MILE HIGH Majesty
SHIRLEY COYLE
Shirley Coyle has worked in the North American commercial lighting industry for several decades, holding various leadership roles. A Past President of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), Shirley is very active in the lighting community, including participation on lighting standards development.
CONTRIBUTORS
JON RUD
Vice President of Sales, Americas at Dialight
With over a decade of experience in the electrical and lighting industries, Jon Rud currently serves as the Vice President of Sales for the Americas at Dialight. Before joining Dialight, Jon developed his expertise in the electrical industry with business development at Graybar and, prior to that, served as the Industrial Manager for Border States Electric for 3 years. A dedicated member of the Green Building Council since 2011, Jon is committed to promoting sustainable building practices and innovative lighting solutions.
Editor and Publisher Randy Reid
Assistant Editor Parker Allen
VP, Associate Publisher, Advertising Cliff Smith 917.705.3439
Production and Design Coordinator Angie Hullfish
Art Direction Seraphine Morris
Lighting Management & Maintenance (LM&M) publishes information for the benefit of its members and readers. The sponsor (NALMCO), publisher and editor of LM&M cannot be held liable for changes, revision or inaccuracies contained in the material published. For detailed information on the products, programs, services or policies covered, it is recommended readers contact the appropriate person, company agency of industry group.
LM&M is published by EdisonReport (ISSN 2835-821X). Statements and opinions expressed in articles and editorials in LM&M are the expressions of contributors and do not necessarily represent the policies or opinions of the EdisonReport. Advertisements appearing in the publication are the sole responsibility of the advertiser.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
• Special mounting bracket enables 1-person installation
• 3-CCT & 4-wattage selectable
• Dusk-to-dawn photocell
• PIR or microwave motion sensors
• Types II, III, IV, or V light distributions
• 3 different glare shields available
No need to choose. XFit High Bays are now available with OpticSwap. Both linear and round models give you multiple lenses with each fixture, so you can pick from wide beam angles to illuminate high shelves, narrow beam angles for tight aisles, and whatever’s right for the open spaces in between. Either way, the tool-free optic lenses change in seconds, and you get precisely targeted light with fewer fixtures.
You get it all with Keystone.
Tool-free OpticSwap Technology
Power and Color Select
Easy Screw-in Motion Sensors
President's MESSAGE
Dear
NALMCO Members,
I'm excited to announce that NALMCO's 71st Annual Convention & Trade Show is back in beautiful Championsgate, Florida, and we’re gearing up for another fantastic event! We have various sponsorship levels, including Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, and each sponsorship is packed with benefits like logo placement on event materials, complimentary registrations, and access to our complete attendee list which is key for scheduling those post-event follow-up conversations.
Want more information? A copy of the sponsorship brochure can be found on the NALMCO convention website and includes all the information you’ll need. For general questions regarding sponsorship opportunities, exhibiting at the conference, hotel accommodations, or registration, please reach out to NALMCO’s meeting planner, Kerigan Hunziker, and she will be happy to assist.
Key details:
• Registration:
• Regular attendee registration opened on July 9th.
• Each sponsorship level comes with at least two complimentary registrations.
• Each exhibit booth comes with one complimentary registration.
• Once you have decided on your sponsorship level or preferred exhibit location, please reach out to Kerigan Hunziker, and she will assist with registration.
• Hotel:
• You can go online and book your rooms now! I recommend you do this as early as possible as there are a limited number of rooms available, and rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Deadline for our room block is September 18th at 5:00 P.M. EST.
• General Convention Information:
• Location: Omni Orlando Resort in Championsgate, Florida
• Date: October 13-16th
• The NALMCO website has everything you need to know.
• Keynote Speaker
• We're thrilled to announce that Mark Jewell, president of Selling Energy, will be our keynote speaker this year! Mark is a renowned expert in the field of energy efficiency and sales effectiveness. With his extensive experience and dynamic presentation style, Mark has empowered countless professionals to achieve their energy efficiency goals while maximizing their sales potential.
I appreciate your continued support and dedication to NALMCO and look forward to seeing everyone at the 2024 Annual Convention and Trade Show.
RANDY ALLEN, CALT
From the EDITOR
Replace a Fixture—Improve a Life
During my visit to inspect the Signify Interact project at Peach Road Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, something unexpected happened.
I arrived at 6 p.m. on a weekday to find about 12 kids playing on the equipment and three men sitting on their phones. One man was seated directly under a pole featuring the Gardco PureForm luminaire with Signify BrightSites technology, providing broadband. When I took a picture of the pole with the man in it, he quickly bolted. The other men soon followed.
I approached the man who had run away. In broken English, he insisted, “No pictures! No pictures.” I deleted the picture in front of him and explained my purpose. As we talked, I learned that these men couldn't afford Wi-Fi in their homes. Neither could they afford any kind of telephone cell service. They relied on the park’s new broadband for internet, messaging, and WiFi phone calls. The park's broadband was their lifeline for communication.
It broke my heart!
While filming my Today in Lighting segment in the park and uploading it to Dropbox using the park’s Wi-Fi, I reflected on the struggles of these people. With only one car in the lot, I assumed most had walked to the park. I sometimes get frustrated when I can’t get fast internet on a flight—these people are happy to walk a mile or more just to get connected. Grow up, Randy!
The importance of offering free Wi-Fi in parks became clear. The Signify solution is highly customizable and can be deployed at a lower cost and faster than traditional fiber solutions. This made me think of opportunities for NALMCO members.
Similar to how EV charging solutions have become a significant revenue stream for many in our audience, city parks could become a new opportunity. What if NALMCO members began soliciting lighting park upgrades with city managers that also included Wi-Fi. While the energy efficiency can help fund the project, the value of improving lives is immeasurable.
