioners not to adopt language related to proposed amendments to the Appliance Efficiency Regulations relating to certain General Service LED (light-emitting diode) lamps, including omnidirectional LED lamps, directional LED lamps, and small diameter lamps.

had infringed on the authority of states to regulate retail electricity rates. Justices Scalia and Thomas dissented.

The Supreme Court’s decision made two important determinations:

• FERC has the authority to regulate demand response prices in wholesale electricity markets; and

• FERC can compensate providers of demand response at the locational marginal price (the geographically specific and dynamic price paid to wholesale power producers).

According to the decision, FERC has the authority to regulate demand response at the wholesale level under Section 824 of the Federal Power Act; states have the authority to regulate electricity at the retail level. The Supreme Court noted that wholesale and retail markets are inextricably linked, and even though

The legislation contains a number of NEMA-backed provisions that would benefit a broad range of association members in two main categories: Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Transmission, Distribution, and Storage.

NEMA’s position is available at www.nema.org/Energy-Policy-Modernization-Act. To contact a senator

NEMA’s position is that the proposed changes to Title 20 are based on poorly analyzed data of the emerging LED lamp market. The language promotes unrealistically high color rendering index (CRI) requirements for R8, which effectively forces manufacturers to supply nominal CRI 90 products to the market instead of the CRI 82 specification elsewhere in CEC’s proposal.

FERC actions at the wholesale level may impact a retail market, that does not prohibit FERC from taking actions that are solely aimed at wholesale markets. The decision noted that “transactions that occur on the wholesale market have natural consequences at the retail level. And so too, of necessity, will FERC’s regulation of those wholesale matters.”

In addition, the Supreme Court decided that the level at which FERC determined that demand response should be compensated was not “arbitrary and capricious,” as some opponents had argued.

More information is available on the NEMA Currents blog at blog.nema.org. ei

Patrick Hughes, Senior Director, Government Relations and

Strategic Initiatives, NEMA | [email protected]

through NEMA’s online system, visit www.nema.org/Support-the-Energy-Policy-Modernization-Act or call the Senate at 202-224-3121. ei

Kyle Pitsor, Vice President of Government Relations, NEMA |

[email protected]

NEMA’s comments are available at www.nema.org/Language-LED-and-Small-Dia-Lamps. ei

Alex Boesenberg, Manager, Government Relations, NEMA

| [email protected]

Ű U.S. Supreme Court Affirms FERC Role in Demand Response

Ű Contact Your Senators: Senate to Begin Debate on Energy Policy Modernization Act

Ű NEMA Opposes Language Related to California Appliance Efficiency Regulations



http://www.nema.org/Energy-Policy-Modernization-Act

http://www.nema.org/Energy-Policy-Modernization-Act

http://www.blog.nema.org

http://www.nema.org/Support-the-Energy-Policy-Modernization-Act

http://www.nema.org/Support-the-Energy-Policy-Modernization-Act

http://www.nema.org/Language-LED-and-Small-Dia-Lamps

http://www.nema.org/Language-LED-and-Small-Dia-Lamps

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The lighting industry has progressed further in the past decade than in the preceding century, and that progress is accelerating. Futurist Ray Kurzweil projects that nanobots will connect our neocortex to the cloud in about 15 years. Before this game-changer arrives and before we discuss new solid-state illumination, cybersecurity, nanotechnology, architectural laser lights, graphene light sources, and exponential growth curves, we should begin with the end in mind. That will allow us to focus on the time between today and the day lighting is integrated into the electrical infrastructure of buildings and applications, before our brain activity controls lighting that is self-learning and adaptable for our health needs and personal preferences.

Acceleration is relative. When everything is moving in the same direction, as the spinning earth reveals, our perspective is skewed and we may not accurately sense the velocity. Many of the industries adjacent to lighting are also changing, and our lighting community is poised to converge with them and expand beyond current business intersections.

Companies that have survived or flourished in a reactive mode, intentionally just behind the bleeding edge to minimize risk (and save on research and development), may be out of business already and just not know it yet. Risk increases if one drives too slowly on an expressway; similarly, as speed limits are removed, our lighting Autobahn becomes less regulated and faces enhanced danger from the opposite extreme. Survival now requires responses faster than last year’s Garmin can deliver.

As our world grows more connected, it expands the lighting universe. Globalization is accelerating, and lighting products are increasingly

connecting to other trades, forcing us to learn about industries previously peripheral or unrelated to lighting.

Apps unite lighting with HVAC, door locks, thermostats, smoke alarms, window treatments, coffee pots, cameras, sensors, and more. Lighting has expanded to include features such as changing colors, timers, sensors that detect movement, blinking to alert us to phone calls, syncing to music, video surveillance, data collection, Wi-Fi, and much more.

Complexity increases as the lighting community expands. It becomes more difficult to comprehend the overwhelming amount of new information, especially as it relates to compatibility and interconnectedness. Lighting professionals are having a difficult time staying ahead of the rapid shift to solid-state. If the professionals are struggling, imagine the effect on consumers.

Adding by SubtractingThe industry must look to add value by simplifying the changes; understanding and distilling the new lighting world will be a positive differentiator. Educating ourselves—and educating selectively based on customer needs—will pay dividends. Learning is always important, but in times of change it is elevated to a critical level. Many of our customers understand legacy technology, but that foundation is of little use as electronics companies increasingly provide digital light sources, luminaires, and controls.

Fight or Flight:

Facing the Expanding Universe of Lighting

mark lien lC, CleP, ClmC, HBDP, leeD BD&C, Director, government & industry relations, osram Sylvania


Now, however, it is difficult to track the rate of change and to project those changes. Current projections for the cost of an LED replacement for a 60-watt lamp put it around $11 each, dropping to $4 by 2020. On the most recent Black Friday, LED replacements were featured at a large home-center chain for 99 cents, with everyday pricing at $1.99. The projections were linear, but the costs decreased exponentially.

The electronics world has exponential growth algorithms in its DNA. Moore’s law proposed in 1965 that the density of transistors in an integrated circuit doubles every year. In 1975, the law was revised to every two years, which has held true since. It is expected to slow in 2020, when the paradigm shifts to 3D circuits, which will then continue the biennial exponential growth pattern.

Complexity increases as our lighting community expands.

Consider that 10 years ago we had 500 million internet-connected devices; today, we have 8 billion; and we are expected to have 50 billion by 2025 and one trillion by 2035. Information enables our world, and we are merely one percent down this road. We need to adjust our intuition based on this large-scale reality.

The U.S. Department of Energy predicts that, by 2020, LED outdoor lighting will account for 75 percent of the installed base; interior lighting will account for 48 percent. This is up from 10 and three percent, respectively, at the close of 2014.

As our world grows more connected, the lighting universe is expanding rapidly. We are moving beyond borders established over the past century into uncharted territory. We can plot a trajectory, but we need to change from the business models that made us successful to those that have helped electronics and IT companies thrive amid change at an exponential rate.

If you have not started down this path, it may be too late. If you have, fight complacency, stay alert, and watch with vigilance! ei

Mr. Lien has served on the Board of Directors of the Illuminating Engineering Society. He is a member of multiple IES, NEMA, ALA, and ASHRAE committees and serves as chair of the NEMA Light Source Section Committee and vice chair of the National Lighting Bureau.

Fight, Not FlightOur reaction to the fear evoked by this dangerous pace can result in either paralysis or adrenaline. With massive change occurring all around us, paralysis is not a viable option for survival.

This is not a wake-up call—that should already have happened. Success requires faster response, which involves learned skill, experience, and risk. Our intuition is based on an increasingly irrelevant past and can no longer be trusted without modification, if not a complete reset.

Our response to the roar of change around us can be fight or flight. We can get out now and try to minimize the consequence, or we can charge into unfamiliar territory, trusting our instincts and our team. In this new terrain, size may prove an impediment rather than a security advantage.

Our companies have evolved to manage scarcity. Ownership worked well for scarcity, but accessing or sharing works better in an information-based world. While the information-based world is moving exponentially faster, our organizational structures are still very linear. Any company designed for success in the 20th century is doomed to fail in the 21st.

The future is non-linear. To understand this, think of photography. It was based on a scarcity model, with a cost per photo (about $1) that encouraged photographers to conserve film and processing. With digital technology, however, the total cost is the same whether the photographer takes five pictures or 500. Even storage has become all but free. With digital photos, consumers have applied facial and image recognition, darkroom techniques, and word processing options like move, cut, and copy. They have become publishers as smaller, high-quality cameras have more affordable. Its future is non-linear.

Growth = Free?What if energy becomes all but free and the scarcity model no longer applies?

The lighting industry moved slowly for more than a century. Plotting trajectories was simple: put a push pin in to mark the lumens per watt (LPW), kilowatt hour (kWh) rate, energy code requirements, or any other measurement, plotted against a timeline. The path could be projected years ahead.

Fascinating FactRichard Foster, PhD, a senior faculty fellow at Yale School of Management, estimates the average lifespan of an S&P500 company has decreased from 67 years in the 1920s to 15 years today, and it will get even shorter with

major players annihilated by a new breed of companies that embrace technologies from groupware, nanotech, and datamining to synthetic biology and robotics.

One firm identified 9,000 crowd-based startups in 25 categories as the social business movement threatens to further disrupt established companies.


ThEExPANDINgUNIvERSEOFLIghTINg

Exhorting the Case for Spectral Freedom

mark e. Duffy, PhD, manager—global industry Standards, ge lighting

specialized spectrums to promote plant growth. Industries relying on color discrimination may benefit from spectrums featuring larger color gamut areas.

The list of applications is nearly endless, and the value of and need for spectral variety is undeniable. The new technologies enable light source manufacturers to design the spectral characteristics and better serve the specific needs of each application.

To realize this potential for spectral tailoring, lighting manufacturers need spectral freedom, which requires restraint from enacting regulatory restrictions on light sources based on their spectrum, due to the wide variation of intended applications requiring different spectral qualities.

Spectral freedom involves a paradigm shift to the evaluation of light-source efficiency in terms of radiated power in the visible range rather than lumens per watt. This article explains the concept of a new approach to light-source efficiency, reflects on the responsibilities associated with spectral freedom, and urges regulatory restraint.

With the transformation of our lighting industry well underway, consumers are beginning to learn what lighting professionals have

known for many years: light sources have color, and it can be important in application.

Globally, as the industry transitions to more efficient lighting for general service, the market is shifting to light source technologies that can be spectrally tailored, such as fluorescent and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Tailoring a spectrum is much more than designing the light source correlated color temperature (CCT) or chromaticity coordinates; it involves detailing every aspect of color perception or characteristics to meet specific application needs.

For example, retail stores may use more saturated colors to illuminate merchandise to attract shoppers. Restaurant owners may seek softer, warmer spectrums to blend with candlelight for a romantic ambience. Eldercare facilities, facing the age-related challenges of its patients, may choose a time-controlled combination of cooler (bluish) and warmer (orange-reddish) light source spectrums to enhance circadian entrainment objectives. Horticultural facilities may use light sources with

A color evaluation booth demonstrates the need for spectral freedom through a side-by-side comparison of otherwise identical collections with different spectral characteristics. Photo courtesy of GE Lighting


A paradigm shift toward measuring all of the visible light (blue, green, yellow, and red) produced by a light source is needed for spectral freedom. The SPD, obtained to determine the luminous flux above, is integrated from 380 nanometers (nm) to 760 nm without any weighting function to calculate the radiant power (W) in the visible region. In other words, the radiant power measures the rate of visible light energy produced by a light source.

This is actually much simpler than the luminous flux to calculate. When the radiant power is divided by the electrical input power consumed by the light source, the resulting quotient is a measure of the actual radiant efficiency for conversion of electrical energy into light. Use of the radiant efficiency for visible light production by a light source is color-neutral, applying equally to traditional and new technologies. As the relatively newer LED technology improves efficient visible light production, the radiant efficiency serves as a spectrally unbiased measure of efficiency.

