Southern Supermarket Chain Rings Up $235,000 in Energy Savings with Full Cart of GE Lighting Solutions

Press release:

26 June 2012

Southern Supermarket Chain Rings Up $235,000 in Energy Savings with Full Cart of GE Lighting Solutions

• 
• View Details

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio – June 21, 2012 – (NYSE:GE) – Brookshire Brothers (Lufkin, Texas) operates 72 retail supermarkets in an area covering Texas and Louisiana. Supporting its simple mission to “Create a satisfied customer!” the company recently launched a facility-wide lighting update including in-store, parking lot, exterior signage and refrigerated case fixtures. Using a myriad of new linear fluorescent lighting (LFL) and LED technologies from GE Lighting, Brookshire Brothers will, once all of its stores have been completed, reduce its annual operating costs more than $235,000 while establishing a model for energy-efficient lighting renovations at its stores.

“When we looked at options to impact our total energy costs, we identified several areas at different stores where new lighting, including LED fixtures, made a compelling case, both indoors and out,” said Eric Johnson, director of construction for Brookshire Brothers. “Shortly after we met with our GE Lighting team to understand the anticipated electricity and maintenance savings, then made what was an easy decision to move forward.”

Indoor retrofits return significant savings…Re-lamping of linear fluorescent lighting (LFL) fixtures is now complete at 69 Brookshire Brothers locations where GE’s more energy-efficient 28-watt T8 has replaced 32-watt bulbs in approximately 450 four-lamp fixtures per 30,000-square-foot supermarket. These efforts include the replacement of existing ballasts with GE’s high-efficiency UltraMax® electronic ballasts as needed. Each UltraMax ballast installed will create additional energy savings of approximately eight watts per fixture.

Brookshire Brothers will save an average $3,200 per store per year in electricity expense after switching to GE’s 28-watt solution – a more than $220,000 annual cost benefit to the company based on a $.09 kWh electricity rate and 12 hours use per day. The company plans to explore even more efficient 25-watt GE lamps and UltraStart® ballasts to suit future needs.

Outdoor area light efficiency adds up…Five supermarket parking lots, including company headquarters, have thus far been retrofit with GE Evolve™ LED Area Lights, bringing high-quality white illumination and energy savings to these spaces. Brookshire Brothers first worked closely with GE to create improved new lighting designs in the lots. GE’s 210-watt Area Lights displaced 400-watt high-intensity discharge (HID) fixtures in two lots while in the others, 1,000-watt HIDs were replaced by 270-watt Area Lights.

As a result of this substantial watts-per-fixture reduction, Brookshire Brothers will save more than $14,000 annually in electricity costs and further stands to diminish maintenance time and expense. Where its 400- and 1,000-watt HID fixtures had been rated for 20,000- and 15,000-hours life respectively, GE’s new Area Lights have a rated life of 50,000 hours.

Other LED installations cut cost…Brookshire Brothers’ outdoor lighting updates further included aesthetically attractive Wallighter™ Luminaires mounted on buildings for extra security around entrances and walkways. Several locations have also incorporated GE Tetra® LED Lighting Systems to complement the enhanced exterior appearance of the stores. Delivering up to 80 percent energy savings, reduced maintenance and long service life, GE’s commercial signage technology provides more uniform light compared to traditional fluorescent and neon options.

GE’s Immersion™ RV40 LED lighting is meanwhile enhancing color and light-level uniformity in refrigerated display cases in four Brookshire Brothers locations, which house 100 frozen food doors on average. GE’s lighting system virtually eliminates distracting light-source glare and wasteful light spill typical of fluorescent-equipped displays. The LED lights will deliver a 60 percent energy reduction and are rated for 50,000-hours life – four times longer than the fluorescent lighting they replaced.

“When I walk into a store that hasn’t been converted, I know I’ll find at least seven doors that aren’t lit for one reason or another,” explains Johnson. “Our electrical contractor told me, ‘You wouldn’t believe how much of the work we do for you is to repair fluorescent door lighting.’ In the stores that have been converted everything is lit 100 percent of the time. That adds up to sales right there.”

Johnson further plans to specify Immersion LED lighting in a forthcoming conversion of medium-temperature open cases to closed-door cases in a number of stores.

Additionally, wine displays in two stores have been lit with GE’s energy smart® LED Replacement Lamps, ideal for applications in which a narrow, focused beam spread is preferred. Forty-five 75-watt halogen lamps (940 lumens) in each store were changed to long-life GE 10-watt PAR30 LED floodlights (500 lumens). Previously, Brookshire Brothers had replaced an average 50 halogen bulbs per location each year. Now, the company will count $3,200 in combined annual energy and maintenance savings, meaning GE’s wine display lighting solution will pay for itself after only 13 months.

GE’s energy smart® LED Replacement Lamps will soon be added to several other supermarket displays as well to continue the optical enrichment of customers’ shopping experience.

“The store directors have all been impressed,” Johnson said. “The parking lots shine, the signage is crisper and the colors of the products show much better. There have only been very positive comments. I feel we’ve found our standard for lighting moving forward.

“In each case where new LED lighting was specified, it was easy to support that decision financially through decreased energy consumption, reduced maintenance, increased dependability and extended lamp life.”

Johnson added that GE’s LED lighting solutions will be considered in time for 32 convenience store locations also operated by Brookshire Brothers.

High efficiency LEDs and fluorescent lamps come in a range of brightness options. For more information about the GE Lighting products used in this project, visit www.gelightingsolutions.com.