Read the details of this special project on page 20.
I’m sure this and other opportunities will be discussed at the upcoming Annual Convention and Trade Show, an event you won’t want to miss. I look forward to seeing everyone there!
Happy reading!
FROM THE EDITOR
CONTROLS TO THE RESCUE! CONTROLS TO THE RESCUE! CONTROLS TO THE RESCUE!
By Parker Allen
NALMCO Members’ Collaboration Transforms RUSH
BACKGROUND AND PROJECT INITIATION
In late 2021, RUSH University in Chicago, Illinois, connected with Energy Conservation & Supply (ECS) to work on lighting upgrades for the entire medical center campus, beginning with the Armour Academic Center. The decision-makers at RUSH were pleased to find out that ECS had a longstanding relationship with NALMCO member Imperial Lighting, and they tabbed the two companies to begin the lighting upgrade of the academic center.
University Academic Center
Imperial arrived on site in December of 2022 and began retrofitting the several thousand existing fluorescent fixtures – mainly 1x4, 2x2, and 2x4s – with the latest LED technology. The fluorescent tubes throughout the building’s many offices and classrooms were replaced with lumen-selectable LEDVANCE retrofit kits.
Several months into the project, RUSH came to Imperial with a problem – the light was too bright. Even after adjusting the LED kits down to their lowest output, the new light was still uncomfortable and glaring.
Photos courtesy of Lisa Orloff, Imperial Lighting
With a sizeable portion of the new lighting already installed, Imperial faced a dilemma. They turned to fellow NALMCO member Avi-on, a leader in controls solutions. Avi-on promised that their Bluetooth Mesh controls could solve the brightness problem while delivering several additional benefits. “Long story short, Avi-on was a perfect fit for the project,” noted Todd Mendelsohn, Director at Imperial Lighting and their lead on the project.
Imperial installed Avi-on’s in-fixture controls with occupancy sensors as well as dimming wall stations in each room, allowing occupants to further dim the fixtures beyond the high-end trim that was implemented.
The utilization of Bluetooth Mesh removes the need for any centralized hub or gateway – the fixtures can communicate with one another and be controlled via the wall stations or the Avi-on mobile app.
As the project wrapped up in the spring of this year, the installation and commissioning team sat down with RUSH’s facility management and trained them on the fundamentals of the control system.
REBATES AND INCENTIVES
ECS had already identified a significant rebate, based on wattage reduced, though Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd).
The addition of controls sweetened the deal, qualifying the project for a substantial additional rebate based on wattage controlled. This translated to a $200K incentive, which, when combined with on-bill financing, meant that RUSH didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket to finance the project.
IMPLEMENTATION AND CHALLENGES
The project was not without its challenges. Being an old building with thick concrete floors and walls, there were several dead zones that prevented proper communication between the fixtures. Imperial installed repeaters to extend the range of the fixtures and help relay the Bluetooth signal through these dead zones.
Furthermore, the initial audit didn’t detect some old low voltage switches and wiring issues on several of the floors. Avi-on’s control system provides energy monitoring, which helped
troubleshoot this issue by providing data on fixture power usage. When a technician reported that the lighting wasn’t operating properly on these floors, Avi-on’s team was able to deduce that old wiring was at fault, and the install team could correct the issue. Problem solved.
But, by far the biggest obstacle was the necessity to add controls after the fact. Anyone who has installed lighting will tell you that adding controls after the fixtures are already in the ceiling is less than ideal. Despite the out-of-order timeline of the project, once the controls solution was identified, the remaining lights and all controls were installed and commissioned within a matter of months.
CONCLUSION
The lighting upgrade at RUSH University’s Armour Academic Center showcases the effectiveness of collaboration between NALMCO members to utilize their expertise to bring a successful lighting upgrade to fruition. Avi-on’s Bluetooth Mesh network system, added to LEDVANCE’s LED retrofit kits and installed and commissioned by Imperial Lighting, provided reliable and comfortable lighting to RUSH’s students and staff and ensured long-term energy savings and system reliability.
This project has been submitted to the Department of Energy’s Integrated Lighting Campaign, with winners to be recognized at the IES Annual Conference in August. Avi-on’s involvement in four out of fourteen recognized projects in 2023 highlights their leadership in advanced lighting controls, and they hope to continue that trend of recognition in 2024.
With the successful upgrade of the Armour Academic Center, all without paying out of pocket, RUSH has found trusted partners to work with as they continue to upgrade the lighting across campus. ■
LIGHTING THE PATH
to Savings
By Parker Allen
A significant percentage of lighting projects, if not a majority, fail to move forward because of financial issues. Many building owners can’t justify the upfront cost on a project, even though it will improve their lighting and save them money in the long run. To win more of these jobs, lighting contractors must find a way to make their bids palatable to their clients, who expect a reasonable payback period if they are to proceed with the project.
The mathematics involved in determining a payback period are relatively straightforward. A very simplified formula would be:
FRANK AUSTIN, LC
To reduce the payback period, then, the contractor must increase the annual savings conferred by the new lighting system and/or reduce the cost of the project.
Frank Austin and his team at TaxCentric Lighting specialize in finding tax deductions to help offset the cost of a lighting upgrade. A veteran of the lighting industry, he started his career with Genlyte (now part of Philips) over 25 years ago and has consulted on many energy-efficient and high-performance lighting systems for the retail, commercial and warehouse markets.
Austin's unique expertise bridges the gap by connecting lighting-specific federal tax benefits with asset management accounting and providing the necessary documentation to qualify for available deductions, ensuring compliance and maximizing financial benefits.