Shifting toward Measuring All Visible LightSince the CIE (International Commission on Illumination) standardized the photopic luminous efficiency function V(λ) in 1924,1 approximating the response of the human eye to normal light levels, the lumen has been used as a measure of luminous flux. For this discussion, it is important to note that the luminous flux does not measure how much light is emitted by the light source. The use of V(λ) to weight the spectral power distribution (SPD) integration results in a quantity (lumens) that measures the amount of green and yellow light and, to a much lesser extent, red and blue light that is emitted from the light source.

The ratio of lumens to input power (rate of energy consumption) of a light source is called the efficacy, measured in lumens per watt (lm/W). It is a popular misconception that the efficacy of a light source determines its efficiency.

1 Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage proceedings, 1924. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1926

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With Freedom Comes ResponsibilityWith freedom comes responsibility, even for spectral freedom. As noted earlier, spectral or color quality is application-specific. Spectral quality requires a set of ratings for evaluating light sources according to the wide variety of potential applications.

I like to use an analogy with the wine industry: Wine has tremendous variety expressed in many different ways—white or red; sweet or dry; pairs well with seafood, poultry, meat, or dessert. Reading the label on a wine bottle provides insight into the vast creativity of producers to market their wines using descriptive language involving taste, smell, and sight. They use rating systems that are subjective scores assigned by wine critics and used to inform the consumer in the selection process.

Now I have whetted your appetite! Similarly, responsible spectral design and selection must use a variety of objective ratings tailored to inform specific application needs. Every existing or proposed color quality metric uses the SPD as input for the calculation. Each metric differs by the use of one or more weighting functions for the SPD as well as in the complexity of the calculation to reduce many integration quantities into a single valued metric.

These weighting functions are sometimes called action spectra to describe the effectiveness of light at each wavelength to produce the desired effect. Luminous flux remains a valuable metric that uses V(λ) as the action spectrum. Horticulture applications may use chlorophyll absorption action spectra to promote plant growth. Circadian applications rely on the melatonin suppression action spectrum of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC).2 The CIE color rendering index (CIE Ra)

3 uses the average of eight test-color (action spectra) samples.

Color saturation and discrimination metrics use gamut areas derived from the chromaticity appearance of multiple color samples, each with a specific reflection spectrum. Finally, color preference indexes that combine effects of enhanced saturation, minimal hue distortion, and color appearance are also proposed.4

The effort by industry experts to transform metrics along with the technology is vital to responsible use of spectral freedom. A system that uses action spectrum ratings as a measure of the spectral value for each application could be considered. Such a rating system would need to be developed that provides a simple means for users and designers to select light sources suitable for each application. Each light source could receive ratings according to suitable applications in order to avoid misapplication.

Exercising RestraintSpectral freedom can be hampered by well-intended regulations aimed at optimizing one or more of the spectral metrics. Although regulations have the clear intent of improving light source efficiency and color quality—both noble goals—they carry unintended consequences.

Existing regulatory requirements based on light source efficacy (i.e., lumens per watt) have the unintended consequence of restricting spectral freedom by rewarding greenish spectra and penalizing broader, more natural, saturated, or preferred spectra. The use of luminous efficacy instead of radiant efficiency of visible light in regulations has a subtle, indirect influence on spectral design away from viewer preference in general service applications.

As creative experts in the lighting industry develop more efficient light sources, the next round of energy regulations has the opportunity to provide spectral freedom by changing the paradigm from luminous efficacy to radiant efficiency.

Potential regulatory restrictions based on color metrics will directly interfere with spectral freedom. These restrictions include color rendering (Ra), the red color rendering index (R9), gamut area, and action spectra metrics for specific general service or specialty applications.

Each of these metrics is intended to provide specific information about a spectral characteristic for proper use in a relevant application. They are under considerable revision as the part of the lighting industry’s technology transformation.

The academic community is rapidly building the base of knowledge for human vision and lighting-related science. Innovative metrics that both refine existing spectral metrics and address new application areas will be developed. Regulatory restraint requires regional authorities worldwide to refrain from attempting to improve the color quality of lighting products by setting regulations that oversimplify a very complex science.

The challenge of shifting the paradigm for the electric lighting industry, now well over a century old, is obviously great, but now is the time for spectral freedom! ei

Mr. Duffy serves USNC as Head of Delegation and Technical Advisor for IEC/TC34 and SC34A and chairs the NEMA Light Source Section Technical Committee.

2 Illuminating Engineering Society, IES TM-18-08 Light and Human Health: An Overview of the Impact of Light on Visual, Circadian, Neuroendocrine and Neurobehavioral Response, 2008

3 Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage, Method of Measuring and Specifying Colour Rendering Properties of Light Sources. CIE Publication 13.3, Vienna: CIE 13.3, 1995

4 Vick K. and Allen G., “Quantifying Consumer Lighting Preference,” Proceedings of the 14th International Symposium on the Science and Technology of Light Sources, Landmark Paper LP93, Como, Italy, 2014

continued on page 15


light at less than one-tenth the cost per lumen of their higher-power predecessors in 2008.

As the cost of these emitters plummeted, manufacturers leveraged lean manufacturing techniques that afforded them the opportunity to place hundreds of these emitters in a luminaire in a cost-effective manner.

The impact was immediate.

Lower-thermal density meant standard glass-reinforced, epoxy-laminated circuit boards could be used instead of more expensive aluminum-clad printed circuit boards. With the emitters packed tightly together, the LED light source more closely emulated a fluorescent tube, eliminating pixilation. This meant more efficient diffusers could be used, maximizing efficacy while still delivering a smooth, low-glare appearance. Higher overall efficacy also meant that the total power level fell so much that standard-formed sheet-metal housing was all that a heatsink required, eliminating the need for more expensive extruded or die-cast heatsinks.

The end result? The cost of LED products plummeted. They are approaching pricing parity with the outdated fluorescent products.

The next time you open up an LED product and see hundreds of mid-power emitters, you might be tempted to think, “Wow, that looks expensive.” On the contrary, all those emitters actually reduced the cost of the product. ei

As the primary resource for LED-related information in the Hubbell Lighting Solutions Center, Mr. Venhause is responsible for identifying trends and concepts related to LED technology and sharing that information with customers.

Several challenges—performance, light quality, and initial cost —have prevented the wholesale adoption of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in

lighting, whether the application is a retrofit or new installation.

The performance part of the puzzle has been pretty much won by LEDs, with fixture efficacies exceeding even the best incumbent technologies by a minimum of 25 percent and in some cases more than doubling the efficacy of luminaires. Light quality also continues to improve.

The most exciting development is the rapid decrease in initial costs. Over the last five years, many of the more common applications like high bays and troffers saw massive price decreases, some by as much as 75 percent.

The evolution in the emitter package, particularly mid-power LEDs, specifically drove this decrease. If we rewind to 2008-2010, we see tremendous effort in one- to three-watt emitter packages. The effort was mostly focused on efficacy and extracting as many lumens from a single emitter package as possible. While this led to some impressive gains in performance, it did so almost to the point of becoming problematic in certain applications.

How so? In an outdoor application, where an individual beam-forming optic is placed over each emitter, the evolution was a luminaire designer’s dream. Suddenly, hundreds of lumens were available from a single-point source that, when paired with an optic, made a potent combination.

But in an indoor application, where reduced glare and a smooth-lit appearance was premium, this became a drawback. Suddenly only eight or 10 emitters were needed to make a 3,000-lumen 2×2 troffer. This put too few emitters too far apart behind the typical diffuser to allow for smooth delivery of light, leading to a “lumpy,” spotty, or pixilated appearance.

The fix was to put a less efficient diffuser over the emitters, killing of all those precious gains in efficacy, or using more emitters than required, driving up cost.

Enter the mid-power emitter.

Smaller, low-power emitters were gaining traction in television and other backlight units around this time. These emitters paved the way for the current generation of mid-power emitters that run at lower power levels (typically ¼ to ½ watt) yet still make substantial amounts of light. Today, these emitters deliver

Small-Package, Mid-Power LEDs Enable Big Changes

David Venhaus, Senior Solutions Specialist, Hubbell lighting

Mid-power emitters drive down the costs of LED products. Photo courtesy of Hubbell Lighting



The solid-state lighting market is presently dominated by inorganic light-emitting diodes (LEDs). LEDs have high efficacy and long lifespans and

have nearly reached cost parity with traditional forms of lighting.

A relatively new technology has recently entered the commercial sector, though, which has the potential to expand lighting applications in many of the target lighting markets. Invented in the late 1980s, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are flat light panels. They are “organic” in that the key functional materials are composed of organic compounds—complex carbon-containing molecules.

The OLED DifferenceOLEDs and LEDs are similar in that they are semiconductor light sources. Both are dimmable, and when they are switched on electrons are able to recombine with holes and release energy in the form of photons. Neither luminaire contains mercury or other hazardous materials.

This, however, is where the similarities end.

LEDs each come in a tiny chip. They pack a lot of lumens into a focused point source. As such, they can be easily controlled optically. However, because of their intense brightness, they need to be kept away from direct view to prevent intense glare. For this reason, diffusers, lenses, or reflectors are used as shielding. In addition, heat is generated from a very small region, which leads to high temperature and the need for thermal management and heat sinking.

OLEDs, on the other hand, have diffused area sources, creating light that is calm, soft, and comfortable to view. Their ultra-slim form offers excellent visual light quality. OLED panels are available in various shapes: circular, square, rectangular, and others. Moreover, OLED panels can be made flexible. With OLEDs, heat is dissipated though the entire light-emitting area, so they are cool to the touch.

OLED efficacy has advanced tremendously in the last four years. A high-CRI (color rendering index) OLED panel of 90 is approximately 80 lumens per watt, and a nominal-CRI OLED panel of 82 is around 100 lumens per watt. As for LEDs, the best chip efficacy of a high-CRI LED with a junction temperature of 25ºC is about 120 lumens per watt. A nominal-CRI LED is currently approximately 160 lumens per watt.

While these comparisons are useful benchmarks, relative performance must be considered on the basis of luminaire

efficiency. Overall luminaire efficiency depends on driver and electronic efficiency and light loss due to thermal and optical factors. For LEDs, the U.S. Department of Energy reports that there is a 12-percent light loss due to junction temperature increase and another 11-percent loss due to optics. With OLEDs, however, there are no additional efficiency losses to consider, as confirmed by the same report. From here, it can be seen that the efficiency of OLEDs comes sufficiently close to that of LEDs for most lighting applications, and their efficacy is expected to continually increase at a fast pace.

OLEDs: The Other Solid-State Lighting Technology

Peter y. ngai, Pe, lC, fieS, Vice President of oleD lighting, acuity Brands lighting

Artwork courtesy of Acuity Brands Lighting


As a direct consequence of design freedom, traditional open-space ambient lighting requires that luminaires be laid out in regimented grid-like patterns, such as 10 feet by 10 feet or 8 feet by 8 feet, for visual uniformity. With OLEDs, lighting panels can be regarded as light tiles, which may be arranged in multiples in any form and shape. This gives a designer complete freedom to create lighting layouts as envisioned by the design intent.

Design freedom offers another advantage of OLED lighting in the form of application efficiency. Energy-efficient lighting can be achieved not only by efficient light source alone but also by delivering the right amount of light where it is needed. Without the restriction of regimented grid-like layouts, OLEDs can place light at points where it is needed most, providing tailored lighting delivery. So, for instance, more OLED panels can be placed for high workspace illumination, while in-between walk space would have fewer panels for lower illumination.

