EMerge Alliance reaches 100 members, introduces compliant SSL products at Lightfair

At Lightfair 2013, the EMerge Alliance is introducing 21 new members and that 39 new products are compliant with its standardized direct-current (DC) power grid technology. EMerge is an open industry association focused on the rapid adoption of safe DC power distribution standards for commercial buildings, and is especially applicable to LED-based solid-state lighting (SSL). The group aims to help deliver greater energy efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability to buildings.

However, the "benefits of DC power distribution go beyond decreasing energy consumption, reducing labor costs, and minimizing business interruptions,” says EMerge Alliance Chairman Brian Patterson. He believes that "DC microgrids offer a safe, reliable and efficient solution to providing power to commercial buildings and new lighting technologies.”

The latest DC power applications in lighting will be featured at EMerge Alliance booth #3446. Also at the booth is a spotlight on products from: Acuity Brands-Lithonia Lighting, Amatis Controls, Armstrong, JLC-Tech, Nextek Power Systems, OSRAM SYLVANIA, Philips Electronics, and ROAL Electronics USA.

An AIA- and GBCI-accredited educational session titled, "DC: The Power to Change Lighting for Net Zero Energy Buildings," will be presented at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24, at booth #4721F in the Spotlight Lounge.

The EMerge group is now supported by more than 100 member organizations. The newest members at the different levels are: Participating level: Eltek AS, Panduit, ValidusDC, and ZBB Energy Corporation; General level: Alpha Technologies, Carling Technologies, Lite-On Clean Energy Technology, Minebea, PhotoGlow, and SL Power Electronics; Supporting level: Echola Systems, Engineering Services of Vermont, Lighting Energy Depot, People Power, Strategic Energy Solutions, and VP Energy; Corresponding level: Korea Testing Laboratory, Pika Energy, SCTE, and sg++ smart grid computing; and Liaison level:Passive House Institute U.S.

Members at the Governing, Participating, and General levels submit products for the EMerge Alliance Registered product program for the EMerge Alliance Occupied Space Standard. This standard makes DC power distribution in commercial interiors possible through the integration of interior power, infrastructures, controls, and peripherals at the room-level microgrid platform level.

To date, 92 member products have been submitted for evaluation to determine their suitability to carry the EMerge Alliance Registered product mark. The new products recently submitted include:

Acuity Brands – Lithonia Lighting: AC Series LED – 2x2 and 2x 4, AL Series LED – 2x2 and 2x4, RT Series LED – 2x2 and 2x4, SBS Series LED - 2x2 and 2x4, T Series LED - 2x2 and 2x4, VT Series LED - 2x2 and 2x4;
Amatis Controls: AM-8SW Multifunction 8 gang switch, AM-Blind, AM-BR Border router, AM-Dim Lighting dimmer, and AM-Relay;
GVA Lighting: Highlighter HL-COVE;
JLC-Tech: T-BAR LED Smartlight;
Magtech Industries Corp.: LD1025 LED Driver and LD1040 LED Driver;
Nextek Power Systems: Maximum Power Point Tracker – Low Voltage, High Voltage, and Fixed Voltage; and DC/DC Converter – Low Voltage, High Voltage, and Fixed Voltage;
OSRAM SYLVANIA: RLC22 LED 2x2 Luminaire and RLS22 LED 2x2 Luminaire;
Philips Electronics: Attune 1x4, 2x2, and 2x4; ST 2x2 SofTrace 2 Lamp T8; and Calculite;
PhotoGlow Inc.: TL2X LED Ceiling Tile;
PolyBrite International: Emergency LED Lamp;
ROAL Electronics USA: Safe Energy Server (SES400); and
TE Connectivity: External Bus Bar Connector.

For a current list of EMerge Alliance Registered products, please visit www.emergealliance.org/Products/RegisteredProducts.aspx.

The Alliance is nearing completion of a planned expansion of the EMerge Alliance Registered product program to include products supporting the EMerge Alliance Data/Telecom Center Standard, announced in November 2012. Once this process is completed, products supporting this DC power standard will be eligible to wear the EMerge Alliance Registered product logo.