The federal government and many state governments incentivize energy-efficient upgrades by offering significant tax deductions for projects that can substantially reduce the overall project cost and improve the payback period. Austin cites four common tax deductions that can apply to lighting upgrade projects.
1. Partial Asset Disposition
When the existing lighting system is removed, abandoned or demolished during an upgrade, the remaining depreciation can be deducted. The lighting in a building is typically classified as a 39-year asset, meaning it depreciates gradually over that time period. For example, if the existing lighting system still has 29 years of depreciation left when it is removed, the building owner can write off the remaining 29 years at once upon disposal.
2.
Bonus Depreciation and Qualified Improvement Property (QIP)
Newly installed lighting can qualify for bonus depreciation. Under the current federal tax code, if the new installation can be shown to be a qualified improvement to the property, it can be reclassified from a 39-year asset to a 15-year asset, making it eligible for bonus depreciation. Bonus rates can change from year to year, and for 2024, the rate is 60%. So for assets placed into service in 2024, up to 60% of the cost can be written off in the first year if eligible.
3. Accelerated Depreciation
Accelerated depreciation typically involves a detailed on-site forensic engineering study to reclassify building components into shorter-lived assets. This change in accounting method allows building owners to take larger deductions over a shorter period, enhancing cash flow by reducing current federal tax liabilities.
Buildings contain much more than just lighting. Austin and his team perform a thorough audit of the entire property, noting everything that is “glued to, screwed to, bolted to, and welded to” the building and preparing a detailed report that the building owner can use as documentation for reclassification of certain building assets, not just lighting.
The TaxCentric team has performed about 9,000 of these studies. Of these thousands of projects, the IRS has audited them on 21 of these projects. They passed all 21 audits. The key is thorough documentation and to follow the prescribed methodology outlined in the IRS Audit Techniques Guideline for cost segregation.
4.
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (179D)
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) provides significant tax deductions for current energy-efficient
building improvements that meet or exceed ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007.
Although typically not the easiest or most financially beneficial route for most for-profit building owners, tax deductions through EPAct are especially useful for tax exempt entities – government properties, non-profits, and Native American tribal nations. On these projects, the tax benefits can be assigned to the project manager or lighting designer of record.
Altogether, the combined savings from these tax deductions are significant. TaxCentric Lighting created the “LED Rule of 70™”. On average, a “TaxCentric” strategy will recover 70% of the turnkey cost of an LED lighting upgrade in the first year. This should be music to the ears of any contractor competing to win jobs and looking to differentiate themselves from competitors.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
As of now, tax incentives for qualified improvements to property are set to phase out gradually over the next few years. The current bonus depreciation rule allows 60% of the eligible cost of a lighting upgrade to be deducted in the first year. That number drops to 40% next year, 20% the following year, and then is phased out completely in 2027. It should be noted that this is subject to change, based on any future changes to tax code regulations.
Also on the horizon is the impending ban on double pin fluorescent lamps, set to take effect on January 1, 2029, although a handful of states have already implemented it. Austin estimates that two-thirds of buildings that are 11 years or older still operate fluorescent lamps, meaning the market for LED lighting upgrades is still robust.
In other words, strike while the proverbial iron is hot. Separate yourself from your competitors by leveraging these tax incentives to make your bids more competitive and win more projects.
For more information about TaxCentric Lighting, please visit their website ■
MILE HIGH MAJESTY
Cutting Edge Façade Lighting Brings New Life to Historic Railway Station & Hotel
By Randy Reid
A new lighting system has brought new life to a beautifully stoic landmark that has served as the principal transportation hub in lower downtown Denver, Colorado, for close to 150 years.
Union Station, originally the Denver Union Depot built in 1881, is actually three buildings. The facility services bus lines, expanded light rail, retail space and The Crawford Hotel.
After hosting a historic lineup of guests from Queen Marie of Romania to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the building reached its pinnacle in the 1940s, bustling with over 50,000 visitors a day.
As rail took a back seat to alternative transportation, Union Station slowly sunk into disarray and was due for an upgrade. A grand reopening in 2014 reimagined the complex into a popular shopping, dining and cultural destination.
With a redesigned public square in front, updating the building’s exterior lighting was the next goal. Illuminating the granite and terra cotta façade highlights the architecture and showcases its presence for visitors and residents alike.
That’s why Union Station connected with Display Devices, Inc. to assist in a redesign of the façade lighting to complement internal renovations.
Photography courtesy of Teri Fotheringham for American Lighting
“To enhance the appeal of Denver Union Station, we needed to update our exterior luminaries to highlight the iconic façade while making the lighting more reliable and consistent,” stated Ed Blair, Area General Manager of Denver Union Station & The Crawford Hotel. “Working with our integrator, Display Devices, has been a pleasure. Their expertise and support made the installation seamless.”
THE VERSATILITY OF EXTERIOR ILLUMINATION
Display Devices worked in tandem with Prizm by American Lighting, Denver, CO, to design and install a new LED lighting system.
The advanced control system capable of cloud access is easily operated by the building’s management at any time. The American Lighting team provided a seamless integration of modern controls and exterior uplighting while honoring structural integrity of this historic landmark.
In accordance with the historic registry designation, there could be no new holes drilled into the building’s façade, so creativity was vital to utilize all existing infrastructure when installing the upgraded system.
Prizm reviewed the project needs and highlighted the major product characteristics. Previous lighting suffered from diminished quality and experienced failures, including an older controller with outdated programming and no remote accessibility.
The idea was to elevate usability with a remotely controlled system and upgrade with a versatile, energy efficient, highquality, RGBW fixture, one that could be globally positioned, with optional accessories like optical plates, for every scenario while also melding seamlessly with the existing lighting.
