As a follow-up to its highly successful fixture design competition in 2003-2004, Lighting for Tomorrow will be running a new competition in 2005.

Officially launched on Jan. 14 at the Dallas Market, Lighting for Tomorrow's new Design and Technology Competition will feature dramatically increased cash awards, several new categories, an emphasis on fixture families and a special award for technical innovation.

Lighting for Tomorrow is organized by CEE, the American Lighting Association (ALA) and the U.S. Dept. of Energy (represented by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory).

Click here for general background information about Lighting for Tomorrow.

CEE member support
Twenty-seven CEE members are co-sponsoring the competition, committing more than $140,000:

Alliant Energy BC Hydro Bonneville Power Administration California Energy Commission Cape Light Compact Connecticut Light & Power Efficiency Maine Efficiency Vermont Energy Trust of Oregon Hydro-Québec Long Island Power Authority Massachusetts Electric MidAmerican Energy Narragansett Electric

New Jersey Clean Energy Program Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance NSTAR Electric NYSERDA Pacific Gas & Electric Sacramento Municipal Utility District San Diego Gas & Electric Southern California Edison Tacoma Power United Illuminating Unitil: Fitchburg Gas & Electric Western Mass. Electric Company Xcel Energy

The Design and Technology Competition is designed to stimulate the market for high-efficiency residential lighting fixtures and to expand the market infrastructure to deliver them. These lighting systems use up to two-thirds less electricity than standard incandescent fixtures. By encouraging new designs and technologies, Lighting for Tomorrow aims to increase market acceptance and awareness of the growing opportunities in energy-efficient lighting.

Cash awards have nearly tripled
First-prize awards of $15,000 each will be given to the winners in three categories: indoor fixture families, outdoor fixture families and technology innovation. There will also be second-place awards ($7,500) for the first two categories. Winners will be announced at the ALA Annual Conference in Miami Beach Sept. 17.

"This is an opportunity for manufacturers and designers to receive substantial cash awards as well as invaluable assistance in marketing and publicity," said CEE Residential Program Manager Rebecca Foster, who is co-managing Lighting for Tomorrow.

"The winning entries will be heavily promoted in lighting showrooms and by energy-efficiency organizations that are sponsoring the competition. In many cases, efficiency organizations will be offering financial incentives for the purchase of these energy-saving fixtures."

The benefits of the competition extend to more than the winners, though.

"Many of the programs offered by efficiency organizations are applicable to all ENERGY STAR^®-qualified fixtures," said Terry McGowan, Director of Engineering and Technology at ALA.

"Lighting for Tomorrow provides a reason for manufacturers to become involved in the ENERGY STAR program and begin reaping the benefits these programs offer."

What's new in 2005
This year's Design and Technology Competition differs from LFT's previous competition in that:

• Fixture families will be emphasized. These families include lighting products that complement each other – aesthetically and technically – and can be purchased as a set for the home. Manufacturers must submit at least one prototype for each fixture family entry.
  
  
• Outdoor lighting is now included.
  
  
• ENERGY STAR qualification is required for all winners.
  
  
• A technology innovation category - that recognizes creative improvements in lamps, ballasts, sockets and controls - has been added.
  

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