ATLANTA—ASHRAE announced its next High Performance Buildings Conference will take place April 7 to 8, 2014, at Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco. Building upon the 2012 High Performance Buildings Conference and 2009 Net-Zero Energy Conference, the conference seeks to advance the industry’s efforts to accomplish a true high-performance built environment. “The 2014 HPB Conference provides a unique opportunity for dialog among attendees to facilitate understanding of current indoor environmental quality and energy saving efforts and to share best practices for achieving high-performance buildings,” Kent Peterson, conference chair, said. The conference topics provide a comprehensive overview of high performance building...

ATLANTA—Acuity Brands, Inc., a leader in energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, announced the launch of its new LSXR Fixture-Mount Sensor from Sensor Switch. This sensor offers up to four interchangeable lenses and an integrated, adjustable mounting bracket, making it ideal for both high-mount and low-mount lighting control applications.“The LSXR sensor is an innovative solution for many of our customers’ most common applications,” said Ben Hahn, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President and Value Stream Leader for Sensor Switch. “Due to its built-in versatility and flexibility, the LSXR sensor offers optimal performance for varying mounting heights and fixture types.  So, whether...

CHICAGO—The Drake Hotel’s landmark rooftop neon sign will be replaced with environmentally friendly Sloan LED lighting with the help of Olympic Signs of Lombard (Ill.). Licensed by the EPA, Olympic Signs will dispose of the antiquated neon piping that used to adorn the 20-foot “The Drake” sign. Thus, neon’s 70-year run illuminating Lake Shore Drive officially ends.The new and improved sign will be the first of its kind. Olympic Signs president Robert Whitehead, whose company is known for green energy, has led his team in the production of a new mold, a new source of energy and a new...

NEW YORK—Duravit has applied its innovative design sensibility to bathroom lighting with the introduction of its LED mirrors. This feature, now available across a range of classic and newly launched Duravit collections, lends a soft and natural effect to the bathroom, and the even source of light is ideal for grooming and makeup application. The functional LED lighting can also be applied in Duravit’s mirrored cabinets, providing a practical and energy-saving solution.“At Duravit, one of our goals is to always treat the bathroom as a living space,” says Duravit USA president Tim Schroeder. “Our LED mirrors substitute the harsh...

MUSKEGON, MICH.—EarthTronics introduces PAR20, PAR30 and PAR38 EarthBulb LED floodlights which offer more than 80 percent savings compared to standard floodlights. EarthTronics dimming technology provides smooth dimming to less than 5 percent on standard controls. EarthBulb LED PAR lamps are ideal for use in display lighting, track lighting and recessed lighting applications for hospitality, restaurant, long-term care and retail locations.EarthBulb LED PAR20, PAR30 and PAR38 floodlights provide 300, 750, and 1000 lumens respectively and replace 50 watt, 75 watt and 90 watt incandescent floodlights. EarthBulb LED PAR lamps are designed with the same form factor as the PAR lamps...

FARMINGDALE, N.Y.—In most offices, hotels or homes, a lot of money is wasted by people simply not turning off the lights when they leave a room. In fact, lights are often accidentally left on overnight, wasting both money and electricity. When one installs a Tolomeo Task Lamp with a motion sensor light switch, it will automatically sense any movement in the room. This means the light will go on automatically without one having to do a thing. After a certain amount of time, if no further motion is detected, the lights will also turn themselves off. Because of this...

SATELLITE BEACH, FLA.—Lighting Science Group Corp. announced the release of the outdoor Coastal Light, designed with amber-colored LEDs to deter sea turtle hatchlings and other wildlife that are sensitive or threatened by light that is not from a natural nighttime source.Properties located in coastal areas are often required by law to comply with light pollution standards for the protection of wildlife, especially sea turtle hatchlings. Each year, nearly 20,000 hatchlings are disorientated by beachfront lighting and most do not make it from the surf into the ocean. Turtle eye receptors are sensitive to a different intensity and wavelength (color)...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—WattStopper announced a new family of lighting control panels developed to support design professionals engineering net zero buildings. The panels allow designers to easily layer multiple control strategies and integrate seamlessly with other building systems to meet the newest energy code requirements and optimize energy management. To ensure reliability and longevity, these newly-designed panels are based on two proven WattStopper technologies: Digital Lighting Management (DLM) intelligent control and the company’s patented heavy duty relay. The panels address the growing need to combine the flexibility of distributed controls with the scalability of centralized controls. Combining lighting control solutions tailored...

DETROIT—MGM Grand Detroit has completed the light-emitting diode (LED) lamp retrofit of its 61-acre parking garage. Cited as one of the nation’s largest LED parking garage makeovers, the three-month installation boasts 3,117 LED lamps and will reduce the garage’s annual energy use by 80 percent at the Four Diamond destination resort. “As a property fully committed to the fundamental principles of environmental stewardship, we are proud to complete the LED lamp installation and further minimize MGM Grand Detroit’s energy consumption,” said Steve Zanella, president and COO of MGM Grand Detroit. “Like many of our conservation initiatives, this renovation...

LOS ANGELES—American Illumination, Inc., a specialist in designing and creating one-of-a-kind LED light engines, has unveiled their LED GU24 direct replacement lamp. Part of the company’s new Verde Retrofit Series, this new model is one of the few GU24 direct replacement light bulbs available, and is the only one compatible with the GU24 locking ring for simple transitions from CFL to LED.“With the Verde Retrofit lamps, we wanted to push energy savings even further,” said Gina Lee, marketing director for American Illumination. “CFLs are already a low-cost, low-energy solution available to the public, but these sources tend to produce...