Denver’s dramatic weather variances, along with the
remaining requirements, lead to selecting Sēnik Reflekt RGBW, paired with Pharos Expert Architectural Controls. Scenes can be scheduled/modified wirelessly, allowing the high powered 100-watt flood light to beautifully illuminate the historic architecture and maintain performance.
“Sēnik Reflekt offers ultimate flexibility and efficiency in façade lighting with its modern, scalable approach,” said Lynn Dee Lindquist Bryce, Prizm’s Project Integrator. “The scenes are scheduled and can be changed instantly via the cloud, so if there ever is a concern about light pollution in a bustling area like downtown Denver, they can easily and quickly be modified or turned off.”
Ed Blair added, “This update allows us to schedule our local sports team colors and change themes during holidays/events, all while being able to run a 3000K white to match the remaining lights when colors are not being used."
Sēnik Reflekt accomplished this by individually adjusting fixture heads with 180° adjustability. Each of the 62 fixtures installed to the building – 42 on the front and 20 on the back – can output more than 7700 lumens. All uplighting positions are a single RGBW head with a 12° native beam.
The end result? A showpiece for Denver.
Every holiday or season can be illuminated with colorful accents and celebratory square events like Neighborhood Night and the Anniversary Gala. Spectators can marvel at this historic giant while the operations team easily manipulates the setting with wireless controls and cutting-edge technology.
"We are thrilled with our Prizm lights showcasing the architecture of Union Station. Plus, the vibrancy of the colors is stunning, delighting all who visit,” said Blair. “The ability to control the lights over the cloud adds unparalleled convenience and flexibility. Prizm has truly transformed our space and exceeded all expectations.” ■
SMART PARK
By Randy Reid
The city of Raleigh, North Carolina, recently launched its first Wi-Fi enabled park, Peach Road Park, a trial project that will run through March of 2025. Free Wi-Fi is available to all park visitors. As part of the project, the city incorporated Genlyte Solutions’ outdoor
fixtures connected with Interact software.
LM&M caught up with Scott McCarley, Product Manager, Connected Outdoor Solutions, Genlyte Solutions, Signify, to discuss the project.
Photo credit: Randy Reid
Randy Reid: Can you tell me the fixture types, models, etc. on the job?
Scott McCarley: The project uses Genlyte Solutions’ Gardco PureForm luminaires, which include Signify’s BrightSites technology, making them broadband luminaires. The project also features Genlyte Solutions’ Lumec RoadFocus luminaires, equipped with Interact and outdoor multi-sensors.
Reid: Can you explain how the Interact software and outdoor multi-sensors deliver motion detection, ambient noise and temperature insights to the City?
McCarley: The Interact connected lighting system enables the City to remotely monitor the real-time health status and energy consumption of each light point from a single dashboard. Using the system, the City can also remotely manage and control the lights.
The data received in the software from the control node and outdoor multi-sensors embedded into the luminaires can help:
• Improve maintenance efficiency, immediately alerting the City to outages or performance issues
• Maximize energy efficiency with dimming schedules, for example
• Deliver other actionable insights and support decisionmaking based on real-time activities, environmental information and historical trends in the illuminated environment.
Reid: Does the motion detection cause the intensity of the lights to adjust?
McCarley: For motion detection, the City can automate its light points to react, meaning brighten when motion/ presence is detected and dim when not. This can help save energy and associated costs when the light is not needed and maintain citizen peace of mind by promoting safety and security.
Reid: What kind of ambient noise are you measuring, and what does Interact do with that information?
McCarley: Noise monitoring will detect the ambient noise level and changes over time, which could be driven by a crowd or event or cars or traffic. For instance, the City of Mount Vernon used the Interact connected lighting technology to detect noise level ordinance violations, such as those that might occur from leaf blowing, and to reinforce the city’s ordinance to help reduce the noise impact on citizens.
The Interact system ensures non-intrusive monitoring of noise behavior and alerts the City when noise thresholds are crossed. The City can use the dashboard to visualize trends as well, so they can identify areas to improve citizens’ quality of life.
Reid: If Interact detects the temperature is extreme, what does it do with that information?
McCarley: Similarly, the City can leverage the ambient temperature environmental data to measure and monitor local temperatures.
In general, cities do not have sufficient access to city-wide heat data to understand localized risks caused by extreme temperatures and to identify priority problem areas. Different areas of a city can experience different temperatures due to numerous factors; structures, such as buildings and roads, can absorb and re-emit the sun's heat more than natural landscapes such as forests and bodies of water.
The temperature information, collected by Interact, can be used to support city planning efforts to lessen the impact of extreme temperatures and communicate preventive health information to the public in the event of extreme heat or cold.
Speaking on behalf of the Wi-Fi initiative, Chris Peabody, Chief Strategy Officer for Networking for Future (NFF), added the following:
“This solution provides robust, secure and affordable Internet access in an area that is challenging to install fiber and provide digital services. The solution is also highly customizable and can be deployed at significantly lower cost and faster deployment times than traditional fiber solutions. It checks a lot of boxes across our public sector client goals to alleviate digital divide concerns, optimize energy use, increase sustainability efforts and improve services to citizens.” ■
Photo credit: Randy Reid
WHAT'S NEW
MODULAR RELITE CHASSIS™
Aiming to revolutionize how we illuminate facilities, APPRIME LIGHTING has launched the Modular ReLite Chassis™, a patented design that redefines sustainability in modern luminaires. This revolutionary technology allows for tool-less light engine upgrades and maintenance, significantly extending each product's lifecycle and dramatically reducing product waste.
