DOE Recognizes Seven Lighting Facts Partners
In July, DOE honored seven LED Lighting Facts partners at its Solid-State Lighting Market Introduction Workshop in Pittsburgh, PA. These partners received Special Recognition for going above and beyond to integrate LED Lighting Facts into their everyday business practices and for demonstrating ongoing commitment to the program and to product evaluation.
Efficiency Vermont
Efficiency Vermont uses the LED Lighting Facts Energy Efficiency Partner Resource tool to qualify products for “standard-tier” rebates. Currently, the Energy Efficiency Partner Resource tool features 19 programs/product categories offered by Efficiency Vermont. And staff frequently use the LED Lighting Facts database to confirm product performance and to obtain performance data needed for project analysis. This eases Efficiency Vermont’s qualification efforts and, perhaps more importantly, confirms the manufacturers’ data and standing as providers of quality SSL products.
Efficiency Vermont was the first organization to incorporate the LED Lighting Facts Energy Efficiency Partner Resource tool into its rebate program. While it strongly encourages ENERGY STAR and DesignLights Consortium (DLC) qualified products, it recognizes that a qualification gap exists. The Energy Efficiency Program tool enables Efficiency Vermont to qualify products quickly and easily for a lower tier rebate, using the same ENERGY STAR/DLC photometric criteria. Manufacturers strongly support this program design, as it enables them to more rapidly qualify products while waiting for ENERGY STAR or DLC. Customers appreciate the wider selection of products while also recognizing the different value propositions offered by premium tier and standard tier products. Efficiency Vermont benefits in many ways: staff is not burdened with product qualification review, the most efficient new-generation products can be more quickly supported, and energy savings delivered through LED Lighting Facts qualification as part of the standard rebate tier come at a lower cost.
Efficiency Vermont says it will continue to utilize the Energy Efficiency Partner Resource tool as part of its LED rebate program. It has shared this concept with multiple peer organizations through regional and national conferences and meetings. Efficiency Vermont uses the LED Lighting Facts database as a whole to support its market research and forecasting efforts. The organization has been a vocal proponent for leveraging LED Lighting Facts as a central location for all LED product qualification agencies.
W.W. Grainger
As an LED Lighting Facts distributor partner and three-time recipient of Special Recognition, Grainger mandates its LED suppliers take the LED Lighting Facts pledge as a foundation for product quality and report accurate and consistent product performance results. That means submitting mandatory LM-79 and optional LM-80 test reports for an LED Lighting Facts label. Grainger’s commitment to the LED Lighting Facts program has been a key component in its evaluation of potential suppliers. In addition, Grainger has dedicated one full page in its product catalog outlining its partnership with the LED Lighting Facts program, including information on how to differentiate between the LED Lighting Facts label and the new Federal Trade Commission consumer label.
Since the inception of the LED Lighting Facts program, Grainger has been committed to its partnership with the Department of Energy. In fact, Grainger was the first commercial/industrial distributor to take the LED Lighting Facts pledge. This commitment has driven greater quality and accountability to LED manufacturers. Customers understand that when they come to Grainger to purchase LED products, they can expect products to perform as stated in the performance data published by Grainger. Grainger’s LED product returns are extremely low, which is a strong indication that customers are satisfied and that the products are performing as expected.
Grainger says it will continue to support LED Lighting Facts and is fully committed to supporting the DOE’s solid state lighting program. LED Lighting Facts has been and will continue to be a critical component of Grainger’s LED strategy.
Green-Energy-Products
Green-Energy-Products is a full-service energy efficiency distributor that offers turn-key product solutions and specializes in state-of-the-art green technology. It has actively encouraged vendors to submit products for LED Lighting Facts labels before they will be considered for purchase. Green-Energy-Products is committed to asking for an LED Lighting Facts label for each LED product it sells, so customers can be assured that the products they are purchasing will perform as promised.
The Home Depot
The Home Depot has inserted the LED Lighting Facts program into every facet of its LED business: from initial supplier/product review to the selling of LED products on its shelves. Examples of program support include mandating program participation for all LED suppliers, year-round associate education (e-learning, merchant updates) on LED technology and the LED Lighting Facts program, and inclusion in all key marketing events (interviews, media campaigns).
