Green living gets a lift from a futuristic flashlight: brilliant portable LED light source, no batteries, recharges in minutes and durable construction. The 5.11 Tactical Light for Life™ is a professional grade flashlight with advanced capacitor technology that eliminates the need for batteries, and that’s bright news for the environment. At $169.99 it’s promoted as a flashlight that will last a lifetime.

On a conservative estimate, about three billion batteries are sold annually in the U.S. Batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when batteries are improperly disposed of. Batteries can also leak and are potentially explosive.  5.11’s breakthrough ultracapacitor technology has eliminated the use of any batteries; so there are no batteries to recharge, recycle or contaminate our landfills, not to mention the cost savings on replacement batteries. Because the ultracapacitors are made of mostly carbon and aluminum and they don’t contain any heavy metals and are RoHs compliant.

A rechargeable flashlight without batteries

Light for Life™ utilizes a sophisticated energy management system called FlashPoint? Power Technology. This technology utilizes environmentally friendly ultracapacitors that work together with revolutionary computer circuitry to efficiently manage how energy is loaded into the flashlight, and then optimizes how the energy is dispersed to maximize both performance and runtime. 5.11’s Light for Life™ flashlight fully charges in 90 seconds when stored on the base and delivers up to 4 hours of total runtime with no battery fade.

Rugged and Durable

In addition to being green, the 5.11 Tactical light is built to last a lifetime.  This durable flashlight was created to meet the demands and reliability of law enforcement and rescue teams. It remains the light of choice for police, fire and rescue units across the U.S. Constructed of a firearm-grade, high-strength polymer, the water-resistant casing is fully sealed against the elements with solid-state construction. It’s abrasion, crack and bend-resistant with temperature-tolerant ultracapacitors rated at -40° F to 149° F (-40° C to 65° C).

Brilliant Light

The high-performance Light for Life™ UC3.400 produces 270 peak lumens in bright mode, 90 lumens in standard mode, and has a 270-lumen tactical strobe…all recharged in 90 seconds. The three LED bulbs on the flashlight are rated for 50,000 hours and never have to be replaced. Its performance remains virtually un-degraded for a minimum of 10 years without replacing anything.

Learn more about 5.11 Light for Life™

Ledzworld won a LightFair International 2010 Innovation Award.

Switching to LED-based lighting can save 40 to 70 percent of the electricity a city uses for certain lighting applications such as parking garages, parking lots, outdoor public areas, street and portable lighting.

Technological advances in LED lights is happening at incredible speed. Today, everything from traffic lights, billboards, car headlights, and laptop computers use some sort of LED for a light source.

According to Raja Parvez, president and CEO of Rubicon Technology, LEDs have many advantages, including:

• Low energy consumption — ENERGY STAR qualified residential LED lighting uses at least 75% less energy
• Long service life – ENERGY STAR qualified LED lighting lasts 25 times longer than incandescent lighting
• Durable
• Directional distribution of light
• No infrared or ultraviolet radiation – excellent for outdoor use because UV light attracts bugs and LEDs don’t
• Safety and environmentally conscious – LEDs contain no mercury and remain cool to the touch
• Fully dimmable while CFLs are not

GE introduces new LED light bulb

The GE Smart bulb.

The inventor of the first visible light-emitting diode makes history again this year as it begins to show customers a 40-watt replacement GE Energy Smart® LED bulb available later this year or early 2011. GE Lighting’s new LED bulb is expected to consume just 9 watts, provide a 77-percent energy savings and produce nearly the same light output as a 40-watt incandescent bulb, while lasting more than 25 times as long.

The new GE Energy Smart® LED bulb is expected to outperform currently available products that may be underwhelming consumers right now. GE scientists and engineers designed the bulb to better direct light downward on the intended surface and all around, not just out the top of a lampshade, as most current LED bulbs are prone to do. The new GE LED bulb offers 450 lumens—the Energy Star® threshold to be considered a 40-watt incandescent replacement. Currently available LED bulbs produce 350 lumens or less. GE has filed multiple patent applications for the bulb and expects it will be an ENERGY STAR®-qualified LED omnidirectional light bulb.