DIM10-087-06-IP LIGHTING CONTROLLER
Synapse Wireless announces the new DIM10-087-06-IP Lighting Controller Designed to deliver exceptional performance even in harsh weather conditions, this compact and affordable new controller is an easy control option for bolt-on field retrofit applications. Its smaller footprint and lower price point allow it to be easily integrated with LED drivers that lack embedded lighting controls.
FLAT PANEL RETROFIT KIT
MaxLite’s new Flat Panel Retrofit Kit offers an easy and costeffective solution to upgrade fluorescent troffers to LED. The kit utilizes the existing troffer housing, so installation can be performed from below the ceiling, and features a wattage and CCT select option. The kit takes advantage of MaxLite's patented c-Max plugand-play system to offer end-users multiple controls options.
DIRECT CONNECT IFAC
The IFAC series fixture adapter mounts inside fixtures, providing addressability for each luminaire. All fixture adapters are part of the Avi-on® Bluetooth® with Mesh product ecosystem, supported by the Avi-on mobile app, commissioning tools and cloud IoT Services. Use the IFAC whenever individual fixture energy consumption monitoring is needed to qualify for energy rebates or support corporate energy management initiatives.
NOVA WALL WASH TRACK
GREEN CREATIVE introduces the NOVA Wall Wash Track, designed with cutting-edge optics and a faceted reflector, delivering wide and uniform lighting across expansive surfaces from top to bottom. NOVA allows for field selection of three lumen levels and three CCTs at high CRI 90 for crisp light and color accuracy. A 360° rotating head and 90° pivot design allow precise aiming of the light towards where needed.
FIRE RATED SLIM DOWNLIGHTS
SWITCHEX®+ DRIVER & DIMMER SWITCH
Elemental LED announces the launch of SWITCHEX®, a patented product that simplifies LED lighting installations. It converts 120VAC to low-voltage 12VDC or 24VDC and features auto-load sensing and 3-way switching. It’s easy to install, fitting seamlessly into a standard switch box.
OPTICBAY
The Fire Rated Slim Downlight family from Halco Lighting Technolgies is designed to provide a cost-effective solution for use in fire-rated ceiling systems. The low-profile fixture design provides smooth or baffled trim options, easy installation with a spring clip mounting, and is UL 263-rated to resist heat and fire of up to 1100°C for 2 hours. It is the clean, modern way to light up residential, multi-family, and healthcare facilities requiring fire protection.
REVO Lighting announces its new OpticBay LED High Bay Series, featuring rotatable lightbars and networking sensor options. This linear high bay family is offered in 2’ and 4’ lengths, as well as twolightbar and four-lightbar versions. The lightbars offer up to 165 lumens per watt, 4000K or 5000K CCTs, and 80+ CRI. The diffuser lens creates superior uniformity in a variety of beam angles: 50° x 90°, 90°, or 120° optics.
The Phase-Out of
The disposal of fluorescent lamps requires careful handling to prevent mercury from leaching into the environment, where it can contaminate soil and water – posing health risks to wildlife and humans alike.
FLUORESCENT LAMPS
By Colleen Kingsbury
Recycling Account Manager, EverLights
As we learn more about the environmental impacts of the products we use, sustainability-conscious consumers (and therefore industries) shift focus to more eco-friendly alternatives. In the lighting world, this once meant that fluorescent lamps were the preferred product over energyintensive incandescent lights. Fast forward to today, the introduction of LEDs now means that fluorescent lamps are being phased out in favor of an even more environmentally sustainable lighting option.
The move away from fluorescent lighting is part of a broader effort to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact, reflecting a global shift towards tracking and reducing our collective carbon footprint. Now, as more US states implement fluorescent bans and regulations, and with federal regulations on the horizon, the shift to LED lighting is accelerating.
Fluorescent lamps' energy efficiency, while superior to incandescent bulbs, pales in comparison to newer technologies like LEDs. Fluorescent lamps typically convert only about 20-30% of the electrical energy they consume into visible light, with the rest being lost as heat. In contrast, LEDs can convert up to 90% of the energy they consume into light. Additionally, fluorescent lamps have a shorter lifespan compared to LEDs, often requiring more frequent replacements, which contributes to increased waste and higher maintenance costs over time.
However, the problem with fluorescents goes even further than simply being a lower performing option.
Fluorescent lamps contain mercury, a toxic substance that poses significant disposal challenges. Mercury exposure can lead to serious health problems, including neurological and developmental damage, particularly in young children and fetuses. The disposal of fluorescent lamps requires careful handling to prevent mercury from leaching into the environment, where it can contaminate soil and water – posing health risks to wildlife and humans alike.
The environmental footprint of manufacturing and disposing of fluorescent lamps only further intensifies their drawbacks. The production process involves harmful chemicals and energy-intensive procedures, while the end-of-life disposal poses challenges due to the hazardous materials involved. As a result, the overall lifecycle impact of fluorescent lamps is
considerably higher than that of LEDs, making the latter a more sustainable choice for the future.
LEDs can last up to 25 times longer than traditional lighting options, reducing the frequency of replacements and associated costs. Though they may be initially more expensive, LEDs save money in the long run through lower energy bills and reduced replacement costs. This makes them a safer and more sustainable option for both residential and commercial use.
In response to the push for more sustainable practices, several US states have introduced regulations to phase out fluorescent lamps. These regulations are part of broader legislative efforts to enhance energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Vermont was the first state to introduce a ban of fluorescent lamps. This state has enacted laws that prohibit the sale of most mercury-containing fluorescent lamps. This move aligns with the state's aggressive stance on reducing hazardous waste and promoting energy efficiency.
California, a frontrunner in environmental regulation, has implemented a ban on the sale of screw and bayonet base compact fluorescent lamps. On January 1, 2025, linear fluorescents will join the list of banned lamp types. The state’s Title 20 appliance efficiency regulations now mandate the use of more energy-efficient lighting alternatives.