About Brookshire BrothersFounded in 1921, Brookshire Brothers has 72 retail supermarkets in predominantly rural markets and in the outskirts of the Houston metro area. With 6,000 employee-owners in two states, the company is also one of the largest retail outlets of Conoco fuel. Brookshire Brothers also operates thirty Polk Pick It Up convenience stores in the markets it serves.

About GE Lighting
GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs over 17,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the Reveal^® and Energy Smart^® consumer brands, and Evolve™, GTx, Immersion ™, Infusion ™, Lumination^™ and Tetra^® commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information, visit www.gelighting.com.

General Electric - Press Releases - Upgrade to GE’s Energy-Efficient Soft White Bulb and Start Saving - GE

General Electric - Press Releases - Upgrade to GE’s Energy-Efficient Soft White Bulb and Start Saving - GE

GE LED Lamps Bring New Glow to New Zealand’s Wanganui City Bridge

22 June 2012

GE LED Lamps Bring New Glow to New Zealand’s Wanganui City Bridge

 

• 
•  View Details

 

New Zealand — June 22, 2012 — (NYSE:GE) — The Whanganui River is New Zealand’s third longest river and holds special significance in Māori culture. At the mouth of the river is Wanganui, an area renowned for culture, heritage, the Wanganui National Park and river adventures. The rich history of Wanganui is displayed throughout the city center in its beautifully conserved heritage buildings and tree-lined avenues. One of the few road bridges across the Whanganui River is the Wanganui City Bridge.

The Wanganui District Council embarked on a trial of different LED light sources as an alternative to conventional technology used for the Wanganui City Bridge. Besides improved illumination for this key roadway, the district council aimed to explore alternatives that would conserve precious energy resources.

With the aim of providing the same light levels on the ground while offering adequate savings to justify the replacement of the conventional light sources, Evolve NZ Ltd, an engineering firm in Sydney, provided the district council with a solution using GE’s 80W R150 LED lamps. The fittings have the backing of a local supplier in New Zealand and the support of GE Lighting.

Today, the Wanganui City Bridge sports a refreshing new look at night as a result of the new GE LED luminaires. The 14 new fittings on the bridge will save the Wanganui District Council up to NZ$9,000 (USD $7.4K) over the life of the fittings in terms of reduced power and maintenance costs. This translates into a payback period of 6.2 years.

GE’s LED fittings are a better choice compared to the Wanganui City Bridge’s existing Sodium Lights, as they offer the following benefits:

• Energy savings: from 165-watts to 80-watts: Each LED fitting consumes only 80 watts of power (less than the amount of power consumed by a 100-watt bulb in your home). There is a 52 percent power saving from the previous Sodium Light fittings. The new luminaires direct the light to where it is needed while reducing the glare from the fitting to less than 5 percent. There is no wasted upward light leakage from the new fittings.
• Reduced maintenance: LEDs have a longer life than Sodium Lights and can last between 12 to 15 years. Over the same period, the existing Sodium fittings would have to be changed 3 to 4 times.
• Improved light output: White light, produced by the installed LEDs, makes driving at night a pleasure. Colors are rendered more accurately, so drivers can see more clearly while behind the wheel. Security cameras also become more effective with the improved color rendition.

Mr. John Birks, General Manager of Evolve NZ Ltd, described the result in providing a far more natural environment, where people report feeling safer. “The white LED light makes for a more modern and vibrant atmosphere in the night space, where it is easier to see the real colors of life. We are expecting that this type of lighting will bring more people out to enjoy the city where we live.”

Councilor Ray Stevens, Chair of the Infrastructure and Property Committee of Wanganui District Council added, “There are clearly a range of potential benefits and savings for the public. The public will notice that the new LED light fittings create a ‘white light’ rather than an ‘orange glow’ from the Sodium Lights which were previously installed.”

The Wanganui District Council will progressively replace conventional fittings with LED light sources when these fittings reach end of life.

About GE Lighting
GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs over 17,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the Reveal^® and Energy Smart^® consumer brands, and Evolve™, GTx, Immersion ™, Infusion ™, Lumination™ and Tetra^® commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information, visitwww.gelighting.com.

GE Lighting’s Iberia LEDs Light One of the Longest and Most Modern Bridge in Morocco

News release:

22 June 2012

GE Lighting’s Iberia LEDs Light One of the Longest and Most Modern Bridge in Morocco

 

• 
•  View Details

 

Rabat, Morocco — June 22, 2012 — (NYSE:GE) — The Moulay el Hassan Bridge in Rabat, Morocco, is one of the longest and most modern bridges in the Alaouite Kingdom and is now illuminated thanks to GE Lighting’s Iberia LED, a versatile outdoor luminaire that combines design excellence with energy savings and an extraordinary luminous quality.

In the last decade, Morocco has undertaken an ambitious infrastructure modernization plan that has made its construction sector one of the most active in the Maghreb. The capital of Rabat has benefited from the modernity of contemporary architecture and all the monarchy’s efforts to attract foreign investment.

The Moulay el Hassan Bridge is the result of this massive nationwide renovation project. It replaces the old bridge that joined the cities of Salé and Rabat in the estuary of the Bouregreg River. The new structure forms part of the “Bouregreg” tourism complex, a 60-million-square-meter site where there are plans to build hotels, apartments and shopping and recreation centers in an attempt to revitalize the zone.

This bridge, named after the firstborn child of King Mohammed VI, Moulay el Hassan, and one of the most modern in the country, is 1,200 meters (m) long, 46 m wide and 12.8 m high. The Moulay el Hassan Bridge will ensure a smooth flow of traffic between the two sides. Marc Mimram, an internationally known consulting firm, designed and managed this project. SGTM (Morocco), the company in charge of the project, is responsible for executing the work begun by the king in December 2007.