“This is a bulb that can virtually light your kid’s bedroom desk lamp from birth through high school graduation,” says John Strainic, global product general manager, GE Lighting. “It’s an incredible advancement that’s emblematic of the imagination and innovation that GE’s applying to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges.”

GE Energy Smart® LED bulb product snapshot:

• Expected to consume just 9 watts—compared with 40-watt incandescent/halogen or 10-watt CFL, while delivering nearly the same light output;
• Expected 25,000-hour rated life—will last 17 years (4 hours per day), which is 25 times longer than a general service 40-watt incandescent or halogen bulb and more than 3 times longer than a standard 8,000-hour rated life CFL;
• LED technology delivers the instant full brightness of an incandescent or halogen bulb;
• Durable solid-state design with no filament to break;
• Contains no mercury and will be RoHS compliant; and
• Feels cooler to the touch than CFLs and far cooler than incandescent bulbs.

The 9-watt GE Energy Smart® LED bulb, a replacement for 40-watt general service incandescent bulbs, hits store shelves this fall or in early 2011. Retailers set pricing but it is expected to be $40 to $50. The new bulb joins GE’s growing family of LED bulbs in a broad range of shapes, wattages and colors, including, spot and flood lights (PAR20 & PAR30), ceiling fan bulbs (A15), medium globes (G25), small globes (G16.5), candles (CA10), and night lights (C7). All of GE’s Energy Smart® LED bulbs are rigorously tested to ensure constant color, long life and verifiable lumen ratings. For more information, visit www.gelighting.com or www.whatsyourlightingstyle.com. To learn about GE’s dedication to LED quality standards, visit www.gelighting.com/apples-to-oranges.

GE will put prototypes of the bulb—outfitted with Cree XLamp® XP-G LEDs—on display at two upcoming trade shows: Light + Building 2010 in Frankfurt, Germany, and LightFair 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The high-efficiency, high-lumen-output LEDs used in the GE bulbs are Cree’s smallest and brightest lighting-class LEDs, designed specifically for general lighting.

“The introduction of high-quality retrofit light bulbs, like the GE Energy Smart® LED bulb, is a key next step in the LED lighting revolution,” notes Norbert Hiller, Cree vice president and general manager, LED Components.

Strainic adds: “Consumers have been reluctant to move away from less efficient incandescent bulbs because they love the light quality. This new GE Energy Smart® LED bulb will address that lighting preference head-on and give consumers yet another option to light their homes and businesses.”

New Lighting Legislation
Starting in 2012 and continuing through 2014, standard incandescent light bulbs are going away as a result of U.S. federal lighting efficiency standards:

• 100-watt bulbs can no longer be made in January 2012;
• 75-watt bulbs can no longer be made in January 2013; and
• 60- and 40-watt bulbs can no longer be made in January 2014.

GE has consumers covered each step of the way with alternatives such halogen, CFL and LED bulbs that already meet the new efficiency standards.

Bulbrite video looks at broad range of lamping styles

A video from Bulbrite reviews a broad range of new lamping styles, including new Halogens, CFLs (Compact Fluorescents) and LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes).

Effective January 1, 2012, the household light bulb (as we know it) will no longer be manufactured. U.S. Congress mandated that all general service light bulbs, produced as of this date, must be up to 30% more energy efficient than current standards require. To comply with this legislation, Bulbrite has introduced the Eco-Friendly Halogen A19, which fits all standard and dimmable lighting fixtures. Consumers will gain the benefits of higher efficiency and superior lighting quality with the Eco-Friendly Halogen A19 bulb.

Consumers looking for CFL lighting should know Bulbrite offers a variety of new, high performance compact fluorescent light bulbs that are also aesthetically pleasing. This line features a broad range of sizes and styles, including the popular Energy Wiser™ brand.

Bulbrite’s high-quality, high-performance Chandelier LEDs are energy efficient alternatives to traditional chandelier light bulbs. These LEDs provide high quality Warm White Light and are available in a candelabra base and a medium base. Candelabra base bulbs produce up to 15 watts using only 2 watts of energy while medium base bulbs produce up to 25 watts using 3 watts of energy consumption, compared to standard incandescents. The unique design and engineering of high-powered miniature LED chips allow the Chandelier LEDs to deliver 360-degrees of total illumination. They are available in a Clear finish for maximum light output and a Frosted finish for a more traditional look.