To date, 12 states and Washington D.C. have imposed or are set to impose fluorescent bans in some capacity.
The transition away from fluorescent lamps is a critical step towards a more sustainable future. Regardless of state or federal mandates, many consumers from the individual to corporate level are choosing to proactively make the switch to LED lighting due to the products’ longevity, environmental impact, and overall cost savings.
As you begin implementing LED lighting into your projects, it is important to ensure that spent fluorescent lamps are recycled or disposed of properly. Consider partnering with an industry leader like EverLights, whose lighting experts and recycling team can help you meet your recycling and sustainability requirements. Embracing sustainable lighting solutions is not just an environmental imperative but also an economic one, promising long-term savings and a healthier planet. ■
THE IMPORTANCE OF COLOR ACCURACY
By Jon Rud
As employers in manufacturing, it’s an organization’s responsibility to ensure employee health and safety through due diligence. This includes ensuring their facilities’ lighting is not only on and producing the required footcandles for a space but also producing color accurately.
VP of Sales, Americas for Dialight
Images courtesy of Dialight
Accurate color visibility from lighting is crucial for maintaining safety in industrial environments. Ironically, hazardous-rated spaces are often not illuminated like the rest of a facility due to the increased difficulty of working in these areas.
With traditional and some current lighting sources, the inability to render color consistently can lead to a higher risk of accidents and hazards. Good lighting with a high color rendering index (CRI) will help workers distinguish critical elements like wires, machine parts and pressure gauges more effectively.
As employers in manufacturing, it’s an organization’s responsibility to ensure employee health and safety through due diligence. This includes ensuring their facilities’ lighting is not only on and producing the required foot-candles for a space but also producing color accurately.
For example, in facilities where wires and warnings placards are often color-coded to communicate danger, using lighting with a CRI of 70 or above ensures these colors
will be clearly visible, reducing the risk of costly mistakes or dangerous mix-ups. In hazardous environments, where risks are heightened, being able to read safety signs and equipment labels accurately is essential.
Low color rendering light sources, like highpressure sodium (HPS), make it very difficult to distinguish colors, especially in the blue, purple, green and red portions of the color spectrum. Creating many similarities to color blindness, the yellow-orange light output of HPS puts workers at an increased risk of misinterpreting different color hues. Properly designed LED lighting, however, provides natural white light that can dramatically improve color accuracy and consistency throughout the product's life. Studies show that proper illumination can reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls by up to 60%
Investing in high-quality lighting designed for the varying conditions that industrial and hazardous locations present is a key component to a facility's success and safety. Additionally, defining and meeting certain CRI requirements not only improves operational clarity but also significantly boosts worker safety and efficiency.■
October 15-16
Milwaukee, WI
NEW CERTIFICATIONS
CERTIFIED APPRENTICE
LIGHTING TECHNICIAN™
AGI
Alexander Perez, CALT
Candela Lighting Systems
Michael Williams, CALT
Codale Electric Supply
Rory Cook, CALT
Brady Cook, CALT
Colorado Lighting, Inc.
Alex Flamm, CALT
DiVi Energy
Michael Thompson, CALT
Electric Plus Solutions
Hans Sacrab Mollinedo, CALT
Facility Solutions Group
Ashley Lutz, CALT
Milwaukee Public Schools
Luis Gallegos, CALT
Aqwaun Jordan, CALT
Jamell Bennett, CALT
Kiadree Allen, CALT
David Medel-Colmenares, CALT
Brandon Pulido Zuniga, CALT
Lowe's
Travis Rogers, CALT
North Coast Electric
Ryan Fawcett, CALT
Gabe Newson, CALT
Northeast Electrical
Laura Gregoire, CALT
OneSource Distributors
Cole Arthur, CALT
Pacific Energy Concepts
Sam Parkins, CALT
Springfield Electric
Alice Anders, CALT, CLCP
Tri-State Lighting
Jesse Hicks, CALT
Veolia
Aaylan Palomo, CALT
World Electric Supply
Erik Llanes, CALT
Yesco
James Bennion, CALT
Nahum Tesfaye, CALT
Marcus Elliott, CALT
CERTIFIED SENIOR LIGHTING TECHNICIAN™
Colorado Lighting, Inc.
Brendan Clark, CSLT
Energy Management
Collaborative
Hongzhi Wu, CSLT
Green Tech L.E.A.Ders
Clayton Gregory, CSLT
CERTIFIED LIGHTING CONTROLS PROFESSIONAL™
Keystone Technologies
Michael Cooper, CLCP
Reliable Controls Corporation
Matthew Kent, CLCP
San Diego Lighting Associates
Andrew Durham, CLCP
Clifford Cobelli, CLCP
CERTIFIED APPRENTICE GUV TECHNICIAN
Home Performance Strategies
Kevin Brauer, CA-GUVT
NEW MEMBERS
ASSOCIATE COMPANY MEMBER
ASD LIGHTING CORP
JOIN DATE: 7/1/2024
GENERAL COMPANY MEMBER
E. SAM JONES DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
JOIN DATE: 5/28/2024
OCTOBER 13 – 16, 2024
Join your friends and colleagues in sunny Orlando, Florida, for three days full of education, networking, and fun!
Registration, Exhibition, and Sponsorship
To register for the show, please click here.
Pricing information for attendees can be found here
A special thanks to this year’s sponsors PLATINUM
ˍ Acuity Brands
ˍ Keystone Technologies
ˍ LEDVANCE GOLD
ˍ LSI Industries, Inc.
BRONZE
ˍ Avi-on Labs, Inc.
