Funding for State Energy Programs is Starting to Trickle Into the States

Jackson, MI, November 11, 2009 --(PR.com)-- It may feel like a long time coming, but promised funding for State Energy Programs (SEP) throughout the nation is finally starting to trickle into the states. On February 17, 2009 President Obama passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as an effort to jumpstart our economy. Of the money allocated, $17 billion was promised to the Department of Energy (DOE) to support energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.1

The California Energy Commission, for example, recently announced that up to $95 million will be awarded to public, non-profit, and/or private organizations that commit to using SEP funds for energy efficiency, energy conservation, renewable energy, and other energy–related projects and activities authorized by the ARRA.2

One tier of the SEP funding is the Municipal and Commercial Building Retrofit Program, which focuses on achieving significant energy savings from targeted retrofit measures. The Energy Commission mandates the use of best practice technologies that capitalize on low risk, high return efficiency opportunities that are readily available. Examples of best practice technologies that have successfully demonstrated substantial energy savings and are broadly applicable for both public and private municipal and commercial building sties include:2
Occupancy-Sensor Lighting Fixtures
• SMART Parking Lot Bi-Level Fixtures
• SMART Parking Garage Bi–Level Fixtures
• SMART Pathway Lighting
• SMART Wall Pack Fixtures2

As part of their Smart Energy Initiative, conservation-minded University of California, Davis campus replaced 381 high pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures with EverLast® 100w SMART Light Bi-Level Induction Garage fixtures in the North Entry Parking Garage in July 2009 – a project that led to winning the 2009 Best Practice Award.

UC Davis calculates that the EverLast® SMART Light Bi-Level Induction Garage fixtures will save the university 201,755 kWh annually, which results in an estimated annual energy savings of $77,000. Additionally, EverLast® Induction fixtures have a lamp-life rating of 100,000 hours, meaning that the university will also save money in maintenance costs. By incorporating step-dimming, on/off photo sensor controls and a high correlated color temperature 5000K lamp, EverLast® Smart Light Induction fixtures provide increased pedestrian safety and unmatched energy savings.

In addition to bi-level garage fixtures, EverLast® Induction Lighting recently began manufacturing a new line of U.S. made induction lighting solutions called the EverLast® Smart Light Series. The new series includes: cobra head fixtures that are 30 percent more efficient than standard induction roadway and street lighting; acorn fixtures for walkway lighting; and shoe box fixtures for street and parking lot lighting.

California is just one of the 50 states that will be receiving ARRA money in the next few months. Municipal leaders, facility managers, and energy analysts interested in obtaining money for energy-efficient lighting projects should start contacting their local and state governments or EverLast® Induction Lighting for more information about SEP funding within their state.

EverLast® Induction Lighting is a product of Full Spectrum Solutions, Inc. For additional product information, visit www.everlastlight.com or call 888-383-7578. For press inquiries, contact Kyle Leighton at kyle@everlastlight.com.

For more information about the ARRA, visit www.recovery.gov. To obtain the California Energy Commission's full State Energy Program Guidelines, email sep@energy.state.ca.us.

1 http://www.energy.gov/recovery/
2 http://www.energy.ca.gov/2009publications/CEC-150-2009-004/CEC-150-2009-004-CTD.PDF

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