The video also captures Bulbrite’s new generation of high performance LEDs, highlighted by the TURBO series, featuring a state-of-the-art, revolutionary design. TURBO LEDs offer innovative heat sink technology that eliminates the need for large, aluminum heat sinks and clunky housings. The new LEDs include an innovative cooling system featuring pure anodized aluminum thermal fins. With an IP 65-rating, the LEDs are totally protected against dust and low-pressure water from all directions, for indoor and outdoor use.

C.Crane Company introduces the GeoBulb^TM

Energy-saving LED light bulb lasts 30 times longer than incandescent bulbs and operates at a fraction of the cost

The GeoBulb.

C. Crane Company, a pioneer in LED (light-emitting diode) flashlights, has developed the GeoBulb^TM, an LED light bulb that uses half the energy of a compact fluorescent bulb, contains no hazardous mercury or lead and lasts for up to ten years of daily use. GeoBulb^TM, the first high light output, direct-replacement LED light bulb that uses just 7.5 Watts of power to produce as much light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb, is available now exclusively from C. Crane.

GeoBulb^TM brings LED light bulbs up to the brightness of incandescent bulbs, while maintaining the qualities that make LEDs so very exceptional:

• GeoBulb^TM lasts 30,000 hours or up to ten years with typical use;
• GeoBulb^TM generates very little heat and is not susceptible to vibrations or repeated on/off switching;
• Through quantum-well technology, the GeoBulb^TM uses only about 10% of the power of incandescent bulbs and about half of a comparable compact fluorescent bulb (CFL).

“The persons that have come together to design the Geobulb^TM have the vision and purpose to reduce worldwide energy usage by 10%,” said Bob Crane, President, C. Crane. “It will take many years to accomplish this goal but the GeoBulb^TM is here. The GeoBulb II™ Cool White High Powered light bulb reduces the amount of energy used over incandescent by up to 87% and significantly over Compact Fluorescent Bulbs.”

GeoBulb^TM is available in three light color spectrums: cool, soft and warm.  Each GeoBulb^TM uses only 7.5 watts of electricity and has an expected life span of 30,000 hours or approximately 10 years with eight hours of daily use.  GeoBulb^TM is available exclusively from C. Crane’s retail store, web site or catalog and every GeoBulb^TM is backed by a three-year warranty, valid even if the bulb is used for 24 hours a day, seven days a week or for three consecutive years.

The retail price for GeoBulb^TM is $119.95, which over the 30,000 hour lifespan of the bulb, actually makes it less expensive to purchase and operate than a traditional incandescent bulb:

The GeoBulb^TM has passed conductive and radiated emission tests from the FCC, also passed UL safety tests and is Lead Free, making it RoHS compliant. The GeoBulb^TM is designed for indoor use only, in an open fixture and within a temperature range from 14-104°F.

For over 25 years, C. Crane Company has been an innovator in the electronics industry and design. A forerunner in LED lighting sales and technology, they began their research and development of multiple white LED flashlights in 1997.

More…

Downloadable PDFs, Ten Things You Need to Know to Make an Informed LED Buying Decision, Promises Made, Promises Kept: The Truth about LED Lighting, Ten Questions to Ask Before Buying your LED Fixture, and the video LED Lighting and Building Performance, are available from Lunera Lighting.

Ledzworld, winner of LFI Innovations Award, has an online calculator to figure the amount of savings when you use one of their LED lamps (pictured at beginning of article).

Based on the average number of sockets per household, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) estimates that American households will save an average of $143 on electric bills when the transition is complete. This figure assumes an electrical rate of $0.11/kWh.

NEMA has published a brochure that clarifies the upcoming phase-out of incandescent light bulbs. Lighting Options for Your Home summarizes the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, which mandates reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and explains how the changeover from incandescent lamps will help accomplish the country’s sustainability goals.

Options for lighting homes and offices include halogen, compact fluorescent, and LED light sources, each of which is explained in detail.

To download a copy of the brochure, click here, or contact communications@nema.org to request a hard copy. For more information on lighting legislation and saving energy through lighting upgrades, visit www.nemasavesenergy.org.