ˍ BWI Light
ˍ ESPEN Technology
ˍ Lighting Resources LLC
ˍ Linmore LED
ˍ SnapCount
ˍ Satco Products Inc.
ˍ Wave Lighting SILVER
ˍ EiKO
ˍ Peace Services LLC
It’s not too late to exhibit or sponsor! For more information, click here.
•
• HOTEL INFORMATION
• HOTEL INFORMATION
NALMCO Group Block: https://bookings. omnihotels.com/event/orlandochampionsgate/nalmco-2024
Standard King or Double Queen: $199+ tax Block closes at 5:00 p.m. EST on September 18, 2024
Booking in the NALMCO block ensures:
ˍ Discounted room rates
ˍ Waived resort fee*
ˍ Discounted daily self-park ($5+tax/day)
ˍ Rates available 3 days pre and 3 days post NALMCO convention (based on availability)
ˍ 10% off spa services and golf rates
*While the resort fee is waived, you receive the following:
ˍ WiFi Internet Access
ˍ 2 Bottles of water per room
ˍ Complimentary use of health club
AGENDA
*This agenda is subject to change
SATURDAY P OCTOBER 12, 2024
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CLMC Content Review Session
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. GUV: Hands-On Training
1:00 – 3:30 p.m. CLMC Exam
7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. GUV: Testing
12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Exhibitor Set-Up
2:00 – 6:30 p.m. Registration Open
SUNDAY P OCTOBER 13, 2024
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Welcome Reception Sponsored by Keystone Technologies
MONDAY P OCTOBER 14, 2024
7:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Registration Desk Open
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Past Presidents’ Breakfast
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast – Visit with Exhibitors
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. General Session: “Leveraging Virtual Selling and Reframing Your Benefits to Open More Doors and Close More Sales”, presented by Mark Jewell
9:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Networking Event with Associates
12:45 – 1:45 p.m. NALMCO Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. One-on-One Appointments with Exhibitors (Part 1)
3:30 – 3:45 p.m. Visit with Exhibitors
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. General Session: Labor Partner Meet & Greet
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday Evening Reception Sponsored by LEDVANCE
TUESDAY P OCTOBER 15, 2024
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration Desk Open
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast – Visit with Exhibitors
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. General Session: AI in Business
9:40 – 11:10 a.m. One-on-One Appointments with Exhibitors (Part 2)
11:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. General Session:
12:10 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch including Education wrap up and closing comments
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. General Session: Open Networking
1:30 – 3:00 p.m. One-on-One Appointments with Exhibitors (Part 3)
3:15 – 5:00 p.m. Exhibitor Tear-Down
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tuesday Evening Reception Sponsored by Acuity Brands
WEDNESDAY P OCTOBER 16, 2024
6:45–7:45 a.m. Golfers Breakfast (Golfers only) Sponsored by BWI Light
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. NALMCO Golf Tournament (Golfers only)
1:00 p.m. Golf Tournament Lunch (Golfers Only) Sponsored by Satco Products Inc.
IT’S BUSY SEASON ALREADY
The global supply chain is entering its busy season, and with it come a host of challenges. Let’s take a closer look at markets around the world and the specific issues affecting each.
In North America, hurricane season is underway, as Hurricane Beryl made landfall earlier this month. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts above-average activity during this year’s season, citing climate factors such as warm ocean temperatures and La Niña.1
In mid-May, President Biden imposed increased tariffs on a variety of Chinese products, and in turn, Beijing promised to retaliate.2
And, as busy season ramps up, a strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) looms. The association represents East and Gulf Coast workers, though the West Coast would certainly feel the impact of a strike as well. Some reports say a strike is growing more likely, while other sources say positive progress has been made. We will find out which is more accurate in the coming weeks.
A bit of good news for the region – shipping capacity through the Panama Canal has increased after historic droughts in the early part of the year. Capacity is now up to 80% of where it has historically been.3
Furthermore, the trucking market here in the U.S. is still experiencing low rates due to excess capacity. Border States’ recent supply chain update noted, “The consensus is the trucking market has likely hit ‘the bottom’ and will
likely remain favorable to shippers as opposed to carriers.”3
Across the pond, Europe and Asia-Pacific are still feeling the effects from ongoing disruptions in the Red Sea, causing diversions around the southern tip of Africa. With this situation having persisted since late 2023, most carriers have by now factored the disruptions into both their rates and delivery times.
Late June and early July saw major congestion at many Asian ports. “In Singapore, home of the world’s second-busiest port and a key transfer hub for cargo between Asia and the West, delayed shipments jumped 44% in May from a year earlier, and through June 25th were up 27% year-over-year, according to data from FourKites,” wrote Brendan Murray of Bloomberg earlier this month.4
With these and other factors in mind, Judah Levine, Head of Research at Freightos, laid out several possible scenarios for the rest of the year. In the worst case, none of the conditions mentioned above ease, and a strike by U.S. dockworkers only worsens the situation, leading to container rates peaking at levels last seen during the pandemic. The best case scenario sees an end to conflict in the Red Sea, helping drive a surge in supply and a drop in container prices. The most likely scenario falls somewhere in between these two, meaning container rates remain high for the next several months and then begin to fall in Q4.4
The takeaway from all of this information? Plan your shipping needs accordingly for the rest of the year. Do what you can now to avoid having to pay a premium price and face delays in the coming months. P
1 “NOAA predicts above-normal 2024 Atlantic hurricane season” (23 May 2024). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.noaa. gov/news-release/noaa-predicts-above-normal-2024-atlantic-hurricane-season
2 “Biden sharply hikes US tariffs on an array of Chinese imports” (14 May 2024). Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/biden-sharply-hikes-ustariffs-billions-chinese-chips-cars-2024-05-14/
3 “Border States Supply Chain Update – July 2024” (accessed 24 July 2024). Border States. https://solutions.borderstates.com/news/border-states-supplychain-update-july-2024/
4 Murray, Brendan. “Global Shipping Strains Seen Extending Into Second Half” (2 July 2024). Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/ newsletters/2024-07-02/supply-chain-latest-peak-shipping-season-outlook?srnd=economics-v2
AD INDEX
UP CLOSE WITH
BILL HURD
By Shirley Coyle, LC
With both of his parents working for IBM, Bill Hurd and his siblings grew up experiencing the internal company moniker that IBM stands for I’ve Been Moved. “We moved about every two years,” Bill reminisced, “living in three different houses in Boston, three in New York, and two in the D.C. area before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, when I was at the end of high school. We all took a positive spin on it – it forced me to adjust, to get out there, meet friends.” Within a few years of graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bill put those acquired skills in relationship-building to work when he had the opportunity to join Philips Lighting (now Signify) as a regional manager, covering the Southeast for the C&I, Consumer and OEM businesses.
