Jeff Lee

Jeff Lee's Posts

• Next Generation Luminaires Design Competition

  by Jeff Lee

  Luminaires for general commercial applications showed marked improvement, compared to previous years, at the fourth annual Next Generation Luminaires (NGL) Solid-State Lighting (SSL) Design Competition. Results for the competition, which was launched in 2008 to promote excellence in the design of energy-efficient LED luminaires for general illumination in commercial lighting applications, were announced May 10 at Lightfair in Las Vegas. The competition split up indoor and outdoor lighting products for the first time in 2012. Of the 187 products proposed for submission in the indoor competition, 114 of which met the stringent documentation requirements to be judged, 53 were recognized as winners, indicating the judges considered them worthy of specification. Three products were recognized as Best in Class, meaning they stood out significantly above the other products in their category. Intense Lighting was selected for its MBW2 LED Track accent lighting fixture, Albeo Technologies for its H-Series LED high-bay luminaire, and Lithonia Lighting for its ST Series LED utility/general purpose luminaire.

• Alpenglass Windows by Alpen Energy Group

  by Jeff Lee

  Alpenglass windows use a combination of low-E coatings; suspended Heat Mirror films; gas fills; vinyl, wood, or insulated fiberglass frames; and low-conductivity spacers to achieve whole-unit U-factors as low as 0.10 for fixed units and 0.14 for casements using superinsulating glazing combinations, such as triple films and xenon gas, and superinsulated frames. Depending on the customer’s requirements, the manufacturer can provide products with higher SHGC values for passive solar gain, or whole-unit SHGC values as low as 0.15. 800.882.4466.

• SunCoatMAX Low-E Insulating Glass Windows by Milgard

  by Jeff Lee

  SunCoatMAX low-E insulating glass is now an upgrade option on the manufacturer’s full line of windows and patio doors. The double-pane, triple-coating technology provides a center-of-glass SHGC of 0.27 and a U-factor of 0.24. Montecito and Tuscany vinyl casement windows with SunCoatMAX, argon gas, and no grids, have a whole-unit U-factor of 0.29 and SHGC of 0.19. SunCoatMAX is available on the manufacturer’s windows in the West, which are offered with aluminum, vinyl, and fiberglass frames. Aluminum and vinyl frames contain recycled material; vinyl frames contain between 5% and 100% recycled material. Energy Star qualification depends on the zone and frame material of the window. 800.645.4273.

• 400 Series Windows by Andersen

  by Jeff Lee

  Low-E4 glazing, now standard on all 400 Series windows, is a dual-pane system layered with 11 microscopic coatings and filled with argon gas for a center-of-glass SHGC range from 0.41 to 0.44 and a U-factor range of 0.27 to 0.28. The vinyl-clad 400 Series casement without grilles and with Low-E4 glazing has a whole-unit U-factor of 0.30 and an SHGC of 0.34. Frames are primarily vinyl-clad wood, but some products include components made from composite or glass fiber. The glazing incorporates a sunlight-activated exterior coating that reduces dirt buildup and water spots, the maker says. The windows are Energy Star– and Green Seal–certified. 800.426.4261.

• SageGlass Electronically Tintable Skylights by Velux

  by Jeff Lee

  SageGlass electronically tintable skylights allow control of the amount of light and heat that enters a room. Applying a safe, low-DC voltage via a control switch, remote, or automatic timer causes the electrochromic layers on the skylight to darken, and reversing the voltage polarity causes the layers to lighten. The skylights have a whole-unit U-factor of 0.49 and an SHGC of 0.10 when the skylight is dark or 0.47 when it is clear. SageGlass is available in select sizes of model FS and model VSE skylights, which are deck-mounted and have wood frames, as well as in select sizes of the aluminum FCM and wood VCE skylights, which are curb-mounted. The skylights are Energy Star–qualified. 800.888.3589.