A recent development in OLED lighting is to integrate a LED into an OLED luminaire. A good example is in the application of a pendant direct-indirect lighting system. Harvesting the strength of an LED creates a highly effective, widespread distribution of light for the indirect component, while allowing the OLED to deliver to occupants a soft and comfortable light. This hybrid approach also brings the overall efficiency and cost of the lighting system close to that of a pure LED but with the added benefits of an OLED.

Time to ShineWhile OLEDs are still more expensive than LEDs, their costs are coming down precipitously. This is similar to what LEDs experienced a couple years ago. In fact, there are already OLED luminaires in the marketplace that have price points close to that of their LED counterparts—a trend that is expected to continue in the foreseeable future.

OLED technology is still in a fast development stage, with exciting advancements expected to reach its ultimate potential. The lighting industry foresees brighter, larger, better-colored, more efficacious, and even longer-lasting panels. Color-tunable and flexible OLED panels are also on the horizon. Farther out, it will be possible to have transparent OLEDs. Basically, the OLED panel will be a light source when lit; when not energized, the panel will be see-through and may be used as a window or skylight.

From an application standpoint, OLEDs will soon be integrated into walls, ceilings, furniture, and appliances. It is even conceivable that OLEDs will be woven into fabrics or carpets. So, while there is no question that the future of OLED is bright, there’s no time like the present to let OLEDs shine.

ei

Mr. Ngai, a pioneer in OLED lighting, is a nationally recognized authority on lighting technology and luminaire design,

OLEDs Calm, OLEDs BrightOne of the most obvious OLED lighting applications is in the areas of sconce, pathway, and decorative lights. For these, the light source itself is celebrated. It provides visual interest and visible information and orientation.

Secondary optics and heat sinks are not required for OLED luminaires. For most sconce and marker light applications, the brightness of the OLED is less than 2,000 candela per square meter (cd/m2). This drastically increases the lifetime of OLEDs to upwards of 100,000 hours, making them suitable for 24-7 operation.

The minimal luminaire thickness makes it especially appropriate for satisfying legislation requirements such as Americans with Disabilities Act. Sconces and marker lights are found in almost every kind of commercial setting, from office buildings and hotels to healthcare facilities and public spaces.

OLED brightness is inherently calm and comfortable. They can be viewed directly at close proximity without glare and are cool to the touch. OLEDs are lightweight and thin and do not require bulky accessories. The combination of these unique features makes them ideal for close-to-user applications.

Taking OLEDs to TaskOne of OLEDs’ prime applications is task lighting. In fact, because OLEDs are an area source with diffused lighting distribution, they can provide an additional layer of volumetric illumination to the immediate space surrounding a task area. The surrounding layer of light created by OLEDs results in a much more pleasant and inviting environment that enhances clarity, dimensionality, and the appearance of space over and beyond what traditional task lighting can offer.

When coupled with low ambient lighting for circulation and safety, this task-surround-ambient lighting system can deliver effective lighting solutions for offices, libraries, and other spaces where superior lighting quality and energy savings are needed.

As an extension to task lighting, the same principle can be applied to countertop lighting for reception areas or nurses’ stations. OLEDs do not emit radiation in the ultraviolet (UV) region, so their shadow-free, warm, and gentle light is suitable for other close-to-user applications, such as mirror, shelf, and display lighting.

One of the most important OLED applications is in general illumination for offices and other commercial and institutional spaces. OLEDs deliver not only adequate illumination for task performance but also the necessary volumetric illumination to satisfy people’s psychological appetite for brightness. At the same time, OLEDs provide a glare-free visual environment.



The main focus of experiments during this time was the makeup of the filament within the bulbs. Incandescent bulbs work by heating the filament with an electrical current. When the filament gets hot enough, it produces the light you see. By varying the makeup of this filament, scientists found different colors, intensities, and lifespans that were significantly dependent on the type of filament used.

Early in the life of the filament bulb, the filament was made of carbon. Mr. Edison even used a bamboo filament to achieve a substantial increase in the lamp’s lifetime. Ultimately, the industry saw huge gains in efficiency and quality with the use of modern tungsten filament in 1904. Though Mr. Edison might not have built the first light-producing source, the steps that he made to improve the bulb were momentous. From the Edison screw base for lamps to better manufacturing processes, Mr. Edison was truly the father of the incandescent bulb.

Though incandescent bulbs were novel and eventually found their way into the commercial market, inefficiency and rising energy costs soon led to the development and commercialization of the modern fluorescent bulb.

When Thomas Edison filed his patent for the incandescent bulb in 1879, his was far from the first or only designer. Similarly, when energy

crises demanded the development of the modern compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), it was not the first or only design of its kind. Light-emitting diode (LED) technology got its rise in the semi-conductor industry and is only recently seeing widespread commercial availability. Fueled by energy costs and availability, the lighting industry has been forced to evolve quickly over the

last 150 years.

Filaments Yield to FlorescentThe first arc lamp was shown to be capable of

producing constant light in 1835. It took more than 40 years for Thomas Edison to file a patent on the incandescent lamp. In the interim, scientists were feverishly trying to make filament bulbs cost-effective

and longer-lasting.

Roots of Modern Light Bulb Set Precedents for Innovation

Paul rodriguez, Program manager, nema

1879 Thomas Edison

files patent for the incandescent bulb

1900 Discharge lamps gain popularity

1802 Sir Humphry Davy demonstrates the phenomenon of electric arc

1904 Tungsten filament demonstrates

efficiency and quality

1962 LEDs are used in

limited applications

1990 Invention of blue LEDs leads to more commercial applications

2016 Retail giant Ikea announces it will

sell only LED-based lighting products

1835 First arc

lamp produces constant light


LEDs existed as early as the 1960s but were used in very limited applications. After the invention of blue LEDs in the 1990s, it was a short step to more commercial applications. Scientists again used phosphors to change the light color to something more consumer-friendly. A global focus on energy efficiency and conservation has put LEDs firmly in the lighting arena. LEDs account for a sixth of the energy used for lighting in the U.S. and are rapidly expanding into commercial and residential use.

As we reach new levels of energy efficiency with modern bulbs, scientists are hard-pressed to achieve further efficiency from the bulbs themselves. Using high-performance bulbs such as modern LEDs in tandem with controls such as occupancy and photo sensors compounds the benefits from both.

We can expect to see the next big innovation in lighting come from the interfacing of these lamps and controls. ei

Mr. Rodriguez ([email protected]) works in the renewables and energy efficiency arena. He manages NEMA‘s High Performance Building and Daylight Management councils.

Fluorescent bulbs found their start in the invention of discharge lamps (lamps that work by passing an electrical current through a gaseous chamber).

Sir Humphry Davy demonstrated the phenomenon of electric arc in 1802. Discharge lamps were being studied as early as the late 19th century, but they did not gain popularity until scientists found that the introduction of different gases into the tubes could create different light.

The most notable of these gases is mercury, which was found to create a blueish-green light. Later, scientists found that they could use phosphors to manipulate the color of the light coming from the tube. These lamps were now giving off pleasant light colors while using a quarter of the light of incandescent bulbs. They also lasted ten times longer than their incandescent predecessors.

Ceding Future to LEDsIn recent years, fluorescent lighting has grudgingly yielded ground to LED technology.



minimizing configuration complexity, agreeing on how to achieve interoperability between devices and systems that need to be able to share usable data, and realizing the ability to measure and report key performance metrics such as energy consumption.

Not There YetTo get everyone talking about how to most effectively work together toward these goals, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) held its inaugural Connected Lighting Systems Meeting in November in Portland, Oregon. The event brought together lighting technologists, their counterparts from the semiconductor and IT industries, utility personnel, and many others to start a cross-cutting dialogue about how best to take advantage of the imminent collision between lighting systems and the IoT.

Gabe Arnold of DesignLights Consortium™ spoke about why it is important that lighting systems evolve and what those evolved systems might look like in the near future. He noted that until now lighting controls have seen limited deployment and have not always met energy-saving expectations. This is due, he said, not only to their complexity (which is driven in part by a lack of standardization) but also to a lack of knowledge of how to design, install, commission, and operate them—all of which lead to higher costs, as contractors bid up their prices to cover themselves.

Mr. Arnold posited a future in which sensors, intelligence, communication, and even energy measurement are incorporated into every device and luminaire and are integrated and standardized so that costs are dramatically lower than today. In such a scenario, we’d purchase lighting the way we now buy cars—a basic model to which various advanced features could be added.

Some of the necessities for achieving that vision were outlined by Michael Poplawski of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, who emphasized the importance of energy reporting, noting that “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.” He stressed the need for interoperability, so that multiple devices, applications, networks, and systems can work together and reliably and securely exchange data.

The challenge, of course, is agreeing on common platforms and protocols that facilitate the transfer of useable data among lighting devices, other systems, and the cloud. Several groups are establishing some order and consensus in this area.

Over the last decade, solid-state lighting (SSL) has evolved from a novelty to a viable option for most general lighting applications. Back in 2005,

some likened the lighting market to the Wild West—not only because early SSL products didn’t match the performance of the technologies they were intended to replace but also because a lack of standards caused a great deal of confusion that was compounded by exaggerated performance claims.

Today we’re seeing a new landscape. With SSL as a viable option for almost all applications and industry-standard test procedures widely used, there’s general acknowledgement that, for the majority of lighting applications, SSL will eventually become the dominant technology. It’s beginning to feel a bit like the Wild West again. The replacement of today’s lighting infrastructure with increasingly controllable SSL products (e.g., controllable for luminous flux, white-point, chromaticity) begs consideration of what could be achieved by integrating other microelectronic components, such as network interfaces and sensors, into lighting devices.

Systems made up of connected lighting devices could become data collection platforms that enable even greater lighting energy savings in buildings and cities, and much more. This ability to collect and exchange useful data and possibly even serve as a backbone of the fast-emerging Internet of Things (IoT) offers the potential to enable a wide array of services, benefits, and revenue streams that enhance the value of lighting systems.

Right now, however, that potential is still on the table, as technology developers try to strike a balance between

Past as Prologue:

What’s Ahead for Solid-State Lighting?James Brodrick, u.S. Department of energy

Connected lighting systems ensure light is delivered only where and when it’s needed— and much more.


Mr. Poplawski moderated a panel featuring representatives from the ZigBee Alliance, the AllSeen Alliance, oneM2M, and the Open Interconnect Consortium. Each is working on a different aspect of, or taking a somewhat unique approach to, interoperability. In the process, they are demonstrating how industry can simultaneously compete and collaborate while working toward a common goal.

DOE’s primary goal in hosting the Portland meeting was to foster this kind of exchange and to ensure that energy efficiency—which could be significantly increased by providing intelligent SSL devices with data that allow them to optimize their performance—doesn’t get lost in the shuffle amid all the other services and benefits connected lighting is poised to bring.

Some of these other benefits were highlighted by a panel that focused on recently installed systems. Kaynam Hedayat of Digital Lumens described how a system installed at Atlas Packaging not only saved energy but also provided occupancy data for path tracking through the warehouse, which led to optimized inventory placement and improved traffic flow. The system is also used to monitor the energy consumption of laboratory equipment for capital investment management, monitor the energy consumption of production equipment, and provide visibility into equipment utilization. (See “Tracking Occupancy Saves Energy,” next page.)

Dan Cocosa of Google noted that, at his company’s facilities, dimming the lights to 20 percent when occupants have vacated a space is a response adjusted according to demand. Google also plans to monitor energy consumption and use occupancy sensors to optimize building-space utilization. This will determine what entrances and exits people use the most and automatically control lights and HVAC.

The potential of future connected lighting systems is multifaceted and seemingly infinite. To reach that potential, we must figure out where and how to collaborate. The DOE meeting in Portland was a first step and will be followed by a second meeting in June (details forthcoming). DOE also plans to provide technical support for various industry consortia efforts (in lighting and IT) and to conduct studies that test and characterize various aspects of installed connected lighting systems, providing manufacturers, specifiers, and users with critical information on emerging products.

