Launched during the January Dallas Market, the 2012 Lighting for Tomorrow competition will focus on energy-efficient lighting design in lighting control devices, solid state lighting (SSL) fixtures, retrofit kits and replacement lamps. For the first time, retrofit kits will be included in the competition.
Lighting for Tomorrow will also continue to build on the momentum from previous competitions for lighting control products, including stand-alone, system-based and whole-house devices as well as SSL fixtures for specific applications and replacement lamps.
Competition Celebrating Tenth Anniversary
Lighting for Tomorrow is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. When the competition was first launched in December 2002, the focus was on energy-efficient residential lighting fixtures, which at that time, consisted of CFL and fluorescent luminaires.
Today, the fixture competition is exclusively for SSL technology. Through the years, the competition has been expanded to include LED replacement lamps in 2009, lighting controls in 2010 and, new this year, LED retrofit kits.
Lighting Controls Competition in Third Year
Lighting for Tomorrow has focused on the controllability of energy-efficient lighting for several years. In 2008, the fluorescent fixture competition requested that all CFL-equipped chandeliers be dimmable.
Following this advance, a fluorescent dimming competition in 2009 sought good quality dimming in both fixtures and CFLs. In 2010 and 2011, Lighting for Tomorrow featured a lighting controls competition that required lighting control devices to be compatible with fluorescent or LED technology, which will be continued in 2012.
The judging panel will evaluate lighting-control products based on functionality, ease of installation and use, innovation and ability to work with other systems and existing luminaires.
Solid State Lighting Competition in Seventh Year
Since including SSL products in 2006, the Lighting for Tomorrow competition has seen a dramatic increase in the quantity and quality of light emitting diode products. The competition is widening its scope in 2012 with the inclusion of retrofit kits and continuing with a broad range of residential lighting products such as fixtures and replacement lamps.
Entries in this competition will be judged on the basis of lighting performance, marketability, and energy efficiency.
Deadline for Entries Is April 20
The competition is organized by the American Lighting Association, Consortium for Energy Efficiency and Underwriters Laboratories. The deadline for entries is Friday, April 20.
Winners will be announced during an award ceremony at the 2012 ALA Annual Conference, held Sept. 9-11, in Scottsdale, Ariz., and will be eligible to be promoted by energy-efficiency programs across the United States and Canada.