The Home Depot has mandated participation in the LED Lighting Facts program from day one. And the program has become The Home Depot’s best method for ensuring that it delivers on its promise to meet customers’ quality expectations, as well as helping to ensure that the overall level of product quality in the industry is pushed to higher levels.
The LED Lighting Facts program is the foundation for The Home Depot’s entire LED lighting business. It continues to mandate participation for LED vendors, and will continue to partner with the program for feedback, help and support in an effort to drive increased awareness and strength of the program. The Home Depot believes that the LED Lighting Facts program works.
Lowe’s Companies
As a three-time Special Recognition recipient, Lowe’s has incorporated the LED Lighting Facts program into every element of its product evaluation process. The Lowe’s merchandising team leverages LM-79 test data on LED products to ensure that the light quality meets the requirements for the specific customer’s application. Requiring all applicable LED products to have an LED Lighting Facts label on the package makes it very easy to compare the “quality of light” of like products. Lowe’s has mandated to suppliers that all applicable LED products must have an LED Lighting Facts label prior to placement in its stores. In addition, Lowe’s has dedicated substantial resources in stores and online to support energy efficiency and customer education.
Lowe’s says it will continue to leverage the resources provided by the Department of Energy and the LED Lighting Facts program to promote quality LED products in the marketplace.
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships/DesignLights
Since 1996, the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) has been facilitating regional partnerships to advance the efficient use of energy in homes, buildings, and industry in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states. One such partnership, the DesignLights Consortium (DLC), is a collaboration of utility efficiency programs and regional energy efficiency organizations throughout the United States and Canada committed to raising awareness of the benefits of efficient lighting in the commercial sector. The hallmark of the DLC program is the Solid-State Lighting Qualified Products List (QPL), which is a listing of LED luminaires that meet strict energy efficiency and performance criteria. Being listed on the DLC QPL is a preliminary requirement for utility incentive eligibility throughout the DLC territories. The DLC enables manufacturers to fill out one application to access incentives at more than 50 DLC member utilities. The DLC QPL also provides assurance to utility program managers that the products they are incentivizing will meet their efficiency goals and satisfy their customers’ expectations.
The DLC’s commitment to assure and improve the quality of LED lighting products includes active participation in the LED Lighting Facts program. In addition to frequently using the LED Lighting Facts Products Search Tool to learn about the quality of products available in the market, the DLC also encourages manufacturers to submit their products to LED Lighting Facts for listing and advises member utilities to utilize the database and Energy Efficiency Partner Resource tool.
The DLC says it will continue to support LED Lighting Facts for the foreseeable future. For instance, DLC is requiring manufacturers to list their products with LED Lighting Facts as an initial step in the DLC QPL application process. This will drive more manufacturers to list more products with LED Lighting Facts, providing reliable product information to more utilities and their customers. Additionally, it will allow the DLC to query the LED Lighting Facts Products Search Tool for verified technical product data to be analyzed for determining whether a product meets the DLC QPL criteria.
LED Lighting Facts has been an invaluable resource to the development and growth of the DLC. As the LED industry continues to grow, collaborations such as the DLC and LED Lighting Facts will become key information resources for speeding high-performance, energy-efficient lighting products to the market and bringing about market transformation.
Priority Lighting
As an LED Lighting Facts distributor partner, Priority Lighting is proud to support both the improvement and quality control of solid state lighting products. Priority Lighting is committed to “going green” and reducing the carbon footprint of high-energy-consuming products. For years, it has educated clients and the public on the value of using quality energy-saving light bulbs and fixtures. Every month, its website, www.prioritylighting.com, features articles on the latest issues concerning the lighting industry and products. In addition, Priority Lighting regularly uses its blog and Twitter to keep the public informed about products and energy-saving techniques.
Priority Lighting also uses the LED Lighting Facts labels on all boxes being shipped out to its national and international customers. Priority Lighting customers have come to appreciate and look for products with the LED Lighting Facts label because they can eliminate some of the guesswork of choosing the appropriate lighting for their home. Priority Lighting is proud to be able to use the well-designed and easy-to-read LED Lighting Facts label on its shipments.
Source: www.lightingfacts.com