This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

March 27, 2013

Winners Announced for Energy Efficient Lighting Design Competition

The Energy Department on March 20 announced the winners of the fifth annual Next Generation Luminaires™ Design competition for indoor lighting. Sponsored by the Energy Department, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, and the International Association of Lighting Designers, the competition promotes excellence in the design of energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) commercial lighting fixtures, or "luminaires." Solid-state lighting technologies, which include both LED and organic LED technologies, have the potential to save U.S. consumers $30 billion a year in energy costs by 2030.

A panel of 11 judges from the architectural lighting design community evaluated nearly 100 indoor lighting entries based on lighting quality, appearance, serviceability, efficacy, value, and dimming. The winners represent three different manufacturers and cover three distinct indoor lighting areas. Juno Lighting Group of Des Plaines, Illinois, was awarded "best in class" for its Trac-Master T254L Cylindra™ track-mounted accent luminaire. Digital Lumens of Boston, Massachusetts, was awarded "best in class" for its XLE-3-10 Xpress high-bay industrial luminaire. Additionally, Acuity Brands/Lithonia Lighting of Conyers, Georgia, was awarded "best in class" for its W Series LED stairwell luminaire.

In addition to the three "best in class" winners, 25 other entries were judged as meeting the rigorous requirements of the competition. These recognized winners represent a wide range of manufacturers and lighting applications, including linear lighting, linear pendant lighting, personal task lighting, under-cabinet lighting, wall washing, and utility lighting. See the Energy Department Progress Alert, the Next Generation Luminaries Design Competition website, and Energy Department's Solid-State Lighting website.