Collaboration is essential if the promise of connected lighting systems is to be realized. It’s well worth the effort because success will bring a whole lot more than energy savings. ei

Mr. Brodrick is the lighting program manager for the U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Program. To learn more about DOE efforts related to connected lighting systems, visit www.energy.gov/eere/ssl/connected-lighting-systems.

Tracking Occupancy Saves EnergyA system installation saved energy, provided occupancy data, optimized inventory placement, and improved traffic flow. Exhibit hall occupancy data reported by connected lighting at 9:00 am (A), 3:00 pm (B), and 9:00 pm (C).

Images courtesy of Digital Lumens

A

B

CNEMA electroindustry • February 2016 25


filament, multiple parts and pieces have to work together to produce good light; a driver that delivers the appropriate voltage or current, the LED arrays themselves, and heat sinks to keep the LEDs cool and energy-efficient. Controlling or dimming this complex system to achieve the same performance expected from incandescent lamps is, therefore, a complicated task that requires the right tools—compatible LED modules, drivers, and controls designed and tested to work together. Agreements between manufacturers are necessary to ensure that these interfaces work, and those agreements ultimately lead to interoperability standards.

The LED module itself determines the quality of the light, but of all system elements, the driver has the greatest impact on dimming performance. In screw-base LED lamps, the driver is integral to the bulb. With LED fixtures, you can typically select the driver or choose a fixture that integrates the right driver based on the desired dimming range and performance needs. In either case, the driver establishes the best possible performance, including dimming range (how low the light can be effectively dimmed), smoothness of dimming, and stability of light output (ensuring that the light will not flicker or shimmer). To ensure the best possible dimming performance, start by choosing the highest-quality driver. See Figure 1.

LED sources are no longer a lighting industry novelty. Since the phasing out of most traditional incandescent sources, and the phasing in of

more stringent energy regulations, LEDs increasingly offer energy-saving, high-performance alternatives for almost any application—residential or commercial.

As LEDs become more readily available, prices continue to fall, and consumers get more comfortable with this new paradigm, customer attention turns to performance and control. LEDs are now the most efficient alternative to incandescent bulbs, but compatibility between LED lamps, drivers, and controls can be confusing. When control technologies and lamps are not properly paired, performance will suffer.

What Makes LED Control So Complex? Incandescent lamps are really quite simple: the filament is the principal electronic component. While physical properties of filaments can differ, the technology required for dimming control is universal.

LED lamps, on the other hand, are highly complex and manufactured in a wide variety of designs. Instead of a single

The industry’s attitude toward LEDs will continue to demand better performance, better aesthetics, greater color flexibility, and more consistent dimming performance. Photo courtesy of Lutron

Simplifying LED Control, Creating New Standards

Pekka Hakkarainen, PhD, Vice President, lutron electronics


Product report cards can also help specifiers quickly understand how well a given control will perform with a specific lamp or fixture by providing information such as the number of fixtures that can be controlled, measured dimming range, and perceived low-end light level. Additional digital tools and online manufacturer sites provide the customer with 24/7 help to correctly specify, install, and use LEDs in any situation. Unfortunately, very few consumers are aware of these reports and tools.

Simplifying the ProcessNEMA is acutely aware that the customer is better served when manufacturers work to eliminate the guesswork from LED installations. Testing, publishing results, and distributing information are part of the solution, but common design and manufacturing standards will go a long way toward alleviating some of the confusion surrounding LED compatibility. As such, NEMA is working to establish compatibility standards, starting with an interface standard for LED controls and lamps with integral drivers—SSL 7A (see related article on page 42). SSL 7A was written to standardize phase-control dimming of LED loads and address issues of compatibility, control lifetime, and basic functional operation.

A new performance standard, SSL 7B, is also in the works, chaired by Robert Nachtrieb of Lutron Electronics, and will address performance standards not highlighted in SSL 7A, such as dimming range (both high-end and low-end), light output flicker and shimmer, dimming smoothness, and audible noise. Once established and widely accepted, these new standards will prove advantageous to both the customer and the manufacturer to eliminate confusion and advance the successful installation of LED lighting and controls.

NEMA is also working to develop a labeling protocol, chaired by Jennifer Dolin of Osram Sylvania, to help customers quickly and confidently select compatible LED lamps and controls using identifying symbols on product packaging. Expected to become available some time in 2016, this is another tool focused on improving the user experience, managing expectations, and cementing LEDs as viable, high-quality solutions for both residential and commercial spaces.

The industry’s attitude toward LEDs is very different than it was just a few years ago. The focus will continue to change from acceptance of LEDs as a primary light source to demanding better performance, better aesthetics, greater color flexibility, and more consistent dimming performance. Our challenge is to deliver innovative, simple solutions that advance the industry and meet the wants and needs of all our customers. ei

Dr. Hakkarainen, who received a Kite & Key Award, chairs the NEMA Daylight Management Council.

The next step is to select a control specifically designed and tested to get the maximum possible performance out of the driver. In some situations, like open offices and public spaces, a dimming range with a 20-percent low end may be acceptable. In many other situations, such as conference rooms, classrooms, private offices, and hospitality applications, or where the occupant wants the flexibility to adjust the lights for any situation, smooth, flicker-free dimming to very low levels is absolutely critical to the success of the space.

Different control technologies—forward/reverse phase control, 0-10V control, digitally addressable control—result in varying levels of lighting performance. Even the best driver will perform poorly when paired with an incompatible or untested control technology. And, while the driver establishes performance opportunity, the control supplies the end-user interface necessary to deliver the best user experience.

As manufacturers, we have to take the risk out of LED specifications. We can make it easier for our customers to select and install the best LED solutions by focusing on products and tools that consistently provide a positive LED experience for the end user.

Clearing a Path to Compatibility Because LED modules, drivers, and controls are currently manufactured in such a wide variety of designs, manufacturers have had to test literally thousands of combinations of lamps, ballasts, and drivers and publish the results of these tests, as well as comprehensive lists of compatible products, to help their customers select, specify, and install LED systems. We have to continue to be vigilant, accepting the responsibility for delivering—and communicating—solutions that have been specifically tested together and are rated to deliver the required performance for any project.

Figure 1. To ensure the best possible dimming performance, choose a high-quality driver. Image courtesy of Lutron



Since street lighting became popular in the U.S. in the last half of the 1800s, the light source has migrated from natural gas to mercury, then

to sodium lamps, and now to LEDs. While the ordinary “cobra head” and shoebox are the most common luminaire designs found on top of light poles today, over the years many cities invested in historically styled lighting fixtures for their downtown shopping and residential streets because they contribute to the safety, quality, and ambiance of the local experience.

World-famous thoroughfares such as State Street in Chicago, Broad Street in Philadelphia, the Embarcadero in San Francisco, and Peachtree Street in Atlanta have installed historically styled lighting fixtures for many years.

Retrofitting Historical LightingColleges and universities have similarly adopted period-style lighting to enhance campus appearance and provide security and illumination. Many institutions had special designs made, often by hand, in an effort to capture a particular historical significance for which the institution stands. Maintaining the iconic symbol of the light post and fixture is as important as the dorms, libraries, and campus greens with which the school attracts freshmen and welcomes visitors.

Over the last decade, as budgets tightened and the pressure to reduce operating expenses increased, the need for replacing energy-inefficient light fixtures across neighborhoods, downtown areas, and educational landscapes became a major initiative.

Going green has been at the center of changing traditional light sources to solid-state lighting (SSL). Carbon emissions, global warming, and the urge to do the right thing spurred mayors, city councils, and colleges to look at options for lowering operating expenses while becoming environmentally friendly.

LEDs on Retrofit Fast Track for Historically Styled Lighting Applications

tom Salpietra, President & Coo, eye lighting international

This cutaway version shows the entire solution after it is installed

in the fixture. This helps maintain the classic or historical look of your

lighting fixtures.

All photos courtesy of EYE LightingGeorgetown University, home to 17,000 students in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1789. Historically styled lighting on the campus blends with the colonial architecture and its sense of history.


Preserving Heritage and Saving EnergySome of the kits on the market today, known as corncobs, present challenges for all of these performance characteristics if they haven’t been pre-tested in each fixture. Other kits that have been pre-tested by the manufacturer present a less challenging option, provided the kits fit within the framework and geometry of the luminaire.

The Design Lights Consortium approves products for utilities that sometimes offer rebates on LED upgrades to municipalities, educational institutions, and privately owned facilities. The Department of Energy, in collaboration with the consortium, established guidelines and recommendations for validating the performance characteristics of LED retrofit kits for post tops. If the product is not on the qualified products list, it is a caveat emptor scenario for customers.

Interest in keeping the existing fixture and using an LED retrofit kit is increasing among owners of historically styled streetlights. Not only are energy savings inherent in the SSL technology, but there is an additional benefit in reducing landfill waste by recycling the existing luminaire. In many cases, the retrofit installation is just as quick, if not quicker, than changing out the entire fixture head—but only if the design is right.

Although many city engineers are aware of this issue, others do not recognize that installation time is often a hidden cost. They are advised to try a sample installation and evaluate the entire cost cycle, as well as the visual appeal, of the retrofitted fixture. The reliability and maintenance-free benefits of LED lighting, especially a retrofit, can only be achieved by looking to NEMA-level manufacturers who make quality products and provide quality service.

After all, the post-top light that casts its soft beam onto downtown window-shoppers, nighttime runners, and families and lovers that stroll through local parks is iconic to our American heritage. ei

Mr. Salpietra previously held senior management positions with Acuity Brands Lighting and Cooper Lighting, which is now Eaton.

Seeking AlternativesWhat are the alternatives for retrofitting historical or decorative lighting fixtures with LEDs? How can cities and educational institutions keep their distinctive looks but move in the direction of SSL technology?

U.S.-based lighting manufacturers—the backbone of American industry—and particularly NEMA members who contributed to the association’s 90-year history, came up with solutions. Working with municipalities, utilities, and co-ops, many lighting companies designed new luminaires to replace traditional, decorative-style light fixtures. Others have turned to retrofitting existing light fixtures with LED kits, designed to operate in the same manner as the traditional light source but with an energy-efficiency focus. These approaches serve the same end-game for achieving lower energy costs.

The challenge, though, with designing and developing any new SSL luminaire or LED retrofit kit is the ability to capture the performance as well as the aesthetic appeal of the product it is replacing. In many applications, newer, sleeker designs with controllability to dim or turn lights on/off remotely are desired, as are energy measurement and monitoring. In others applications, the networked solutions are less appealing and maintaining the traditional appearance of the installation is preferred. Here is where retrofit kits are the better choice.

LED retrofit kits come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Until now, most are the screw-base Edison-style design. Others are special designs made by some manufacturers to fit inside their own historically styled product lines. Still others are designs that are more universally applicable to a number of post-top fixture constructions. In every case, though, the performance and longevity of the LED retrofit kit are things the owner of the luminaires expects to be standard and not validated by the end-user for thermal, optical, or electrical characteristics.

The LED lamp, retrofitted in 2014 on the Georgetown campus, provides more and better-quality light while saving on maintenance costs and energy use.

Facility managers say that students report an increased sense of security after LEDs are retrofitted on campus pathways, roadways, and parking areas.



to handle this influx and manage the long-term effects, and this is where the importance of big data and intelligence comes into play. The global intelligent city market will be valued at $1.5 trillion in 2020, according to a 2014 Frost & Sullivan report, proving smarter city solutions are well on their way.

