Providing an SSL Product: Demonstration Projects
What does it take for most large potential customers, distributors, or an efficiency program to embrace a technology in general or a specific product in particular? Assuming there is strong interest and support for solid state lighting already, a highly valued factor is independent, third party testing (see CALiPER article). Additionally, many parties will want to be able to refer to real-world examples of a technology or product being deployed. These pilots and/or demonstration installations provide an empirical body of information for calibrating test results with real world application of the technology. The availability of such useful information allows vastly improved decision making on the part of those either spending their own money or providing efficiency incentives for others.
To that end, the Department of Energy (DOE) Solid State Lighting (SSL) Technology Demonstration Program matches demonstration host sites with SSL products that have been screened for suitability in the selected applications. Currently, DOE has issued an open invitation to participate in the DOE SSL Technology Demonstration program. These SSL demonstration projects showcase high-performance LED products in a variety of commercial and residential applications, providing hard data on product performance and cost-effectiveness, and are widely publicized.
To learn more about how to participate in DOE SSL demonstrations, or to download applications for manufacturers, host sites, or utilities/energy efficiency organizations, visit: http://www.netl.doe.gov/ssl/techdemos.htm.