Seeking the Ideal SolutionSGTM was aware of the importance of quality lighting because of the bridge’s relation to the royal family. For this reason, there were three fundamental conditions to be met: low maintenance costs, an aesthetically attractive design and a recognized brand that would assure the quality of the product and customer service. It was particularly important that GE offer strong technical support together with an excellent delivery time — essential requirements for building the bridge.

“We needed a brand that would assure a good product quality, and this was provided by GE Lighting with its factories in Europe, which boosted our trust in the manufacturing, finishes and speed of delivery,” said Mr. Mehdi Meziane Belfkih, Director of Maroc Signal.

Seventy-two Iberia LEDs have been used to light the new bridge. They have been installed at a height of 11 meters to ensure visibility on the three traffic lanes in each of the directions. In addition, the Moulay el Hassan Bridge has a pedestrian and cyclist crossing and a platform for two tramcar lines. For these reasons, energy-efficient lighting was essential to increase safety on the bridge.

The Iberia LED offers a considerable increase of both vertical and horizontal uniformity. This, together with the high chromatic reproduction of the LED technology (white light), facilitates facial recognition and boosts visual comfort. Thanks to its advanced design, the light can be specifically targeted to where it is supposed to be. The long useful lifetime of the LED — 50,000 hours — considerably reduces maintenance and replacement costs, which make it a particularly suitable solution for public lighting whenever considerable cost reductions are sought.

Referring to these luminaires, Ana Cantero, GE Product Manager Outdoor Fittings EMEA, says, “The elegant design of the Iberia LED, together with its advanced optical system, makes this luminaire the ideal solution for illuminating this bridge. GE Lighting has achieved the environmental friendliness objective pursued by the lighting project for the bridge.”

With the installation of this new system, GE Lighting has provided the city of Rabat with significant savings in energy and maintenance costs, which was one of the objectives of this project that sought the most modern, technologically advanced systems available.

About GE Lighting
GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs over 17,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the Reveal^® and Energy Smart^® consumer brands, and Evolve™, GTx, Immersion ™, Infusion ™, Lumination™ and Tetra^® commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information, visitwww.gelighting.com.

John Lewis Specifies GE Lighting’s CMH Ultra

News release:

22 June 2012

John Lewis Specifies GE Lighting’s CMH Ultra

 

• 
•  View Details

 

United Kingdom — June 22, 2012 — (NYSE:GE) — GE Lighting’s portfolio of CMH Ultra lamps have been specified by John Lewis, a household name of department stores in the UK, for the retailer’s new build and refurbishment program. Embodied into Edge Lighting’s range of high-efficiency luminaires, GE’s CMH Ultra optimizes light output and provides superior color rendering and uniformity. Consequently by design and specification, John Lewis has reduced energy consumption by more than 50 percent, while also improving the look and feel of its stores.

John Lewis department stores operate throughout the UK and are owned by the John Lewis Partnership. The retailer’s flagship store on Oxford Street is the largest branch in the partnership and was one of the first stores to benefit from a retrofit with GE Lighting lamps.

GE Lighting’s CMH Ultra range has been designed specifically for retail environments, providing high efficiency, long life and superb overall lighting quality — ideal for enhancing retail displays and optimizing merchandise illumination.

Barry Ayling, Lighting Design Manager at John Lewis Partnership commented, “As a responsible retailer, John Lewis endeavors to minimize its impact on the environment. By specifying GE Lighting’s CMH Ultra range, we have significantly reduced energy consumption without compromising the look and feel of our stores. Visually, the stores and merchandise appear more vibrant in color, and energy and maintenance costs are reduced and sustainability is optimized.”

James Fleet, GE Lighting’s Specification Sales Manager adds, “John Lewis has continually demonstrated its proactive adoption of energy-efficient technology. CMH Ultra satisfies all project parameters and we are delighted with the results.”

As the European Union continues its phase-out of inefficient light bulbs, it's crucial that retail users start making the switch to modern alternatives, as traditional lamps may no longer be available when it comes to eventual replacement. In addition, the sooner the switch is made, the sooner retailers can reap the benefits of energy-efficient lighting.

Whether it is a new store construction or an existing store retrofit, GE Lighting has some of the most innovative lighting solutions specifically designed for retail applications. GE Lighting is a leader in the retail lighting channel and has a proven track record of helping customers present merchandise in the best possible light, while reducing operating costs.

About GE Lighting
GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs over 17,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the Reveal^® and Energy Smart^® consumer brands, and Evolve™, GTx, Immersion ™, Infusion ™, Lumination™ and Tetra^® commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information, visitwww.gelighting.com.

Florianópolis Celebrates the City’s Anniversary with New LED Public Lighting

News release:

22 June 2012

Florianópolis Celebrates the City’s Anniversary with New LED Public Lighting

 

• 
•  View Details

 

Beira-Mar Norte bicycle lane boasts more efficient and sustainable lighting

Florianópolis, Brazil — June 22, 2012 — (NYSE:GE) — Florianópolis, the capital city of Santa Catarina, Brazil, inaugurated the first phase of its new LED lighting project in March along the bicycle lane on Beira-Mar Norte, the city’s main avenue. Distributor SQE LUZ led the project, timed to coincide with the commemoration of the city’s 286th anniversary, in partnership with GE Lighting.