Enabling Intelligent CitiesAs cities search for ways to add intelligent capabilities, they should not overlook their existing infrastructure. More and more municipalities are realizing that upgrading street lighting to LED offers a number of significant benefits. With low energy consumption, diminished maintenance requirements, and uniform light quality, LED streetlights are a great solution to make cities more livable, workable, and appealing.

Cities around the world are exploring a new kind of intelligence that will transform the way we live, work, and interact.

It may sound like the opening line of a futuristic movie, but this is a statement of today’s actuality. Our physical and digital worlds are more interconnected than ever, and that connectivity is powering the transformation of metropolitan areas around the globe. “Smart cities” are no longer a fantasy and will become a widespread reality as municipalities seek more efficient solutions and citizens become even more connected.

Meaningful intelligence within cities is about more than cool technology; it is imperative to managing global population growth. Within the next decade, nearly 60 percent of the world’s population will be living in urban areas, according to the World Health Organization. Cities must find new, efficient solutions

Lighting: The Key to the Intelligent CityJoseph Howley, manager—industry relations, Current, powered by ge

Infographic courtesy of GE


• Environmental analysis: from monitoring air quality to weather patterns, sensors and cameras offer the ability to better understand what is happening and where

• Infrastructure improvement: intelligent streetlights can facilitate metro-wide wireless Internet service, enable digital utility-grade metering of poles, and bring new capabilities to growing smart grids

Genesis of Intelligent CitiesThere is no one-size-fits-all approach to building an intelligent city, but we can see how they might look by considering metropolitan areas already implementing this technology.

San Diego, for example, is executing a first-in-the-nation pilot program of Current’s Intelligent Cities platform,

which adds sensor technology to LED streetlights in the city’s core, opening

the door for data collection and analysis. Already, this outdoor

wireless control technology is installed in more than

3,000 streetlights across the city, saving more than $350,000 per year in energy and maintenance costs thanks to real-time usage monitoring of individual light fixtures.

Cities around the world, from Barcelona

to Tianjin to Dubai, are learning that intelligent

solutions can transform urban infrastructure and

improve daily life while preparing for urban influx. Lighting

has gone from simple illumination to a new world of analytics and improved city services. Connecting a city is the key to turning societal challenges

into opportunities, and we are taking great strides toward making that happen. ei

Mr. Howley is past chairman of the NEMA Lighting Division and a recipient of NEMA’s Kite and Key Award.

The integration of LED fixtures with sensors, transmitters, and microprocessors allow these streetlights to gather and analyze data to provide extraordinary insight into urban environments in real time. The built-in controls on these fixtures create a low-power, reliable communications network that is cost-efficient and unobtrusive. The sensors and cameras in each fixture can feed data back to a central computer for analysis, empowering data-driven decision making. With all of these components housed and operating within the LED, these lights are more mini-computers than ordinary lighting fixtures.

Picture this: An ambulance leaves a hospital for the scene of an emergency, and intelligent streetlights are able to detect incidents and guide them along the most efficient route. The same technology could be used to help you find the best way out of town when a hurricane bears down on your city. Or, say you want to head downtown to a restaurant but don’t want to deal with sparse parking. You could find a spot on your smart phone from home, as intelligent streetlights share parking availability to municipal databases. It sounds futuristic, but the core infrastructure is being put in place today.

The possibilities are seemingly endless; further examples of intelligent lighting benefits include the following:

• Advanced lighting control: with smarter on/off scheduling and dimming of streetlights late at night when there is little traffic, intelligent lighting allows reductions in wasted energy

• Parking optimization: when cameras detect available parking spaces, drivers could be notified, reducing both emissions from idling cars and the frustration of seeking a spot

• Traffic flow: cameras and sensors monitor pedestrian and vehicle traffic, automatically detect accidents, send notifications, and reroute traffic based on road conditions

• Asset management: complementing a smart grid solution, intelligent light fixtures can notify municipal service personnel of outages and issues and help with infrastructure planning

Outdoor wireless control technology installed in LED streetlights enables smart cities to collect and analyze data, saving thousands of dollars per year in energy and maintenance costs. Photo courtesy of GE



to be positioned within 1/10 of a second, and that position is updated as often as five times per second.

A particularly valuable attribute of the VLC technology is its ability to accurately determine a shopper’s orientation in the aisle, displaying the direction in which the user is facing. This can be critical to not only aiding the shopper in locating merchandise quickly but also in saving time during the restocking and shelf-set process. VLC can provide granular and actionable information for delivering relevant point-of-purchase messages (e.g., send the coupon for a cola when the customer is facing soft drinks, and not when they’re looking at snack items).

The best-performing LED-based indoor positioning solutions marry two complementary technologies: VLC and Bluetooth® low energy (BLE). BLE complements VLC, providing accurate location for out-of-sight devices. This innovative approach using LED lighting systems provides significant advantages:

Painless for the retailer to incorporate; uses existing lighting infrastructure rather than requiring additional equipment such as stand-alone beacons, bringing faster return on investment (ROI) to LED deployments

Powered at each fixture, which reduces maintenance costs by making them battery-free, since the BLE radio is powered by the light fixture

In spite of advances in retail technologies and savvy shopper marketing strategies, “couldn’t find it” and “couldn’t find help” are all-too-common

shopping experiences that kill sales and erode shopper loyalty. New LED lighting-based indoor positioning and wayfinding solutions have emerged as powerful tools to engage and assist in-store customers, at the precise points of purchase decision, in the aisle and on the shelf.

In-store positioning is similar to the Global Positioning System (GPS) technology that many of us depend on while driving. New technologies tailored to indoor environments have evolved that use fixed-location transmitters or beacons, a mobile device, digital indoor maps, and a loyalty app to provide location and navigation within the store. Beacons are being tested by more than half of the top 100 U.S. retailers,1 and Opus Research predicts that by 2018 roughly $10 billion in consumer spending will be influenced by indoor location positioning.2

Indoor Positioning: Technology MattersAmong the beacon technologies being trialed, one platform has emerged as the clear winner in terms of accuracy, coverage and, most important, low cost of deployment and maintenance: LED lighting-based beacons using visible light communication (VLC) technology.

VLC offers value and precision unmatched by other beacon technologies. It takes advantage of the ultra-rapid oscillation of light emission from LEDs to deliver binary code to a receiver (imagine a very fast flash light sending Morse code) so fast that the data signal is not visible to the human eye—but the light source is.

VLC has one drawback: it works only as long as the customer has his or her mobile device out and in active use; the accuracy diminishes if the device is out of sight in a pocket or purse. However, when the device is out and in use, VLC delivers pinpoint accuracy; other beacons, in contract, are not as reliable and can only locate to within several feet—not much of an aide if looking for a small item in a vast, densely packed grocery store aisle. Further, VLC works quickly to initially locate a shopper (or product). Its low latency allows for a person or item

Illuminating the In-Store ExperienceLED-Based Indoor Positioning Services Benefit Shoppers and Retailers

Kurt Vogel, Director, retail marketing, acuity Brands lighting

1 “Beacons Beckon,” by Diana Bradley, PRWeek, February 2015, page 342 “Mapping the Indoor Marketing Opportunity,” Opus Research, February 2014


Beyond the customer experience, indoor positioning is making its mark in other ways that bolster business for retailers:

Smarter Merchandising: Advanced data analytics, using location data paired with point-of-sale and inventory data, can better track the effectiveness of store design. Retailers can detect in-store traffic patterns and dwell times, coupon conversions, and other information to assess the impact of marketing and merchandising strategies.

Optimized Operations: Employee deployment is optimized by providing digital work orders that send a worker directly to a customer needing assistance or to a location requiring urgent attention, such as a spill.

Indoor positioning services provide a strategic platform for the connected retail store of the future, with significant benefits for both shoppers and retailers. Taking a comprehensive, hybrid approach to indoor positioning that leverages LED lighting and the two best performing indoor location-based services, VLC and BLE, enables retailers to quickly find, engage, and satisfy shoppers with the highest accuracy across the largest store area. Higher sales, greater customer satisfaction, improved operational efficiency, and stronger ROI on lighting assets make LED-based indoor positioning a winning proposition all around. ei

Mr. Vogel has spent much of his career helping large retailers with successful relight programs that enhance shopping environments, improve customer experience, and dramatically reduce operating expenses.

Placed everywhere humans are; reaches every connected shopper that has a mobile device equipped with a camera or BLE technology

Precise in determining location and direction of opt-in shoppers anywhere there is light, with accuracy within inches

Business Benefits for RetailersRetailers have the opportunity to enrich the customer shopping experience using these indoor positioning services. Here are the key benefits:

Efficient, convenient, and personalized shopping: Shoppers can quickly gather items from a shopping list and use the app’s “blue-dot” mapping feature to get step-by-step guidance to the exact location they seek. They also benefit from better deals because the retailer can send coupons and discounts tailored to their specific needs in real time.

More choice through omni-channel shopping: Working with the retailer’s mobile loyalty app, indoor positioning optimizes online, mobile, and in-store channels, providing shoppers with information and tools to find, buy, and receive the items they want. If the shopper wants more options, the app can connect the shopper to the retailer’s online store to browse additional items and get online-ordered merchandise delivered directly.

Hassle-free new store experience: Indoor positioning guides shoppers through an unfamiliar environment so they can enjoy a new shopping experience with the same ease as in their “home store.”

Infographic courtesy of Acuity



delivering lighting optimized for these broadcast technologies and will enable the best viewing experience on advanced televisions.

Light Quantity and QualityUltra-high-definition cameras require aperture settings that will let in the ideal amount of light. As broadcast resolution increases, so does this required aperture setting. When the ideal amount of light is achieved, the lighting reaches the camera’s digital sensors, optimizing the field depth and minimizing adjustments required from camera operators.

While light quantity is very important for broadcast, light quality is perhaps more so. One critical aspect of light is how well it enables the accurate depiction of colors for broadcast. The Television Lighting Consistency Index (TLCI) is becoming the preferred measurement for color lighting accuracy in digital broadcast. TLCI considers a greater spectrum of light, including that which is captured by digital broadcast cameras, rather than only the light spectrum perceived by the human eye, as in the more traditional color rendering index (CRI).

While both are measured on a scale of zero to 100, TLCI and CRI don’t directly correlate, so comparing their values to promote understanding of TLCI requires some explanation. For example, 65 TLCI is currently considered very good, while 65 CRI is unacceptable for today’s broadcasts. In fact, many sports broadcasts require 90 CRI, while 90 TLCI lighting reproduces

Sports broadcasting has come a long way since its early days. Super Bowl I—then called the AFL-NFL Championship Game—aired in

1967. Compare the way that at-home broadcast looked to what the LED (light-emitting diode) sports lighting technology for the 2015 Super Bowl XLIX at the University of Phoenix stadium delivered, and the difference is like night and day.

Many things are different. Today’s LED sports lighting technology can now function as a complete system, from the components of the luminaire, including the composition of the LED itself, to the power supply, lensing, circuitry, software, and controls, The result is sports lighting pleasing not only to the human eye but also optimized for the increasingly sophisticated broadcast cameras that capture the game and deliver it to televisions at home. Essentially, this is digital lighting designed for digital broadcast technologies, beyond high definition (HD) to the emerging technologies of 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) and 8K UHD, collectively called super hi-vision.

The 2014 World Cup was a test for 4K UHD broadcast. The 2016 Olympics will present another test for 4K UHD and 8K UHD broadcast. For the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Japanese broadcaster NHK intends to broadcast as much of the games as possible in 8K UHD. The cost of 4K UHD televisions is decreasing, making them attainable for fans desiring the best at-home viewing experience. Today’s LED lighting innovations are capable of

Shedding Light on Advanced LED Sport Lighting Technology

Joe Casper, Chief technology officer, eaton’s ephesus lighting Business


specify “warmer” tones for basketball and “cooler” tones for hockey. In court sports, flesh tones appear truer and the overall color tone more favorable under a warmer color temperature (similar to that of candlelight). Cooler color temperatures are preferred for hockey, since they cause the ice to look more vivid and the puck to be more easily seen. This color-temperature tuning capability was recently deployed at Bridgestone Arena, home of the NHL’s Nashville Predators and host of the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.