Precedence replacement windows

YKK AP America has received Green Approved Certification from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center for its residential series of Precedence™ vinyl replacement windows and StyleView™ new construction windows and doors. One of only three residential windows companies to achieve this industry certification, YKK AP America’s Precedence and StyleView products are now eligible to contribute up to 15 points toward certification of a building under the National Green Building Standard™.

“The NAHB’s Green Approved mark is a true representation of our commitment to bettering the environment and servicing our customers with the most thermally efficient and sustainable architectural products possible,” said Craig Marple, residential sales and marketing manager for YKK AP America.  “We are proud of the environmental philosophy our company lives by, and see this stamp of approval from the NAHB as a positive affirmation of our efforts.  We look forward to the many new opportunities this certification will create for YKK AP’s residential products and services.”

The NAHB Research Center Green Approved mark is intended to assist builders, designers and specifiers in identifying products that can contribute points toward building certification. All buildings certified by the NAHB Research Center are required to be inspected by independent, third-party, accredited verifiers to confirm the product is eligible for the points claimed by the builder.

Under the National Green Building Standard, builders or remodelers must include sustainable building products with a specific number of features in resource efficiency, water, energy, lot and site development, indoor environmental quality and homeowner education for a home to receive NAHB’s Green Building Certification.

Many of YKK AP America’s products also contribute to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program for commercial and residential construction and are Energy Star™ certified.

Plastic piping systems are increasingly being used in green building.

Plastic pipe, tubing and fittings play an integral role in the proper functional, safety and environmental performance of 11 key green building technologies.  That’s the conclusion of a new study, “Green Building Technologies that Use Plastic Pipe and Tubing to Function,” which highlights the advantages of plastic pipe, tube and fittings in the residential and commercial application of the green building technologies and provides information that can assist in the evaluation, selection, design and implementation of these technologies in new construction or remodeling of homes and buildings.

The study, compiled by Sustainability Edge Solutions and available through the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association at plasticpiping.org, offers further assistance by targeting the information to the specific needs of installers, designers, green builders, homeowners and commercial building owners and managers.

It details the use of piping systems and those situations where plastic is preferred over alternatives. The primary advantages cited for plastic piping systems generally include:

• Durability and strength combined with chemical, weather and corrosion resistance and biological inertness, leading to effective performance and long service life in the field
• Extensive testing and compliance with nationally accepted consensus standards, third-party certification, and approval in building codes and regulations.
• Material flexibility and lighter weight, enabling greater design flexibility, ease of installation and lower installation time and cost
• Ease of color coding and marking to identify safe acceptable uses and applications
• Cost-effectiveness in terms of manufacturing, transportation and ease of installation

The report contains a chapter on residential and commercial application of each of the following eleven technologies:

1. Gray water reuse
2. Rainwater harvesting
3. Geothermal ground loops
4. Higher efficiency hot water distribution
5. Radiant heating
6. Solar hot water
7. Water efficient irrigation
8. Radon venting
9. Decentralized wastewater treatment
10. Central vacuum systems
11. Residential fire sprinklers

For each technology reviewed, information was compiled on:  description, benefits and limitations; energy and/or water savings potential for a hypothetical scenario, associated simple economic payback period and estimated CO2 equivalent (CO2e) greenhouse gas reductions; life safety impacts, where applicable; Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) impacts, where applicable; materials used for piping, tubing, fittings; and operating examples describing selected examples of installations.

The study’s relevance in green buildings is underscored by data that notes that an American family of four can use 400 gallons (3,338 pounds) of water per day.  On average, approximately 70% of that water is used indoors and about 30% is for outdoor uses. Properly designed and implemented green building technologies that  make use of plastic pipe, tubing and fittings can result in significant reductions in energy and water consumption of homes and commercial buildings while reducing associated greenhouse gas emissions and wastewater generation. Onsite storm water management practices can reduce the rate and quantity of storm water runoff and improve its quality as it returns to surface or groundwater sources.

Reducing onsite potable water waste, and especially hot water waste, reduces the energy and chemicals expended to treat, heat and distribute that water and to remove and process the resulting wastewater. Conservation of water offers tremendous benefits to municipalities and utilities in terms of reduced operating costs and deferred capital expenditures for new or upgraded water supply and wastewater treatment facilities. As stated in “Rainwater: The Untapped Resource, High Performing Buildings, Summer 2008,” water treatment and delivery use seven-to-eight percent of the nation’s energy.