In all, Brazil’s fourth-leading city will install 366 GE Evolve™ Cobrahead LED fixtures. The LED systems consume 50 percent less energy than the previously installed mercury vapor lamps. With a 50,000-hour rated life, these lights also last five to six times longer than the previous technology. This durability will allow the city to spend less on maintenance.

In addition to the savings they represent, GE’s Evolve™ Cobrahead LED fixtures are weatherproof, an ideal characteristic for areas exposed to high salinity and corrosion, thanks to GE’s exclusive fixture housing. The fixtures also offer a smaller surface area to combat the effects of wind.

“Known for its natural beauty, this city is also providing a concrete example of sustainable growth by choosing LED technology to light its public areas,” noted Lionel Ramirez, President and CEO of GE Lighting Latin America. “We are proud to contribute toward building a Brazil that prizes development and respects the environment.”

Ramirez also added that GE Lighting is increasing its global spending on research and development toward finding energy-efficient solutions by 20 percent in 2012.

GE’s Evolve™ Cobrahead LED SystemThe LED system chosen for the bicycle lane was named “Best in Class” in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Next Generation Luminaires. The contest recognizes excellence in LED lighting design.

The advantages of LED lighting include a long life and the ability to direct light to certain areas, reducing wasted energy and glare. LEDs offer brighter and more uniform illumination that improves visibility and color quality. Fixtures need to be changed less often, meaning reduced labor costs and traffic disruptions, as well as greater security.

The Beira-Mar Norte project will reduce lighting-related greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent*. SQE LUZ, an authorized GE distributor in Santa Catarina State, will complete the installation in four phases and will be responsible for maintaining the LED systems used in Florianópolis.

“We are pleased to be able to rely on a trusted brand such as GE to bring the latest in technological innovation to our city,” commented Luciano Renzetti, manager of SQE LUZ-Florianópolis. “We hope to close other projects for the state in the near future.”

About the City of FlorianópolisLocated in central-east Santa Catarina State, Florianópolis is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and boasts more than 100 beaches. Most of the city (97.23%) is on Santa Catarina Island, known as the Magic Island. According to the 2010 IBGE Census, Florianópolis has a population of 421,000. It ranks as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations, known for the seashore at Canasvieiras, popular among Argentines and Uruguayans; the glamor of Jurerê Internacional; the famous Costão do Santinho resort; and surfing and hipster meccas such as Joaquina and Praia Mole.

About SQE LUZSQE LUZ operates public lighting systems for the largest cities in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, among them Florianópolis, Joinville, São José and São Francisco do Sul. Its highly qualified technical team uses programs and technology designed especially for public lighting by Arcadis Logos S.A., a world-renowned engineering company. Its public lighting services range from a toll-free customer service number and website to control of energy costs, geo-referenced registration of the public lighting system, planning, maintenance and projects using the most modern public lighting technologies to ensure excellent service under municipal control and oversight.

For more information please visit: www.sqeluz.com.br.

About GE Lighting
GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs over 17,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the Reveal^® and Energy Smart^® consumer brands, and Evolve™, GTx, Immersion ™, Infusion ™, Lumination™ and Tetra^® commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information, visitwww.gelighting.com.

(*) Values were calculated using “The Lighting Assistant^TM” offered by GE that examines the projected impact of lighting decisions based on EPA’s Energy Star 2007, 2010 Campaign General Assumption Sheet da EPA. Neither this tool nor the analysis generated by this tool, in any way constitutes or implies either a warranty of lamp or ballast performance or a guarantee of the actual costs or savings that will be realized or the appropriateness of the solutions suggested.

Cracking Molecular Structures with Bright Lights – and a Few Good Eggs

Post from the Department of Energy blog:

http://energy.gov/articles/cracking-molecular-structures-bright-lights-and-few-good-eggs

United States, Canada Announce Next Phase of U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue

Press release:

United States, Canada Announce Next Phase of U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue

June 21, 2012 - 2:15pm

WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environment Canada released the U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue (CED) Action Plan II, outlining the next phase of activities the two countries will undertake to jointly advance clean energy technologies.

The new action plan renews the commitment between the United States and Canada to work together on carbon capture and storage technologies; build more efficient, clean, “smart” electrical grids; and advance clean energy research and development.  Action Plan II also places a greater emphasis on energy efficiency to take advantage of the approaches and tools in each country to help facilitate the uptake of energy efficient technologies and practices.

“This plan is ambitious and demonstrates our continued commitment to international collaboration to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and ensure that both of our nations benefit from the tremendous opportunities in clean energy,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “The United States and Canada are working together to continue to address technology gaps to support the development and deployment of new clean energy technologies into the marketplace.”

The accomplishments to date under the CED include completing the final phase of the Weyburn-Midale Carbon Dioxide Monitoring and Storage Project, as well as the North American Carbon Storage Atlas.  The final phase of the Weyburn Project focuses on best practices for the safe and permanent storage of carbon dioxide used in enhanced oil recovery.  The Atlas is the first-ever to map the potential carbon dioxide (CO2) storage capacity in North America.

Ongoing and new initiatives under Action Plan II will include projects to enhance collaboration to ensure the integrity of permanent CO2 storage in geological formations, an initiative to clarify U.S. and Canadian regulatory authorities for deployment of offshore renewable energy and technologies, and further investigating the potential of power storage technologies.

The CED was established in 2009 by President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to encourage the development of clean energy technologies to reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change in both countries.

The Clean Energy Dialogue Action Plan II is available HERE.

