Release Date: February 3, 2006

Contact: Kelly Gordon, 503-417-7558, kelly.gordon@pnl.gov

First ever solid-state lighting competition launched

Lighting for Tomorrow looks ahead to innovative new light sources

For the first time, solid-state lighting will be the focus of a national lighting competition. On Feb. 3, Lighting for Tomorrow announced the launch of a new solid-state lighting (SSL) competition at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solid-State Lighting Workshop in Orlando, Fla. This competition will encourage and recognize innovation, lighting quality and energy efficiency in the use of SSL technology for specific lighting applications.

Lighting for Tomorrow is organized by the American Lighting Association (ALA), the U.S. Dept. of Energy (represented by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) and the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). About two dozen energy-efficiency organizations nationwide have combined to pledge more than $150,000 to sponsor the 2006 Lighting for Tomorrow program.

Lighting for Tomorrow was launched in 2002 with the goal of stimulating the market for high-efficiency, compact fluorescent-based, residential lighting fixtures that use up to two-thirds less electricity than standard incandescent fixtures. Through successful design competitions in 2003-04 and 2005, Lighting for Tomorrow has encouraged manufacturers and designers to develop innovative designs and technologies for the residential market. Because aesthetics is a major factor in consumer purchase decisions, these competitions have emphasized attractiveness as well as efficiency and functionality. Past winners of Lighting for Tomorrow include Lithonia, American Fluorescent, Lightolier, Forecast and Justice Design Group.

First opportunity for SSL sources to compete
Responding to rapid development of SSL technology in recent years, Lighting for Tomorrow is soliciting lighting fixture designs that use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the sole light source for specific applications. A separate 2006 Lighting for Tomorrow competition for CFL-based fixtures was announced in January 2006.

SSL competition entrants will be invited to submit working prototypes in several niche categories: 1) kitchen under-cabinet and in-cabinet lighting, 2) portable desk/task lighting and 3) outdoor porch, pathway and step lighting.

This initial Lighting for Tomorrow SSL competition is geared to facilitate learning about effective applications of this new light source in appropriate niche lighting applications.

“We see that SSL has the potential to provide high-quality lighting and decrease energy use in certain applications,” said Terry McGowan, Director of Technology and Engineering for the ALA. However, at this early stage of development of SSL for general illumination, the traditional lighting fixture industry faces a steep learning curve as designers and companies learn how best to use the technology.

The 2006 competition is an opportunity to evaluate innovative new fixture designs employing LEDs, while providing valuable feedback to SSL manufacturers and facilitating new connections within the lighting industry.

Full guidelines and rules for the 2006 SSL competition are at www.lightingfortomorrow.com.