Plastic piping systems are increasingly being used in green building to take advantage of state and local governments offering incentives for green buildings in the form of tax credits (income and property tax, sales tax), fast-tracking building permit approvals, utility subsidies, grants and loans. Innovative financing mechanisms are increasingly being made available to assist with capital costs of installing green building technologies, especially when favorable projected operating cost savings can be demonstrated.

The report was compiled by Sustainability Edge Solutions, which provides sustainability consulting and advisory services to facilitate strategies and plans to proactively manage social and environmental impacts in a fiscally responsible way, making a positive difference to the bottom line.  The company applies internationally recognized sustainability practices, tools and standards for sustainability strategy and program development.

For more information on the study, visit the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association.

The Cambria Office Facility, a 34,500 ft² facility designed and built in Ebensburg, PA, incorporates highly insulating, triple glazed windows at an incremental cost of $15,000 compared to traditional double glazed windows. These windows permitted the complete elimination of the perimeter heating system priced at $25,000.The air conditioning system was also downsized from 120 to 60 tons, saving $40,000 of which 15 tons or $10,000 was directly attributable to the triple glazed windows. Operating energy costs for this facility are less than a similar-sized office building in PA with traditional double-glazed windows.

Builders, agencies and volume buyers in search of more energy efficient products at cost-effective prices will have a new place to look starting today.  The U.S. Department of Energy will launch the Highly Insulating (R-5) and Low-E Storm Windows Volume Purchase Program and Web site with an announcement at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington, have been working with window industry professionals for the last 12 months in an effort to bring manufacturers and distributors of high performance, energy efficient windows together with homebuilders, weatherization agencies, educational institutions and others capable of purchasing large volumes of these windows.

With a reasonably low minimum order requirement of 15-20 windows, purchasers will be able to peruse the new program’s Web site to select a Highly Insulating (R-5) or Low-E storm window from more than 30 manufacturers who have met the requirements of the program.  Buyers interested in pricing and specifying more efficient windows simply need to access the program’s Web site and begin their search.

“The volume purchase program brings new and emerging technologies to the mainstream market at competitive prices,” said Graham Parker, project manager for PNNL.  “High performance windows are ready to enter the market at just the right time,” said Parker, “when the nation is trying to address energy efficiency, job creation and savings for consumers.”

While double-pane, low-E, R-3 (U-factor 0.3) windows have typically been considered the standard of energy efficiency for more than a decade, triple-pane windows (typically R-5/U-factor 0.2) can reduce average heat loss through the window by more than 30 percent, when compared to R-3 windows in residential buildings situated in northern climate zones. In situations where full window replacement is not an option, low-E storm windows can be used to reduce heat loads by up to 20 percent, allowing them to pay for themselves in just five years in a climate such as Chicago’s.

Although triple-pane windows have been available for decades they have existed primarily as niche products whose prices made them unsuitable for mainstream market adoption.  The savings for both R-5 windows and low-E storm windows are a significant improvement over products available today, and many meet DOE’s price premium target over R-3 (U-factor 0.3) windows of less than $4 per square-foot.

On the Web site, buyers select the window type of interest from the homepage.  The buyer then selects the window sizes of interest from a menu of size and corresponding price ranges for each (lowest to highest price for that size range).  A dropdown menu will then appear showing all the qualified suppliers offering windows of that size range as well as the color and type of frame material available, and their shipping region in North America.  Clicking on the link for the supplier will take the buyer directly to that supplier’s Web site for completing the sale.

This effort to bring the supply and demand to the same arena and thereby stimulate competition reflects a historically successful energy technology market transformation strategy that has been successfully demonstrated by DOE on a number of technologies the past 15 years, such as super-efficient apartment-sized refrigerators, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and high performance clothes washers.

Today’s event at NAHB headquarters begins at 3 p.m. EDT and will give attendees an opportunity to learn more about the specifics of the program from DOE managers.  The event also will celebrate the many successes realized since the inception of the program, including:

• The establishment of competitive prices.
• The addition of 23 important program partners including: the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Illinois (CEDA); National Community Action Foundation (NCAF); and Youthbuild USA.
• More than 30 qualified manufacturers and distributors currently are offering products and soon will be available on the Web site, with more anticipated in the coming weeks.