FACTSHEET: Energy Department Launches Open-Source Online Training Resource to Help Students, Workers Gain Valuable Skills

Press release:

FACTSHEET: Energy Department Launches Open-Source Online Training Resource to Help Students, Workers Gain Valuable Skills

June 21, 2012 - 7:47am

The Energy Department and SRI International today officially launched the National Training and Education Resource (NTER), an open-source platform for job training, workforce development and certification. NTER was envisioned by the Department and developed by SRI.

WASHINGTON -- As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to invest in skills for American workers, the Energy Department officially launched today its National Training and Education Resource (NTER), an open-source platform that brings together information technologies to support education, training and workforce development.  The program facilitates training programs across a wide range of applications – from home energy audits to science, mathematics and engineering education to manufacturing industries.  NTER is one of a number of significant steps the Department is taking to ensure U.S. workers have the training they need lead in the 21^st century global economy.

Building off a beta version released last year, NTER provides public and private organizations free access to the federal resources available at www.nterlearning.org, offering an open-source, web-based interactive learning environment for developing customizable training programs and materials. This resource also allows partner organizations to develop and distribute training materials quickly and cost-effectively, reaching more individuals and saving money.

Over the past year, the Energy Department has worked with private software developers to enhance the platform’s 3D capabilities, providing highly interactive content such as visual walkthroughs or full performance-based assessments. NTER recently transitioned to the cloud, providing scalable and flexible architecture that supports innovative, efficient online engagement.

Developing a New Generation of Energy Workers


At its inception, NTER provided training and workforce development support around housing energy efficiency, offering a host of interactive lessons for today’s energy audit and weatherization experts. Since 2009, these efforts have helped the Obama Administration complete energy efficiency upgrades in more than 1 million homes nationwide.

As part of the Department’s commitment to provide Americans with the skills they need to compete in the global clean energy race, we are expanding training modules to include other clean energy sectors.  For example, the Energy Department is working with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) to develop a program for IREC’s Solar Instructor Training Network, which provides training for building code officials who issue permits for solar energy installations on homes and businesses.

In partnership with the Edison Electric Institute and the Center for Energy Workforce Development, the Energy Department helped launch the “Troops to Energy Jobs” program to help increase opportunities for veterans in the energy sector. This initiative will leverage the NTER platform to provide transitional career training to help veterans gain the skills they need to get jobs in the energy industry.

Supporting American Manufacturing and Industrial Workers


Through NTER, the Energy Department is also collaborating with private industry to develop training and certification programs for manufacturing and industrial workers across the country.

Labor organizations, such as the National Insulation Association and the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, are leveraging NTER to offer free, interactive modules to train workers on design, installation and maintenance of mechanical insulation. These tools can also help building architects and engineers, as well as facility owners, better understand mechanical insulation systems.
“The NTER platform has provided our International Union with an up-to-date technology to deliver educational and training materials that we once delivered via manuals and books. Today’s generation of apprentices welcome the use of this tool and technology as a teaching method, demonstrating the basics and fundamentals in the mechanical insulation industry.”


- Thomas Haun, National Training Director, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers


The Manufacturing Institute, an affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), is working with the Energy Department to use NTER as a cutting-edge vehicle to implement the NAM-endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System across the nation’s network of community colleges and high schools. The certification system provides students with opportunities to earn manufacturing credentials that are accepted across state lines, are valued by a range of employers and can improve participants’ earning power.

Providing Cost-Effective Curriculum for Students


The Energy Department is also committed to providing students at community colleges and universities around the country access to reliable, engaging, inexpensive learning tools. As part of this commitment, we’ve partnered with the Department of Labor (DOL) to support its Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training program. Through this effort, DOL is working with community colleges and other higher education institutions to help American workers acquire the skills and credentials they need for high-wage, high-skill employment. One of these projects, led by the Illinois Green Economy Network and the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Ill., is leveraging the NTER platform and sharing interactive course materials within a consortium of over 30 community colleges.

Additionally, in Warren, Mich., Macomb Community College is using NTER to enhance several of its electric vehicle oriented courses as part of its comprehensive education programming in workforce training, professional certification and career preparation programs.

Learn more about NTER at www.nterlearning.org.

Gore bashes Romney on green jobs - The Hill's E2-Wire

Al Gore is bashing Mitt Romney for obscuring the truth over how many green jobs are being created. 

Gore writes that Romney and other conservatives want to bury the facts about the size of the green-energy economy.

“It should no longer be a surprise the lengths to which Mitt Romney and other conservatives will go to obscure truth in pursuit of their narrow ideology,” the former vice president wrote on his blog late Wednesday afternoon.

For more, click the link below:

Gore bashes Romney on green jobs - The Hill's E2-Wire

GE Roadway Lighting Puts Energy Savings in the Fast Lane

Press release:

19 June 2012

GE Roadway Lighting Puts Energy Savings in the Fast Lane

 

• 
•  View Details

 

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — June 19, 2012 — (NYSE: GE) — Whether it's a rural road or a major metropolitan highway, GE Lighting now offers cities of every size a fitting solution for illuminating streets. New GE Evolve™ LED Scalable Cobrahead fixtures are the next evolution of GE Lighting's LED roadway lighting technology, reducing energy use up to 50 percent compared to standard high-intensity discharge (HID) systems. Four sizes are immediately available to meet virtually any municipal code. 

"Some cities spend up to 60 percent of electricity consumption on street lighting," says Tim Miller, senior product manager for GE Lighting. "Others are already saving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year with GE Evolve LED roadway fixtures."

Miller added that LED systems also last up to five times longer than HID lamps, further reducing the frequency and expense of maintenance.