TLCI tuning allows for the adjustment of the spectrum of light generated by luminaires to compensate for environmental differences in venues. For example, a football game beginning under a bright afternoon sun will have different lighting characteristics and spectrums as the game progresses and the sun sets. Today, the spectrum of light produced by lighting fixtures can be altered to compensate for such shifts, providing a more uniform appearance throughout the broadcast and simplifying the broadcasters’ job.

More technologies beyond 4K UHD and 8K UHD will surely be on the horizon. While it may not yet be certain what these technologies require from lighting, our industry will continue to be on the leading edge of delivering what’s possible. ei

Mr. Casper has more than 30 years of experience in solid state technologies and is the founder and chief technology officer of Eaton’s Ephesus Lighting.

color so accurately that a broadcast colorist would likely not alter anything to improve color quality for the viewer at home.

Some sports lighting products today achieve a TLCI of at least 65 by using a propriety diode incorporating a very precise blend of phosphors to generate a spectrum of light that is uniquely optimized for perception by 4K UHD and 8K UHD broadcast cameras. Select luminaires have even achieved a 90 TLCI rating, though this technology is not yet feasible for widespread adoption in sports venues. With innovations currently in development, the widespread availability and affordability of fixtures with higher TLCI ratings will keep pace with anticipated adoption of 4K UHD and 8K UHD broadcasts and their increasing requirements.

Flicker-Free and Tuning TechnologiesFlicker has been a concern of metal halide systems and some lesser LED systems, but some LED fixtures employ pulse width modulation, a familiar concept in solid-state lighting, to enable flicker-free slow-motion capture in sports broadcasting. Some companies are taking this concept further, using a unique, ssuper–high speed phase-shifting technology to enable optimal lighting performance compatible with super slow-motion capture. This technology will support frame rates in excess of 8,000 frames per second, with no potential flicker with even the most sophisticated cameras, thereby ensuring compatibility with new broadcast technologies.

Another technology is color-temperature tuning and TLCI tuning. Standards for professional sports are developing that

Bridgestone Arena, home to the NHL’s Nashville Predators, became the first venue to implement a color-temperature tuning LED lighting solution. With just the push of a button, the Ephesus Arena Pro 600 luminaires allow for a warmer color temperature to be programmed for basketball and a cooler one for hockey, while reducing energy costs by 85 percent. Photo by John Russell

Having experienced poor light quality with a metal halide sports lighting system, operators of the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, installed LED fixtures for Super Bowl XLIX. The result was a remarkable increase in light and uniformity, which greatly improved the HDTV sports broadcasting experience. Photo courtesy of Spectra



ElectroindustryNews

Light switches are critical connection points and serve as the first line of control for our electrical use. Over time, these connections can become loose, creating potential hazards, and light fixtures and lamps can have dark consequences if they aren’t used correctly.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International breaks down the safety tips that are critical to maintaining a safe and well-lit home:

ligHt SwitCHeS ☐ Check that all outlet and switch

cover plates are in good condition so that no wiring is exposed. Replace any missing, cracked, or broken cover plates. Exposed wiring is a shock hazard.

☐ Make sure outlet and switch plates are not unusually hot to the touch. If they are, immediately unplug cords from these outlets and do not use the switches. Unusually warm outlets or switches may indicate an unsafe wiring condition.

☐ Look for discoloration as an indication of potentially dangerous heat buildup at these connections. Stand across the room and look for a tear drop-shaped darkening around and above outlet and switch cover plates.

☐ Switches that only work intermittently are a sign that wiring may be loose or the device may be cracked internally. This can present a fire hazard.

If your lighting control points are characterized by any of the above, have your home’s electrical system inspected by a qualified electrician as soon as possible.

ligHt fixtureS anD lamPS ☐ Make sure all lamps and light

fixtures are certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), or Intertek (ETL).

☐ Always use a bulb of the correct type and wattage. If you do not know the correct wattage, contact the manufacturer of the lamp or fixture. A bulb with excessive wattage may overheat and cause a fire.

☐ Install bulbs with extended lifespans in hard-to-reach locations to limit the number of times you have to climb a ladder, move furniture, or engage in potentially dangerous activities.

☐ Read and follow manufacturers’ safety instructions for fixtures, lamps, and light bulbs.

☐ Make sure bulbs are screwed in securely. Loose bulbs may overheat.

☐ Do not allow children to operate lamps or nightlights.

Always look for telltale signs of electrical problems such as dim and flickering lights, unusual sizzling and buzzing sounds from your electrical system, and circuit breakers that trip repeatedly. Contact a qualified electrician immediately if any of these warning signs occur.

For more tips on home electrical safety, visit www.esfi.org. ei

Julie Chavanne, Communications Director, ESFI | [email protected]

Ű Make Safe Lighting a Fixture of the Home


http://www.esfi.org

mailto:[email protected]

With the new year underway, it’s time to take a good look at your current technology and networks. Are they enough to keep your company competitive in 2016 and beyond? Or are there potential upgrades and add-ons you can make to fully leverage the technology used to run your business?

For instance, although companies are likely to already have broadband networks in place, many find that they can greatly increase their network speeds at a lower cost than they are currently paying. Others enhance business productivity by modernizing their voice networks and accessing newer features and capabilities. Still more make updates to their existing network security systems to avoid hacks and cyber-attacks, improving security measures across their businesses.

One major type of business technology that companies are using to remain competitive in the growing global marketplace is electronic data interchange (EDI). How does this help?

How eDi Can HelP your BuSineSSEDI involves sending business documents electronically through value-added networks (VANs), which support millions of pieces of information involved in business transactions. This electronic format allows for uniform communications among trading partners, and, when implemented properly, EDI greatly improves efficiency by automating what was once done manually by several individuals. This then frees those resources up to deal with other IT matters (e.g., LAN/WAN issues, connectivity, etc.) rather than keying in orders and business information.

Overall, EDI transactions are faster, more efficient, and more accurate than manual or paper-based operations, allowing business systems to communicate seamlessly and claims to be processed in a timely fashion.

• No Company Too Small EDI is applicable to businesses of all sizes. Small businesses can build the proper document exchange infrastructure to efficiently transfer documents with their trading partners, allowing for resources to be reallocated to more growth-structured policies. Larger organizations can use EDI to manage more complicated trading partner relationships, such as special pricing authorizations. Organizations of any size can use EDI to speed up the order or communications cycle and generate revenue more quickly.

• No Industry Too Specific EDI can help companies compete within multiple industries. In fact, the federal government requires EDI for a number of business communications, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) mandates standardized EDI for electronic health care transactions. This necessitates that businesses contract for EDI in order to work with the government or health care agencies.

iDea’S inDuStry Data exCHange With IDEA’s Industry Data Exchange (IDX) VAN, users can exchange documents with trading partners, retail partners, healthcare agencies, and the government faster and easier than through traditional VANs or

paper-based methods. Hundreds of business communications can be sent securely and cost-effectively over the Internet, even with companies that aren’t EDI-capable.

The IDX offers one of the most flexible solutions for document exchange, allowing for quick expansion of a business’s electronic capabilities. Users have access to a tested, secure network in which to conduct business, and they can send documents in one format and enable receipt in another.

IDX users can also use advanced EDI tracking tools to easily monitor the status of their documents, with all associated attributes immediately viewable.

Overall, EDI affects the corporate bottom line by increasing efficiency, greatly reducing IT costs, and decreasing the revenue recognition timeframe. Communicating using EDI presents a win-win for businesses looking to remain competitive in the new year and beyond, and IDEA’s IDX can help.

For more information about EDI or the IDX, and to receive an analysis of your business for the best EDI for your business environment, contact Bill Nay, IDEA, at [email protected] or visit www.idea4industry.com. ei

Colleen Psomas, Marketing Manager, IDEA | [email protected]

Ű Technology to Remain Relevant in the New Year

Data Swap EngineData Swap Engine

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Map

EDI Translator

StandardsDirectory

Data Swap Engine

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EDI Basics 101

StandardsDirectory

Data


http://www.idea4industry.com

ElectroindustryNews

As my career at Baldor/ABB came to a close at the end of 2015 (i.e., I retired), I thought I would take a brief stroll down memory lane and invite you along.

When I began working at the motor manufacturer Dyna Corporation in 1966, little did I know it would lead to a career in electric machine design spanning nearly 50 years and covering machines ranging from fractional horsepower (hp) to over 1,000 megavolt amperes. For the last 35 years, I have had the opportunity to continue working in basically the same department, while the company ownership changed seven times.

I witnessed design technology evolving from the use of mechanical analog computers to digital calculators, digital computers, and finite element analysis (FEA). Design drawings previously done by hand using T-squares and triangles are now done using computer-aided drawing programs with the ability to design in a 3D space. I kept up with the changing technology and adapted as necessary.

I fondly recall trying to stay awake for three days while sitting in a power generation station in the 1970s, waiting for a switching event to occur on a power system so we could verify the accuracy of a new method to calculate the interaction between the electrical system and the rotating shaft system of a turbine generator system. The effort paid off and led to a career branch related to further analysis of bus transfer effects on both synchronous generators and induction motors.

In the late 1980s, I was asked to develop a method of analyzing the startup torsional transients in a line-start permanent magnet motor rated at 5,000 hp for a boiler feed pump, when the largest one produced at that time was approximately 15 hp. The primary concern was that the torsional transients

in the shaft system might damage the driven equipment.

The result was the development of a version of a sectionalized rotor bar time-stepping analytical model combining electrical transient analysis with shaft torsional analysis. Today, such analysis can be performed using a combination of electromagnetic FEA and rotational system analysis. But the sectionalized model runs in a few seconds, while the FEA method sometimes takes more than 30 minutes. There is something to be said for continuing to harness the power of simpler analysis methods when they work.

I observed the energy behind a short circuit at the terminals of a large turbine generator as a fireball erupted out of the test pit and went rolling down the aisle. I remember standing in the Texas summer sun testing motor startup transients on a motor located under a large tank of benzene. Even the use of a camera flash was prohibited in such an area, and there I was installing test equipment that had the slightest chance of producing an arc.

Testing at another location in that same petrochemical plant managed to set off alarms that shut down the whole facility. Expecting to be asked to leave, we were surprised to be thanked for detecting a problem with the protection system of the facility and invited back to continue testing the next day. I remember the twisting of a connecting shaft to a dynamometer when testing an induction motor on a variable-voltage inverter and the shaft system was in resonance with the sixth harmonic of the operating frequency.

I have participated in the evolution of electrical machines, as increased efficiency of induction motors has become a prominent consideration, even without the government’s insistence; as the use of variable frequency controls have become a major factor; and as replacement with line-start permanent magnet motors is on the horizon. I have never understood why anyone would say that there is nothing new to develop in the area of electrical machines.

When I attended my first NEMA meeting of the Medium AC Machine Group, I did not know when to speak or what to say to get my points across. I guess I overcame that hesitancy.

I have touched many lives throughout the past 50 years and have been touched by many more than I could ever remember. I wish each of you the best in your future, whatever that may bring. ei

Roger H. Daugherty, PhD, Consulting Engineer | [email protected]

Ű Bidding Adieu

Roger Daugherty


Code Actions/Standardization TrendsCode Actions/Standardization Trends

Field Rep RepoRt

Mike Stone

Alaska, California, Hawaii, Utah, and Washington currently have code adoption activity taking place. The busiest state is California.