By Tara King

LIGHTFAIR International’s (LFI) 2010 Innovation Awards ceremony—themed “The LFI Morning News”—recognize four companies as the lighting industry’s leaders in innovative product design and technology. The awards program encompassed nearly 200 products debuting on the 2010 LFI trade show floor.

Traxon won the Design Excellence Award from LFI.

The LFI Innovation Awards is an overview of the latest lighting-related products and designs introduced over the last 12 months or launched at LFI 2010. This year, LFI received nearly 200 submissions for the 14 designated categories, and each individual product was judged by an independent panel of renowned lighting professionals. The winners were awarded for product entries that exemplify the best in innovative design and thinking. The 2010 key award winners are

Helieon Sustainable Light Module System by Bridgelux and Molex: Most Innovative Product of the Year—the program’s highest award, recognizing the best, most innovative new product.

Bridgelux is a leading provider of high-power, cost-effective & energy- efficient LED solutions. Bridgelux’s proprietary epitaxy technology, innovative chip designs & LED packaging technology have enabled the development of advanced SSL products. Also, Bridgelux delivers a range of LED Array light sources, which can be easily integrated into lamps/luminaires for a variety of lighting applications.

Molex products include components, task lighting for unique applications and vandal-resistant and industrial specialty lighting.;

Light-Drive Elite by Traxon USA: Design Excellence Award—recognizing outstanding achievement in design and application. Traxon products include flood, facade and sports lighting; landscape, bollards and fountain lighting; LEDs, linear lighting systems, strips, modulars and cove, switches, sensors, controls;

SSL2102 by NXP Semiconductors: Technical Innovation Award—recognizing the most forward-thinking advancement in lighting technology. NXP Semiconductors provides High Performance Mixed Signal and Standard Product solutions that leverage its leading Lighting, RF, Analog, Power, Digital Processing and manufacturing expertise. NXP is the number one supplier of lighting ICs with a strong portfolio of high voltage solutions emphasizing superior control of deep dimming and highly efficient current control for CFL and SSL technologies;

LightLouver Daylighting System by LightLouver: Judges’ Citation Award—special recognition of an innovative product at the judges’ discretion. LightLouver is an innovative approach to interior side-mounted daylighting that is less obtrusive and less costly than traditional lightshelves, yet provides superior daylighting performance, as well as full solar control. Consisting of specially designed reflective slats, LightLouver panels are similar in appearance to mini-blinds mounted in the Daylight section of the window system. Up to 95% of the sunlight that passes through the daylight window is redirected onto the ceiling, reaching 15′ deep into the space for each foot of panel height. The annual average illuminance of the daylit zone that is created is 30 foot candles.

Additionally, the presentation honored Best of Category winners in the following categories:

Research, Publications, Software, Unique Applications: Lighting and the Visual Environment for Senior Living: Recommended Practices by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES);

Conventional Lamps: Professional LED Bulb CTA by Ledzworld Technology SDN BHD;

Ballasts, Transformers, Drivers: Quicktronic QHE T5HO/SS System by Osram Sylvania;

Chandeliers, Pendants, Sconces, Task Lights & Decorative Luminaires: Locking Ring and Decorative Lights by Recesso Lighting;

Downlights, Wallwashers, Accent Lights: Element 3 LED Downlight by Generation Brands Tech Lighting:

Track, Low-Voltage, Cable & Rail Systems: Paloma by W2 Architectural Lighting/WAC Lighting;

Fluorescent Based Troffers, Suspended, Surface Luminaires: DSBL Bi-Level Stairwell Luminaire with Deco-SMART system by DECO Lighting;

Industrial, Vandal, Exit & Emergency Lighting: SAFR Series LED Luminaires by AZZ/RAL Rig A Lite:

Roadway, Sports, Outdoor Architectural, Site Lighting: Sentinel Plasma Luminaire by PEMCO Lighting Products;

Landscape, Pool & Fountain Lighting: Luca by Structura;

Theatrical, Floodlights, Specialty Luminaires: Series 6000 HP LED Cove Light featuring CANDLELED LEDs by TEMPO Industries.

