Energy Efficient Design Competition Features CFLs, LEDs

Lighting for Tomorrow is looking into the future of residential lighting with its 2008 fixture design competition— not just for new products but for innovative technologies as well. Along with the promotion of attractive energy efficient residential lighting fixtures, Lighting for Tomorrow is also encouraging innovation in the use of new light sources. The competition was officially launched at the Dallas Lighting Market, January 17–21, 2008. Included is a new solid-state lighting category that calls for use of the world’s most energy-efficient white LED devices.

Lighting for Tomorrow is organized by the American Lighting Association (ALA), the U.S. Department of Energy (represented by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), and CEE. About two dozen CEE members across the United States and Canada have pledged more than $150,000 to sponsor this latest competition.

Lighting for Tomorrow continues to look for ways to further connect CEE members with lighting retailers. There is currently consideration of a workshop with lighting showrooms and posting retailers who stock the winning fixtures on the Lighting for Tomorrow web site. If members have an interest in these opportunities, please contact CEE Senior Program Manager Rebecca Foster at rfoster@cee1.org or 617-589-3949 x207.

CFL Fixture Family Design Competition
Designers can still enter fluorescent fixture family designs in Lighting for Tomorrow, but there are new challenges in this category as well. “There has been tremendous change in the lighting industry since the competition began in 2002,” said Foster, a co-organizer of Lighting for Tomorrow. “The 2008 competition mirrors that change by requiring CFL chandeliers to dim for the first time. We’re looking forward to highlighting the most innovative and beautiful fixtures in this year’s design competition.”

Last year’s winning CFL fixture family designs came from Sea Gull Lighting and Savoy House.

SSL Competition in Third Year
The first Lighting for Tomorrow Solid-State Lighting Competition, held as a separate event in 2006, attracted 30 entrants. Last year’s Grand Prize winner, chosen from among a field of 40 entrants, was an innovative LED downlight designed by LED Lighting Fixtures (LLF) of North Carolina. In addition, Finelite, Inc., a California-based company, won in the portable desk-task and undercabinet lighting categories. Progress Lighting from South Carolina won in the outdoor category.

The use of white LED lighting for general illumination is advancing quickly, with new products being introduced regularly. Lighting for Tomorrow’s 2008 SSL competition is adding a category to highlight the ongoing progress in LED device innovations. The “Future LED” category will require a minimum LED device efficacy of 90 lm/W.

The deadline for entries is April 30. Winners will be announced during an award ceremony at the ALA Conference, September 14–16, 2008,in Washington, DC. For complete guidelines and rules for the 2008 competition, see the Lighting for Tomorrow web site.

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