As a self-described non-technical person with a business degree, Bill rose to the challenge of learning the product technology and the industry, building relationships and knowledge over his fourteen years with Philips. “I really committed myself to learn the technology, to be in front of the customer and have credibility – to say the right things, not just give a sales pitch, and to understand how to teach about the technology and all the options.”
Then came the opportunity to buy a small, regional company – a contractor and distributor in lighting, and Bill made the leap of faith from a regular paycheck to being an entrepreneur. He noted, “I’m a fairly conservative, riskaverse person, but I took a big risk in leaving the security of Philips for a tiny company that needed some leadership, and we grew it into an exciting business” (Nova Lighting was eventually sold to Border States Electrical).
In 2012, Bill, with partners Kevin Franklin and Jason Brafford, founded Lightserve. “Since then, we bought five companies to fulfill our portfolio, so now we do everything from distribution to managed services – with a national footprint (fifty states plus Canada and Puerto Rico). We do a ton of lighting retrofit projects, and with our distributor arm, we buy all our own materials direct from manufacturers. It’s a lot of fun.”
Reflecting on current issues facing the lighting industry, Bill offers three. His first concern is customers getting oversold on the LED technology or the controls solution. He elaborated, “You need to meet code or legislation, but it’s about providing the customer with what they need. I’ve seen so many cases where they’ve been oversold, and the technology ends up de-commissioned. Controls are critical, and they’re here to stay. But, we need to bring integrity to the process, understanding the impact on ROI and not over-selling.”
Secondly, he said, “We need to take care of the installers, the folks that are members of NALMCO. They are critical, but the industry often takes installers for granted – none of us can be successful without those folks doing project management, doing the installs with safety and the whole bit…we need to help them make money, so they will
continue to be there, and we need to pay them on time. These are small companies who need the cash flow to pay their workers!”
Lastly, “We’ve sifted through a lot of new competitors jumping in with not-so-quality products – they don’t survive because they cannot respond to defective and warranty costs. They jump in, and then they go away. So, we are sticking with the major manufacturers, and the truly legit controls manufacturers who have good technology.”
Asked about his success throughout his career, Bill’s immediate reaction is that “it’s all about the people – I believe God put people in my life at the right time, the right place, that mentored me, coached me. I still have thirtyto-thirty-five-year relationships because of that – because people have poured into me to help create my success. I’m trying to pour it into others now.” Bill also notes that the fact that lighting is “pretty recession-proof” has helped in his success, along with understanding legacy technology – particularly depreciation and life-ratings differences between the old and the new technology.
At this stage in his career, Bill is delighted to be able to step back and focus on what he loves to do, with his role as Chief Business Officer at Lightserve explicitly including being involved in the industry and mentoring the next generation. And what advice does Bill have for young people coming into the industry? “Understand the product technology (new and old); understand the industry, and find an industry mentor. Get involved in the industry associations, not just as a member, but join a committee –not for the title and recognition, but because you want to get involved and to support the mission. Have integrity –treat people the right way. If you do all that, you can have an amazing career that can be tremendously fulfilling in the lighting space!”
Bill himself is still involved in associations (NALMCO and NAILD), noting, “I just think it’s important to stay involved. I’ve got tons of energy; I still feel young – I stll go out and do audits. I don’t want to lose sight of the trenches – I don’t want to just sit behind a desk and be an executive! I love levity…I try to bring levity into every day, in my job and outside my job. I can be serious when I need to be. I’m still driving sales and making money. I’m a big balance guy – balance is so important. I love this industry and this company so much that I have fun at work – and to balance, I have great fun in my home life. I have a beautiful, supportive wife, Robin, and I’m really blessed as well to have my son, Grant Hurd, working with Lightserve, and now my brother, Ken Hurd, also working here. When I’m not working, I play a lot of pickleball, tennis, and golf, and I go to boot camp a couple of days a week. I’m trying to stay active physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Bill Hurd sets an example for us in maintaining balance – he loves entrepreneurship in his daily work, loves our industry, and loves life outside of work. P
NEXT ISSUE NEXT ISSUE
COMING IN SEPTEMBER
2024 NALMCO CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOW ISSUE
Project Spotlight: Dark Sky-compliant retrofits
Re-LED: The emerging market of retrofitting first-generation LED projects
Market Update: What is the state of the solar industry and where is it headed?
Sept LM&M is published in both digital and hard copy format delivering bonus distribution at NALMCO’s 2024 convention (Orlando, Oct 20-23).
Ads close Sep 19. Ad materials due Sep 20.
*Editorial content subject to change.