The Everun tankless hot water heater is about the size of a medicine cabinet.

American Hometec, Inc. introduces its Everun line of tankless water heaters designed specifically for the retail channel. The Everun line includes three electric and three gas units that are sleek in design and meet the hot water needs of everything from a sink to a whole home.

The new Everun units share the same-patented Coilless Technology as the American Hometec professional product line for the plumbing contractor channel.  Coilless technology eliminates lime scale build-up and heats water differently and more efficiently than any other tankless water heater on the market.

Tankless water heaters are one of the fastest growing products in the home improvement space, and according to the U.S. Department of Energy, demand tankless water heaters can be up to 50% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters.

The Everun units bring a whole new machine to the retail space in terms of technology and style. They feature a modern design with clean lines that is different from other tankless water heaters on the market. With a fashionable, sleek look and modern red LED smooth touchÔ temperature control panel, the units offer an easy-to-use interface as well as an easy-clean surface that is unsusceptible to damage from dirt or moisture.

The units are also compact in size (the size of a traditional medicine cabinet) for point-of-use installation, which enables water conservation. Since the units are designed to be installed in plain view, they feature an optional shelf skirt to hide necessary pipes and valves. In addition, the new Everun units are suitable for all water conditions and provide an unlimited supply of hot water, heating water only on demand for increased efficiency.

“Our new Everun line is not only designed to be highly functional and energy-efficient, it is also designed to be a fashionable accessory in the home,” said David Millilo, American Hometec’s vice president of marketing. “In addition to boasting the many benefits of Coilless Technology, the Everun units have been designed to be on-trend and highly attractive machines that people will want to showcase in their homes. We anticipate that the Everun line will be a huge hit with both the environmentally-conscious and design-savvy retail audience.”

Everun’s electric units feature American Hometec’s patented Coilless Technology, which heats water in a different way – indirectly through unique heat transfer. Other electric heaters on the market immerse coils directly in the water in order to heat it, causing heat spots, which produce build-up of lime scale and a decrease in heating efficiency. Because there are no coils with this Coilless Technology, the electric components are never in direct contact with the water being heated, preventing accumulation of lime scale inside the unit, increasing longevity of the unit and providing a machine that is maintenance-free. Everun’s gas units feature the company’s H2O Saver Technologyä that allows the user to control hot water consumption at the touch of a button to conserve water and alleviate hot water overrun.

The three electric and three gas Everun units, which come in various capacities to meet the hot water needs of everything from one sink to a whole home, are available for pre-order and will be in retail stores early fall.

New Yorkers with iPhones can now get an interactive, home energy-savings checklist, 100 green tips, and energy efficiency videos. Customers can also learn how to program their home and office thermostats to save energy day and night.

Video tips explain how to save energy, and a handy checklist lets you keep track of the tips you are using.

Users can get tips instantly about:

• Weatherization: insulation, air leaks, door and window efficiency;
• Heating: including programmable thermostats, pipe insulation, and duct cleaning;
• Cooling: air-conditioning, fans, and fresh air;
• Water heating: temperature settings, insulation, and water-saving tips;
• Lighting: CFLs, dimmers, sensors, and timers; and
• Appliances: cooking, refrigeration, and laundry tips.

Check out how easy it is:  www.conEd.com/iphonevideo.

The free app can be downloaded at iTUnes or App Store from your iPhone, iTouch or iPad.  For more tips on how to save energy and “go green”, visit www.conEd.com/thepowerofgreen.

Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $34 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations and customer service information, visit Con Edison’s Web site at www.conEd.com.

The Ionizer removes viruses, pet dander and allergens from the air.

The Ionic Bulb is an energy-saving bulb that comes equipped with a patented air purifying microchip ion-emitter that is powered by the bulb’s own energy.

Unlike standard incandescent bulbs, the Ionic Bulb silently emits negative ions that help clear the air of smoke, dust, pet dander, odors, allergens and airborne viruses.

The Ionic  Bulb uses a quarter of the wattage of standard bulbs to produce the same amount of light. It lasts 10 times as long as incandescent bulbs–up to seven years. According to a company press release, “With the average American household spending an estimated $1,400 each year on energy bills and indoor pollution on the rise, the Ionic Bulb meets two unique sets of demand with innovative product.”