After the Evolve LED Cobrahead won Best-in-Class ('Street/Roadway Lighting') in the U.S. Department of Energy 2009 Next Generation Luminaires Design Competition, GE asked its top engineers to make it even better—and they did. The new Evolve LED Scalable Cobraheads offer increased light output and more pavement distribution patterns to suit a wider range of roadway classifications, while using up to 25 percent fewer watts than original LED Cobrahead fixtures.

It's All in the Aim
Evolve LED Scalable Cobraheads have a unique reflective optical design that uses less light and efficiently aims it precisely where needed, reducing glare and wasteful spill light. Available in color temperatures of 4000K or 5700K and providing between 3,000 and 21,900 initial lumen output, GE's new roadway lights preserve the aesthetic appeal of original Cobrahead fixtures and incorporate a robust heat sink that does not rely on air movement to effectively cool the unit.

The Road to Energy Savings
Rated for 50,000 hours, GE's Scalable Cobrahead fixtures can provide more than 11 years of reliable service (based on 12 hours of operation per day) with less than 15 percent reduction of initial light output.

In fact, new Evolve LED Scalable Cobraheads are already at work in Las Vegas where city officials recently specified GE's LED roadway lights for arterial streets and residential thoroughfares. More than 35,000 fixtures will be installed throughout the city over the next 12 months, reducing annual electricity costs by more than $1.5 million.

Dimmable Controllers Drive Down Costs
Scalable Cobrahead fixtures can be paired with the GE Monitor™ Stand-Alone Controller to achieve even greater cost savings. The controller turns on at dusk, dims at the predetermined time to a preset amount, returns to full brightness at 5 a.m., and turns off at dawn, offering 20-30 percent energy savings above normal photocell operation (based on $.10/kWh and 4 hr. nightly dimming at 50 percent).

To learn more about the many advantages of new Evolve LED Roadway Scalable Cobrahead fixtures visitwww.gelightingsolutions.com.

GE Lighting

GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs over 17,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the Reveal® and Energy Smart® consumer brands, and Evolve™, GTx, Immersion™, Infusion™, Lumination™ and Tetra® commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information, visitwww.gelighting.com.

First Commercial IBM Hot-Water Cooled Supercomputer to Consume 40% Less Energy

Leibniz's "SuperMUC" named Europe's fastest supercomputer

For IBM press release, click the link below:

http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/38065.wss

GE to Supply Japan’s JFE Steel Co. with Multi-Fuel, On-Site Power Solution at Chiba Steel Mill

Press release:

18 June 2012

GE to Supply Japan’s JFE Steel Co. with Multi-Fuel, On-Site Power Solution at Chiba Steel Mill

 

• GE’s Frame 9E Gas Turbine to Power 150-Megawatt, Combined-Cycle Power Project at JFE’s East Japan Iron Works
• Power Plant to Utilize Steel Production Gases to Generate On-Site Power, Reduce Mill’s Emissions
• Project Illustrates GE’s Global Ability in Providing Distributed Power Solutions for Steel Industry

SCHENECTADY, N.Y.—June 18, 2012—With the global steel industry working to reduce the environmental impact of its production activities, GE (NYSE: GE) is supplying Japan steel producer JFE Steel Co. Ltd. with a heavy duty Frame 9E gas turbine system for an innovative steel gas-to-energy recovery project at the company’s East Japan Iron Works in Chiba City, located in the Keiyo (Tokyo-Chiba) Industrial Park east of Tokyo.

Engineering, procurement and construction contractor Toshiba Plant Systems & Services Corp. will install GE’s 9E gas turbine as well as a GE-designed 9A5 generator and associated equipment at JFE’s new 150-megawatt (MW), multiple fuel, combined-cycle power plant. The sprawling steel mill operation produces about 8 million tons of crude steel annually, according to JFE.

East Japan Works has a strict resource and energy conservation program in place. The new combined-cycle plant will mainly use the steel mill’s own blast furnace and coke oven gases to generate on-site power for the mill’s operations and significantly reduce the site’s annual carbon dioxide emissions.

GE also will provide maintenance services through a comprehensive, 15-year parts supply and repair service agreement to further enhance customer value and the availability of the power plant. GE’s contractual service agreements (CSAs) are structured to provide customers with predictable maintenance costs, while ensuring high availability and a steady revenue flow from power plant operations. To date, GE has long-term service agreements in place at more than 700 sites worldwide.

“As one of the world’s leading supplier of gas turbines, we are excited to demonstrate how our heavy duty turbines have the operational flexibility to help JFE and other steel producers effectively deal with their gases that have fluctuating thermal qualities,” said Paul Browning, president and CEO—Thermal Products for GE Energy.

With its flexible fuel handling capabilities, GE’s workhorse Frame 9E gas turbine—which has compiled more than 20 million hours of utility and industrial service worldwide—can accommodate a broad spectrum of fuels including natural gas, light and heavy distillate oil, naphtha, crude, residual oil, blast furnace gas and biofuels. It also can burn a variety of syngases produced from oil or coal. Moreover, GE gas turbine technology provides for reduced impact on the operation and maintenance of the gas turbine and is favored for its reliability, durability and flexibility.

GE expects to begin delivering its generating equipment to Japan in December 2013. JFE’s East Japan Iron Works power plant is scheduled to begin operating in June 2015.