CaliFoRniaOn December 16, 2015, the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) voted to adopt the 2016 edition of the California building, fire, and existing building codes. On January 19–20, 2016, the CBSC was scheduled to have voted on the rest of the International Code Council (ICC) codes (I-codes), as well as the 2016 California Electrical Code.

These codes, collectively known as the 2016 edition of California Building Standards Code (Title 24, California Code of Regulations), are based on the 2015 edition of the ICC International Building, Residential, Fire and Existing Building Codes; the 2015 edition of the Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes; and the 2014 edition of the National Electrical Code® (NEC). They are scheduled to be published by June 30, 2016, and will become effective on January 1, 2017.

The 2016 California Electrical Code (based on the 2014 NEC) purposefully contains very few state amendments. During code adoption hearings, several of the building standards commissioners and state agency directors mentioned that they are trying to use national model code language. This aligns with the NEMA policy of direct adoption of the NEC, without modifications, and bodes well for the future of code adoption in California.

WashingtonThe Washington State Building Code Council voted in November 2015 to adopt the 2015 editions of the I-codes as the basis for the state’s

construction codes. The 2015 State Building Code, based on the 2015 editions of the International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Fire and Energy Conservation Codes and 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code, will become effective on or around July 1, 2016. The NEC is adopted separately by the Department of Labor and Industry; the 2017 NEC is scheduled to be considered for adoption in late 2016.

haWaiiHawaii is currently using the 2006 I-codes and the 2008 NEC. Code adoption has been delayed for several years due to a lack of administrative resources at the state agency responsible for construction codes. However, the adoption process is now proceeding and the codes are expected to be effective in April 2016. The 2012 I-codes and the 2014 NEC will be used as the basis for the new Hawaii building codes.

alaskaSimilar to Hawaii, in Alaska the adoption of the 2014 NEC has been delayed due to a lack of administrative resources. However the adoption package is now in final legal review, after which

it will be sent to the lieutenant governor for signature. Thirty days after signature, the code will be effective. Alaskan officials are hopeful for a February 2016 effective date.

UtahIn Utah, the legislature is responsible for the adoption of all construction codes. There has been considerable opposition in the last several years, mainly from homebuilders, to the timely adoption of new residential codes. NEMA and our coalition partners were successful during the 2015 legislative session in defeating what was originally a proposal to go to a nine-year, and then a six-year, code cycle. Those defeated code cycle bills included the adoption of the 2014 NEC, so while the negative aspects of extending the code cycle were defeated, the adoption of the 2014 NEC was also delayed. The 2016 legislative session promises to be controversial again. NEMA and its coalition partners are prepared to engage the legislature once again. ei

Mike Stone, West Coast Field Representative, NEMA |

[email protected]

Ű Code Adoption Remains Active in West Coast Region


Code Actions/Standardization TrendsCode Actions/Standardization Trends

Consider for a moment that you’re looking at a sign: it’s black and white and contains only text in a language you can’t read. The result is that you haven’t a clue whether the sign’s message is related to safety, provides some other type of information, or is just an advertisement. If the message were critical to safety and meant to protect you from injury, a serious problem would now exist. That’s why the ANSI Z535 standards were developed: to provide much-needed guidance to those responsible for communicating visual safety messages in a way that makes them “stand out” from all the other types of information people see on a daily basis.

The overall goal of the six standards that make up ANSI Z535 is to define best practices for communicating safety so that accidents are avoided and people are better protected from harm. These standards were not invented out of thin air; they have a history that stretches back many decades.

The idea of standardizing the ways in which safety

messages can be visually communicated has

its origins in three standards: ASA Z35.1 Specifications for Industrial Accident Prevention Signs (1941), ANSI

Z53.1 Safety Color Code (1945), and

ASA Z35.2 Standard Specifications for

Accident Prevention Tags (1968). When the Occupational Safety

and Health Administration (OSHA) wrote its first standards for workplace safety in the 1970s, it cited the latest versions of these three American National Standards whenever safety signs, colors, or tags were required. In 2013, OSHA revised its standards to include citations to the current ANSI Z535 standards.

In 1979, the ANSI Z53 and Z35 standards committees were combined to form the ANSI Z535 Committee on Safety Signs and Colors. The committee was initially in charge of three standards:

• ANSI Z535.1 Safety Color Code

• ANSI Z535.2 Standard for Environmental and Facility Safety Signs

• ANSI Z535.5 Standard for Temporary Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes.

Spurred by the need to develop best practices for conveying product safety information and

the advantage of using symbols to communicate safety messages across language barriers, the committee wrote and published two new standards in 1991:

• ANSI Z535.3 Standard Criteria for Safety Symbols

• ANSI Z535.4 Standard for Product Safety Signs and Labels

ANSI Z535.6 Standard for Product Safety Information in Product Manuals, Instructions and Other Collateral Materials was published in 2006.

Taken together, these six standards established current best practices in the field of safety communication for the U.S. In line with ANSI procedures, the ANSI Z535 standards are revised or reaffirmed approximately every five years. ei

Mr. Peckham is president of Clarion Safety Systems.

Ű A Brief History of the ANSI Z535 StandardsGeoffrey Peckham, Chair, ANSI Z535 Committee

A typical ANSI Z535.5 temporary safety tag

A typical ANSI Z535.2 environmental/facility safety sign

A typical ANSI Z535.4 product safety sign/label Illustrations courtesy of Clarion Safety Systems


Code Actions/Standardization Trends

ANSI Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) C136 is publishing two outdoor lighting industry standards with significant updates: ANSI C136.2-2015 Dielectric Withstand and Electrical Transient Immunity Requirements and ANSI C136.15 Luminaire Field Identification.

ANSI C136.2 provides for minimum performance requirements and test procedures for evaluating luminaire and control devices. It was revised to include product family language in the compliance and testing requirements clauses, hipot tester use in the dielectric withstand test clause, coupler/decoupler language in the electrical transient immunity test clause, and additional ring wave and combination wave test specifications in the test procedures. This revision includes updated testing protocols that are applicable for solid-

NEMA’s Lighting Systems Division, as secretariat to the Electrotechnical Commission Technical (IEC) Technical Committee 34 (TC34), hosted working groups and a plenary session in Denver, Colorado, in October 2015. The U.S. National Committee last hosted TC34 in October 2010, during the IEC General Assembly in Seattle, Washington.

NEMA ICS 61800-6 TR-2015 Adjustable Speed Electrical Power Drive Systems, Part 6: Guide for Determination of Types of Load Duty and Corresponding Current Ratings This standard explains how to determine the types of load duty and related current ratings for an adjustable speed drive, and provides clarification to users for application of NEMA member products in industries such as heating and air-

state lighting in addition to earlier covered sources such as high intensity discharge lighting.

ANSI C136.15 provides a simple, uniform method for identifying the type and wattage rating of a luminaire used for roadway and area lighting. This revision specifies rounding the wattage for LED markers to the closest 10 watts.

Committee work is also continuing on:

• C136.10 American National Standard for Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment— Locking-Type Photocontrol Devices and Mating Receptacles—Physical and Electrical Interchangeability and Testing

• C136.48 American National Standard for Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment—Remote Monitoring and Control

During the event, three attendees received the 1906 Award for outstanding service: Lawrence Barling, United Kingdom National Committee, for his role as chairman of Subcommittee 34A, among other contributions; Doo-Hee Cho, Korean National Committee, for successfully leading the OLED safety standard project; and Frederic Guiraud, French National Committee, for leading the IEC definitions project and for years of service to TC34.

conditioning, industrial automation and machinery. It may be purchased in hard copy or downloaded for $53.

NEMA LE 7-2015 Recessed Luminaires Intended for Contact with Expanding Polyurethane Foam Insulation This new standard defines a subset of insulation contact (Type IC) luminaires that are appropriate for use with polyurethane spray foam. This standard also provides requirements and

• C136.50 American National Standard for Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment—Revenue Grade Energy Measurement Devices within a Locking Type Control Device

• C136.52 American National Standard for Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment—LED Drivers with Integral Revenue Grade Energy Measurement Means

The committee is open to all materially affected and interested parties. However, to achieve and maintain balance, C136 is actively seeking additional members in the user and general interest membership categories. If interested, please contact Karen Willis. ei

Karen Willis, Senior Lighting Program Manager, NEMA |

[email protected]

The 1906 award was created in 2004 by the IEC Executive Committee to commemorate the year the IEC was founded. It recognizes exceptional recent achievements related to the activities of the IEC that contributes to advancing the work of the commission. ei

Karen Willis, Senior Lighting Program Manager, NEMA |

[email protected]

recommendations for Type IC recessed luminaires intended for installation in contact with low-density and medium-density polyurethane foam thermal insulation. It may be purchased in hard copy for $49 or downloaded at no charge. ei

Ann Brandstadter, Manager, Standards Publication and Marketing, NEMA |

[email protected]

Ű ASC C136 Publishes Standards with Significant Updates, Continues Work on New Projects

Ű IEC Pays Tribute to Longtime Members

Ű This Month in Standards


http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Adjustable-Speed-Electrical-Power-Drive-Systems-Part-6-Guide-for-Determination-of-Types-of-Load-Duty-and-Corresponding.aspx

http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Recessed-Luminaires-Intended-for-Contact-with-Expanding-Polyurethane-Foam-Insulation.aspx



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NEMA is the secretariat for the American National Standards Lighting Group (ANSLG). This group is made up of three committees: Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) C78 Electric Lamps; ASC C81 Bases, Holders, and Gauges; and ASC C82 Electric Ballasts. ASC C78 and ASC C82 each contain four working groups that cover fluorescent, high-intensity discharge and solid-state technologies. Each working group has an active list of standards projects.

2015 was a dynamic year for the three ASCs. ASC C78 published 11 standards (seven reaffirmations and four revisions), including American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C78.377-2015. This standard deals with chromaticity and incorporates support for new LED lighting products in the lower correlated color temperature range. The ad hoc group that handles C78.377 is already busy working on a new version of the

The latest version of NEMA SSL 7A-2015 Dimming of LED Lamps still provides for electrical interoperability between dimmers and dimmable LED lamps, but it now simplifies the combination of dimmers and lamps and has an improved method of measurement.

Engaging a broad range of stakeholders has allowed NEMA’s work in LED dimming to have national and international impact.

standard and tackling issues such as perceived or preferred white colors below or above the black-body locus.

ASC C81 published four reaffirmations in 2015 and is currently working on revisions to some of these standards.

ASC C82 published three standards in 2015 (ANSI C82.77-5-2015, ANSI C82.77-10-2014, and ANSI C82.6-2015) and has a couple of standards that are ready for publication and should be published in 2016. These include the proposed standard ANSI C82.16 Methods of Measurement for LED Drivers.

The ASCs will continue to be busy in 2016, with publication activity expected from all three. This will consist of a mix of reaffirmations and revisions, as well as new standards such as proposed ANSI C82.15, which deals with LED driver robustness. Several new ASC project groups were recently formed to

The revision of SSL 7A has cleared the way for a parallel marketing effort, led by Osram Sylvania Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs Jen Dolin, to develop a NEMA LED dimming logo. The NEMA LED dimming logo, in turn, clears the way for SSL 7A to be cited by the Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR® Dimmable Lamp Specification.

NEMA’s influence extends internationally as well. The International

cover topics such as LED drivers for operation life estimation and dimming characteristics.

Participation in the ANSI lighting activities is open to everyone and does not require NEMA membership, though an annual working fee is accessed. There are biannual committee meetings, but most of the standards work is accomplished by teleconference.

NEMA’s Lighting Systems Division, as secretariat of ANSI ASC C78, C81, and C82, is looking for industry experts in the user and general interest categories to participate in standards development activities. Contact NEMA at [email protected] if you are interested. Please indicate your interest category and your area of expertise. ei

Michael Erbesfeld, Program Manager, Lighting Systems Standards, NEMA |

[email protected]

Electrotechnical Commission Joint Ad Hoc Group 17 has selected NEMA SSL 7A to form the basis for development of a global standard on dimming LED lamps.

