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7.31.2011

Lighting Design Basics

ELECTRICAL: Lighting Design Basics

  • AMBIENT HOUSE LIGHTING
Ambient light (or fill light) is the soft, general illumination that fills a room and softens the shadows. As a rule, the fixtures (often called luminaires in the lighting industry) used to provide ambient light should not draw attention to themselves. Ambient light is best provided by opaque wall sconces, cove lighting, torchiere floor lamps (which point upwards), or dish-shaped hanging fixtures (called indirect pendants).

  • Wall Sconces 
Wall sconces should be opaque, not transparent, so that the light will be softer and will not draw the eye to the fixtures. Sconces almost always come in pairs, and they typically are used to flank a door, fireplace, or console table. Two sconces are adequate to provide ambient light in an average size room, but four will be much more effective at providing even, balanced lighting.

  • Cove Lighting 
Cove lighting is installed near the ceiling, behind a cornice or ledge. Suitable fixtures include strip lights with miniature incandescent or xenon lamps, compact fluorescents, or standard-length fluorescent tubes.

For cove lighting, plan on using either xenon or fluorescent lamps, between 20 to 30 watts per foot for either type. Place the lamps behind the cove as shown in Figure 5-56.

If a room has a 9-ft. ceiling, cove lighting can be installed between 12 and 24 in. down from the ceiling. In a room with an 8-ft. ceiling, cove lighting is typically installed 12 in. down. (Note: This may leave the center of some rooms rather dark; the solution here is to include an indirect pendant fixture in the center of the ceiling.)





















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solar industry continued its impressive growth rate


U.S. Solar Industry Grows 66% Q1/10 - Q1/11

In what continues to be an era of slow growth for the U.S. economy, the domestic solar industry continued its impressive growth rate into the first quarter of 2011, according to a report released last month by the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research.

Compared to the first quarter of 2010, the industry grew 66%, while domestic manufacturing of PV equipment grew at 31%. 2010 itself was an outstanding year; with 887 megawatts installed, it more than doubled the total for the year before, and the Q1 2011 figure represents over 28% of that 2010 annual figure.

This is not data to take to an international conference, however. Solar growth overseas has been accelerating even faster than at home, with the result that U.S. global market share has decreased since 2009 from 6% to 5.1%.

There is better news on the utility-scale front, however, where the U.S. may become the world leader in the next couple of years. Some 1100 megawatts of concentrating solar and concentrating PV power is currently under construction, with eight times that much in the planning stage.

The report also shows that 88% of this year's solar installations were in just seven states: California, New Jersey, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New York and Massachusetts, a 12% increase on 2010's figure. It appears that those states already leading the pack are finding reasons to increase their solar investment.

The full U.S. Solar Market Insight (TM) report can be found here.

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Re: Commission on waste promotes nuclear power but rejects reprocessing



 
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Commission on waste promotes nuclear power but rejects reprocessing -for now

Yucca Mountain

act
The Obama administration's Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future, in its draft report released today, predictably advocates continued support for nuclear power.  But, in a surprise move, the commission rejected reprocessing as a near-term radioactive waste "solution" while still approving continued research funding. Beyond Nuclear strongly opposes the commission's endorsement of "consolidated interim storage" which we view as a high security and safety threat and an unwelcome health and environmental risk to host communities. However, given the strong component of nuclear industry boosters on the commission panel, led by Energy Secretary, Stephen Chu, the commission's rejection of reprocessing was unexpected. Beyond Nuclear, along with 170 other groups, supports hardening of waste at reactor sites, as the "least worst" option for now. For more details and action items, see our website.

Thank you for working with us for a nuclear-free world.

sunflower
The Beyond Nuclear Team




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7.28.2011

Solar SunShot Initiative News Briefs:

  • Rooftop Challenge solicitation deadline and projects approved on public lands

USA DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program 

U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative U.S. Department of Energy, SunShot Initiative
Photo of rows of blue photovoltaic panels angled up towards a blue sky. PSEG's Jacksonville Solar plant sits in the background.

SUNGRIN is studying the Jacksonville solar plant, a centralized resource connected to the distribution system, as one of its case studies based on real-world scenarios.      
Credit: Rick Meeker, Florida State University, Center for Advanced Power Systems 

 

Fast Fact

Since 2007, $50 million of competitive funding for SunShot's PV Incubator companies has been matched by well over $1 billion in private investment, delivering a 24-to1 private-to-public investment ratio for the American taxpayer. Read more about one of these success stories.        

 Deadline for Rooftop Solar Challenge Solicitation Approaching

Applicants interested in applying for the Rooftop Solar Challenge financial opportunity need to submit a letter of intent by July 29, 2011. To learn more about how to apply for this opportunity, a four-part webinar series provides details. Learn more about the Challenge financial opportunity.

Salazar and Chu Advance Renewable Energy Projects

This month Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Energy Secretary Steven Chu approved four new projects on public lands, launched environmental reviews on three others, and outlined the next steps in the Solar Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). Read the announcement.

Something to Smile About in Florida

In partnership with DOE, the Sunshine State Solar Grid Initiative (SUNGRIN) hopes to boost Florida's PV industry by developing a better understanding of solar resource variability and high penetration scenarios. Learn more about this collaborative effort.

 

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