While the JFE-Chiba project marks GE’s first steel mill gas-to-energy project in Japan, the company has established itself as a global leader in steel mill gas-to-energy recovery projects that support a wide range of power outputs. For example:

• In November 2011, GE announced an order to supply its 9E gas turbine technology for a new 170-megawatt power plant at Handan Iron & Steel‘s mill in Handan City, China. In 2010, Wuhan Iron & Steel began operating an on-site waste gas-to-energy plant powered by two of GE’s 9E gas turbines. Meanwhile, additional coke oven gas projects in China are utilizing GE’s Frame 6B gas turbines.

• For steel mill distributed power applications under 100 MW, GE also offers its aeroderivative gas turbine and Jenbacher specialty gas enginetechnologies. Key projects include the Henan Liyuen Char Group Company’s coke gas-fired, aeroderivative gas turbine combined cycle plant at LiYuan, China. The 62-MW plant was commissioned in 2011 and is powered by two of GE’s LM2500+ aeroderivative units. Meanwhile, more than 50 of GE’s Jenbacher engines are powering smaller steel gas-to-energy power plants worldwide, including pioneering projects in Bilbao and Avilés in northern Spain.

These diverse applications illustrate how GE is providing the steel industry’s global supply chain with more reliable, energy-efficient on-site power solutions.

GE Global Industries, GE Energy’s new cross-business unit, takes the best technologies from across GE Energy’s diverse portfolio and interconnects them to increase efficiency and results for customers in critical business sectors including the metals, mining, food and beverage, petrochemicals and unconventional fuel industries.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

GE Energy works connecting people and ideas everywhere to create advanced technologies for powering a cleaner, more productive world. With more than 100,000 employees in over 100 countries, our diverse portfolio of product and service solutions and deep industry expertise help our customers solve their challenges locally. We serve the energy sector with technologies in such areas as natural gas, oil, coal and nuclear energy; wind, solar, biogas and water processing; energy management; and grid modernization. We also offer integrated solutions to serve energy and water-intensive industries such as mining, metals, marine, petrochemical, food and beverage and unconventional fuels.

Follow GE Energy on Twitter @GE_Energy.

Press release:

Lockheed Martin, DOE Funds to Support Alliance to Save Energy Program at 3 Prince George’s Public Schools

Pilot 2011-12 Green Schools Program Deemed Great Success

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2012 – Lockheed Martin and a local energy efficiency program have committed to the continued funding of the Alliance to Save Energy’sGreen Schools program in three Prince George’s County, Md. public schools based on the measurable energy and cost savings achieved by a pilot program.

Starting in December, more than 50 second to eighth graders formed “Green Teams,” learned about energy sources, use and measurement – and how they, along with faculty and maintenance staff, could reduce their schools’ energy use and costs. Their efforts resulted in a nearly 12 percent reduction that saved $3,968 in February and March at University Park and Hyattsville Elementary Schools and Nicholas Orem Middle School.

STEP-UP, the U.S. Department of Energy-funded Small Town Energy Program for University Park, has provided support and logistics at its neighborhood elementary school this year and will fully fund the Green Schools program there next year. STEP-UP’s goal is to improve energy efficiency by 20 percent in at least 20 percent of University Park’s homes.

“We are thrilled with our preliminary program results and with this ‘vote of confidence’ from Lockheed Martin and STEP-UP,” said Alliance Vice President for Education Merrilee Harrigan. We look forward to even more savings – and more awareness of energy efficiency in the schools and in the wider communities – in the coming school year.”

“Lockheed Martin understands the importance of building strong science, technology, engineering and math skills at an early age,” said Lockheed Martin’s Director of Energy Programs Roger Flanagan. “Through this program, we hope to inspire the students to not only continue applying their knowledge of energy efficiency elsewhere, but also to think about future careers in engineering.”

“This program allowed students to have hands-on learning experiences,” said Prince George’s County Public Schools Board of Education member Amber Waller. “But more importantly, it provided them opportunities to work as a team with other students and school staff to make a difference in the way schools use energy, to develop and interpret data and share recommendations, to report on savings and achievements and to educate and engage parents and community members.”

For more information about the Alliance to Save Energy’s Green Schools Program, visit http://ase.org/programs/green-schools-program.

Lockheed Martin is an Associate member of the Alliance, a nonprofit that promotes energy efficiency. For more information about Lockheed Martin’s Energy Solutions, visit http://www.lockheedmartin.com/energysolutions

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, the economy and national security.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 123,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

GE Advances Wind Turbine Inspection Through Successful Robotic Trial

Press release:

13 June 2012

GE Advances Wind Turbine Inspection Through Successful Robotic Trial

 

Vertical climbing device equipped with high-tech camera can enable closer view and faster inspections
Use of microwave scanner to analyze composition and integrity of blade material also being explored

NISKAYUNA, N.Y., June 13, 2012 – GE Global Research is advancing technology that will make the inspection of wind turbines faster and more reliable for customers.

Currently, an inspector examines the massive turbine blades from the ground, about 100 meters (328’) away, by using a high-power telescope. Now, partnering with Ithaca, N.Y.-based International Climbing Machines (ICM), GE engineers have explored a way to do the work using a remote-controlled, robotic device that can scale the wind tower with a wireless, high-definition video camera strapped to its back.

The motivation for the closer inspection is to obtain a more accurate picture of the overall health of the wind turbine blades. From the safety of the ground, an inspector would have a real-time, view of the blades from less than 10 meters (33’) away, allowing for a more thorough examination and evaluation of their condition.

“Technology advances have helped to make GE’s wind turbine fleet the most reliable in the industry; we’re always looking for ways to strengthen this record. One way we can is by enabling more reliable inspections that can detect and mitigate potential issues even earlier,” says Waseem Faidi, Manager of the Nondestructive Evaluation Lab at GE Global Research.