The NEMA Lighting Controls Section expects to publish SSL 7B, a standard on LED dimming performance, in 2016. ei

Robert Nachtrieb, PhD, Chair, NEMA Lighting Controls Section,

and Lead Scientist, Lutron Electronics Company, Inc. | [email protected]

Ű ANSI Lighting Group Looks Forward to Dynamic 2016

Ű Revised SSL 7A Heralds National, International Impact



Code Actions/Standardization Trends www.sylvania.com/LEDlamps

LED retrofi ts that meet your specifi c lighting needsNo two lighting environments are exactly alike. Each has unique needs. And we meet those needs with a depth of LED retrofi ts that include distinct considerations for color-critical applications, optical control and energy ROI. Lighting is all we do, one space at a time. For more information, please call 1-800-LIGHTBULB or visit www.sylvania.com/LEDlamps.

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International Roundup

When we look at trade relations between the U.S. and Germany, 2014 was not a sensational year. From January through December, exports from Germany to the U.S. were up 4.5 percent; imports from the U.S. to Germany were up 1.4 percent.

For 2015, the figures are much more promising: from January to September, exports from Germany rose by 17.9 percent whereas imports from the U.S. increased by 15.3 percent.

Taking into account that these are pre-TTIP1 figures, one can imagine what could happen if barriers were reduced or even abolished.

Sizing uP DifferenCeSWhen we compare market access conditions between Europe and the U.S., we see fundamental differences:

• From a European point of view, the U.S. market is characterized primarily by different federal and local standards, mostly originating from traditional labor and safety conditions. Additionally, every machine or appliance used at workplaces must be certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL). This mandatory third-party certification is a barrier to trade for European manufacturers.

• When U.S. manufacturers access European markets, most of their products have to comply with harmonization legislation according to the New Legislative Framework. This means companies have to consider European standards that, in most cases, are different from U.S. standards, and instead of mandatory third-party testing, companies must check if their products comply with

1 Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a trade agreement being negotiated between the European Union and the U.S.

the European requirements by their own responsibility.

• They must also declare conformity with these requirements and stamp CE (which is the unified conformity mark for the European Union market) on every product. The manufacturer is responsible for failures occurring from its product, if based on mistakes in the design or during the manufacturing process. That system works (with a few exemptions, e.g., electromedical devices or explosion protection) without involving additional testing companies or authorities.

• The market for engineering products in the EU is already open to all manufacturers (provided their products comply with the relevant standards) with regard to market access, but not in the U.S., where mandatory testing is a recurring obstacle for every contract.

The difference in standards for engineering products on both sides of the Atlantic is often based on differences in infrastructure and existing technical systems. Sometimes the differences are historical. Regardless, they cannot be removed in the short term and could be removed only with unacceptable risks and costs for changeover.

SPeeDing aCCeSS to marKetSIndependent of what we can expect from the ongoing TTIP negotiations, we think there should be an additional proposal to speed the process of access to the U.S. market for domestic and European manufacturers, without reducing consumer protection and shop floor safety.

If we regard the standards as a more or less constant element of the framework conditions we—as a first step—should strive for lowering the second barrier

to trade, i.e., the U.S. system of third-party testing. It suffers from a quasi-monopoly of a single NRTL. Component manufacturers in particular are faced with the fact that they cannot choose the certifier freely—it is predefined by the certifier of the end product of the individual customer. This is detrimental for U.S. and EU manufacturers.

Therefore, ZVEI proposes a modification within OSHA’s NRTL system. If OSHA were to introduce a unique NRTL mark that would be applicable for components as well as finished products that had to be used and accepted by every other NRTL with no distinction, then the current dominant NRTL would face more competition.

Consequently, a similar effect would arise for end products. The unique NRTL mark could lead to a quality mark that says in essence, “This product is certified as required by law,” independent of which certifier had been chosen by the manufacturer.

Competing NRTLs would have to reduce certification fees and certification processes would be accelerated—to the mutual benefit of domestic and European manufacturers.

Time to market for products or components already tested by another NRTL would be reduced; customers and consumers could profit from innovative solutions.

This is, from our point of view, a way to increase competitiveness and business for industry on both sides of the Atlantic. ei

Ű TTIP: One Step to Increased Competitiveness? A European ViewpointDr.-Ing. Jörg Ed. Hartge, Senior Director, Technical Legislation and Standardisation, and Johannes Kirsch, Senior Director, International Affairs ZVEI (German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association)


International Roundup

Get new technology first

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Sign up for free tickets: www.hannovermesse.events/nema

HM16-ad-NEMA-1pg.indd 1 2015-12-07 10:22 AM

Economic Spotlight

The NEMA lamp shipment indexes are composite measures of NEMA member companies’ U.S. shipments of compact fluorescent, halogen, incandescent,

and LED replacement lamps. Product shipments data are drawn from NEMA statistical surveys and are adjusted for seasonal fluctuations.

Laurie Miller, Director, Statistical Operations, NEMA |

[email protected]

Ű Lighting Indexes for Third Quarter Indicate Mixed Results

NEMA’s Lighting Systems Shipments Index, a measure of demand for lighting equipment, increased by 4.8 percent year-over-year (y/y) and by 4.4 percent quarter-to-quarter during 3Q 2015.

The increase was driven by the fixtures component of the index, which gained ground on a y/y basis, while the emergency lighting, ballast, and lamp—large and miniature—components recorded offsetting y/y declines.

Lighting Systems Index Increases during Third Quarter, Shows Mixed Results for Components

LED A-line lamps posted another strong showing in 3Q 2015, surging 237.2 percent during the quarter on a year-over-year (y/y) basis. Halogen A-line lamps posted a y/y increase of 33.0 percent. In contrast, incandescent A-line lamps decreased by 31.5 percent, while compact fluorescents lamps

(CFLs) dropped 28.0 percent. Compared to 2Q 2015, LED shipments rose 17.2 percent, while halogen A-line shipments increased 4.6 percent. CFL shipments saw a quarter-to-quarter decrease of 16.3 percent and incandescent A-line lamp shipments decreased 16.5 percent.

As of 3Q 2015, halogen A-line lamps accounted for almost half of all consumer lamp shipments at 48.6 percent, followed by CFLs (27.3 percent) and incandescent A-lines (9.0 percent). LED A-line lamps increased their sales share by two percentage points, to 15.1 percent of the consumer lamp market.

LED A-Line Lamp Shipments Surge


Economic Spotlight

Linear Fluorescent Lamp Indexes Continue to Decline NEMA’s linear fluorescent lamp shipment indexes for 3Q 2015 continued the downward trend that began in 2014. The index for T12 lamps declined for the seventh consecutive quarter, dropping

by 40.4 percent on a year-over-year (y/y) basis. T8 and T5 shipments also continued to decline, decreasing by 10.9 and 10.6 percent, respectively, on a y/y basis.

T8 lamps accounted for a 72.8-percent share of fluorescent lamp shipments in 3Q 2015, with T12 lamps claiming a 15.5-percent share and T5 lamps a 10.9-percent share.

HID Lamp Indexes Decline during Third Quarter of 2015NEMA’s shipment indexes for high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps declined in the third quarter of 2015. Compared to the same period last year, sodium vapor lamp shipments fell 12.3 percent,

shipments of mercury vapor lamps decreased by 16.3 percent, and shipments of metal halide lamps decreased by 14.5 percent.

Mercury vapor lamps accounted for 3.7 percent of high-intensity discharge lamp sales in 3Q 2015, while sodium vapor and metal halide lamps accounted for 33.2 percent and 63.1 percent, respectively. ei


Economic Spotlight

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI) for current conditions in North America fell to 41.2 in December, as a larger share of panelists reported that conditions deteriorated (35 percent) than reported they improved (18 percent).

Forty-seven percent of the panelists stated that the business environment was unchanged. The December EBCI reading represented a substantial decline from November’s reading of 58.3. In November, only 17 percent of panelists claimed that business conditions worsened, while 33 percent reported that they improved and 50 percent stated that they were unchanged.

The survey’s measure of the intensity of change in industry business conditions also swung to negative territory in December, dropping from +0.2 to -0.2 in November. Panelists are asked to report intensity of change on a scale ranging from –5 (deteriorated significantly) through 0 (unchanged) to +5 (improved significantly).

Meanwhile, the EBCI for future North American conditions slipped to 52.9 in December from 55.6 in November. A smaller share of panelists in December (29 percent) expect conditions to improve over the next six months than was the case in November (33 percent). A slightly larger share in December (24 percent) expect conditions will deteriorate than was the case in November (22 percent). The share expecting to see no change in business conditions rose to 47 percent in December from 44 percent in November. ei

Tim Gill, Deputy Chief Economist, NEMA | [email protected]

Ű NEMA Business Conditions Indexes Retreat in December


Economic Spotlight

PxC15-1678_HanoverFair Pass_8.5x10.875.indd 1 1/12/2016 11:30:28 AM

Having promoted American manufacturing for more than 15 years, joining NEMA was a natural fit.

My appreciation for American manufacturing

was born in the specialty chemicals and plastics arenas; my experience is gleaned from the service contracting, engineering, and manufacturing markets; and my love of communications comes with strong ties to international business publishers.

As a veteran of high-stakes communications, this is a great opportunity for me to exert my entrepreneurial drive, build cohesive teams and generate campaigns that grow revenue, influence public policy agendas, and generate favorable publicity across multiple channels.

I am especially excited about using my experience in digital media management to grow NEMA’s social media presence and lead the redesign of www.nema.org.

NEMA is a prestigious association, and I am delighted to be a part of it, working to advance America’s electrical and medical imaging innovations.

StoCK art CreDitS

Cover, 2: ©iStockphoto.com/aurumarcus10: ©iStockphoto.com/ gecko75312: ©iStockphoto.com/Adelevin20: ©iStockphoto.com/mbortolino

20: ©iStockphoto.com/bygermina28-29 karandaev / Dollar Photo Club32 Sergey Nivens / Dollar Photo Club34: ©iStockphoto.com/DAVID MARIUZ

NEMAI AM

NEMAI AM

Prior to joining NEMA in August 2013, I was in the dark about the complexity and changing nature of the lighting industry. At the time I had a limited knowledge of the electroindustry and was unaware of how many components go into creating the lights I use in my everyday life.

As a senior associate in NEMA/BIS, I was responsible for assisting with many of the market data programs, and I quickly saw the importance of the data collected every month, with each report providing a snapshot into the changing market dynamics.

Over the past two and a half years, I have seen the landscape of the lighting industry shift, as new energy-efficient technologies developed and emerged in the market. The insights that emerge from the data collected each month have painted a picture of the lighting industry that is passed on to members through services such as market data reports and lighting indices. As the lighting industry continues to evolve, the market data serves as an invaluable resource for members as they forge a path into the future of lighting.

This past year I was offered the opportunity to take on greater responsibility within NEMA. As manager of the lighting and power equipment market data programs, I am able to work more closely with other staff members to better support section activities.

Through working with industry directors and government affairs personnel, I have seen that guiding our members into a bright future is a goal shared by all of NEMA.

from DarKneSS to ligHt

Serra Temizer, Manager, Business Information Services

aDVanCing eleCtriCal anD meDiCal imaging innoVationS

Tracy Cullen Senior Director, Communications and Marketing


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CSA Ad No. CS-14-238Full Page, 4 color processTrim Size: 8.5" X 10.875"Bleed Size: 8.75" X 11.125"NEMA electroindustryAlexander Marketing Services, Inc.Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504 USAJob No. 13-CS-0199January 9, 2014

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