Faidi continued, “The inspection technology platform GE is developing with ICM provides a closer view of the turbine blade to detect repair and service needs. And in the future, GE researchers are working on technology that will allow inspectors to see through the blade materials and identify potential issues well in advance of any service needs. This all will mean faster diagnosis and repair – minimizing the risk of failure or forced down-time of the turbine.”

GE is one of the world’s largest suppliers of wind turbines with a fleet of 18,000 turbines worldwide. Accurate and reliable servicing is critically important and GE’s suite of service offerings help owners and operators maximize both reliability and availability. GE more than doubled its investment in services research and development in 2010 and 2011 as it built a world-class portfolio of services. GE’s wind services solutions incorporate the company’s advanced technology, global resources and services facilities and a network of skilled, highly trained local technicians who are closely connected to GE’s engineering organization.

This new technology was recently tested at a wind farm in Texas with positive results. Other advantages to using the climber over conventional methods include better weather tolerance. No longer would inspections have to be delayed due to poor lighting conditions, rain, or snow.

GE scientists are also exploring other ways to take inspection technology to new heights. They are in the process of developing a microwave scanner that could be fitted onto the robotic vehicle, enabling an even better view of the wind blades. The use of microwaves would do more than provide a surface view; it would allow inspectors to see through the blade material giving an even earlier indication of any breakdown in the structure. At GE’s India Technology Center, scientists are also testing the use of small, helicopter-like vehicles that would provide for a similar view.

About GE Global Research

GE Global Research is the hub of technology development for all of GE's businesses. Our scientists and engineers redefine what’s possible, drive growth for our businesses and find answers to some of the world’s toughest problems.

We innovate 24 hours a day, with sites in Niskayuna, New York; Bangalore, India; Shanghai, China; Munich, Germany; and fifth global research facility to open in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Visit GE Global Research on the web atwww.ge.com/research. Connect with our technologists athttp://edisonsdesk.com and http://twitter.com/edisonsdesk.

###

Most Countries Need Major Changes in Systems for Sourcing and Consuming Energy to Support Future Demand Growth, Reports Accenture and World Economic Forum

News release:

June 13, 2012

Most Countries Need Major Changes in Systems for Sourcing and Consuming Energy to Support Future Demand Growth, Reports Accenture and World Economic Forum

 

Framework developed to help decision-makers assess, plan and support transition to future energy requirements

 

NEW YORK, June 13, 2012 – The continued increase in energy consumption, which is expected to grow by approximately 40 percent by 2035¹,will require significant changes in countries’ energy architectures as they try to meet the demands of economic growth, environmental sustainability and energy security, finds a joint report by Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and the World Economic Forum.

 

The report, New Energy Architecture: Enabling an Effective Transition, notes the shift to new energy architecture to secure sustainable and affordable energy will entail trade-offs and difficult choices for society. It also notes the path countries take to transform their energy architecture will have some common features – efficient, low-carbon and increasingly electrified systems -- but will vary according to their stage of economic development and their resource endowment.

 

“The scale and complexity of the energy industry calls for government, industry and civil society to be actively engaged in a dialogue and in managing the energy transition,” said Arthur Hanna, managing director, Accenture Energy industry group, and member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on New Energy Architecture. “Decisions to resolve the challenges of how energy is sourced, supplied and consumed cannot be made without a complete analysis and a baseline from which to work from.”

 

To help decision-makers in planning and driving an effective transition and to assess their progress, Accenture and the World Economic Forum have developed an Energy Architecture Performance Index. 124 countries were assessed across three dimensions: economic growth and development, environmental security, and energy access and security, which revealed much more needs to be done to accelerate the transition to meet future demands and towards energy efficiency. The assessment shows while almost all of the countries have improved the efficiency of their energy sector, the share of non-carbon energy in the total primary energy supply is still less than 5 percent for 69 of them. A surprising number also continue to struggle to meet their citizens’ basic energy needs: in 31 countries, over 50 percent of the population continues to use solid fuels for cooking purposes.

 

Energy Architecture Performance Index of 124 countries: Assessment based on Environmental Sustainability KPI

 

Source: New Energy Architecture: Enabling an Effective Transition

 

Roberto Bocca, senior director, head of energy industries, World Economic Forum, said, “Never before have we experienced such pressure for change in the way we source, supply and consume energy. Decision-makers must understand how their countries are affected by the changing dynamics and how they can effectively create desired change, as the choices they make will determine the speed, direction and cost of the transition."

 

To highlight the practical applications of the framework, two deep-dive country studies were completed in the report on India and Japan. The study on India underlined the challenges posed by supply bottlenecks, which present a considerable risk to the nation’s future growth. The authors suggest that India consider creating a unified energy regulator to support the expansion of its renewables sector; promote the development of decentralized distribution and generation to expand energy access; and rationalize energy prices through the gradual phase-out of subsidies. The Japan study underlined the “crisis of confidence” facing its energy sector in the wake of last year’s earthquake and tsunami. The report suggests that Japan consider establishing a fully independent nuclear regulatory agency; complete a full cost-benefit analysis of market liberalization in the electricity sector; and support the development of pan-Asian energy infrastructure.

 

About New Energy Architecture: Enabling an Effective Transition

The New Energy Architecture report benefited from the guidance and support of the World Economic Forum’s Industry Partners, as well as the Global Agenda Council on New Energy Architecture, and was produced in collaboration with Accenture. 

 

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 246,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$25.5 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2011. Its home page is www.accenture.com

 

# # #