Michigan Advanced Lighting Conference Shines A Light On New Industry

Michigan's advanced lighting industry will be displayed at full brightness on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the Michigan Advanced Lighting Conference, to be held at the Electrical Industry Training Center in Warren.

The conference features two tracks with topics and speakers tailored to a wide range of industry professionals -- track 1 for customers and contractors, track 2 for manufacturers. Topics covered include the companies moving Michigan's lighting industry forward, innovative project case studies, optimizing return on investment with sensors and controls, and "what's next" in research and development.

Keynotes will be delivered by John W. Curran, president of LED Transformations LLC, a Stanton, N.J. advanced lighting consultant, and Eric Haugaard, director of product technology at Cree Inc., a manufacturer of light-emitting diode materials and devices, headquartered in Durham, N.C.

Attendees will also have access to an "Advanced Lighting Showcase" featuring products and services, many from Michigan-based companies.

The day's agenda includes many valuable opportunities for participants to network, including breakfast, lunch and an afterglow reception.

Facility owners and managers can discover the innovative products, tangible resources and proof of ROI they need to enhance both their buildings and their bottom line. Contractors and other industry participants will discover how to leverage the latest advanced technology to grow their businesses.

Conference participants include architects, engineers, lighting manufacturers, building managers, owners, and developers, and other industry professionals. Attendees have the opportunity to earn continuing education credits toward certifications offered through American Institute of Architects (AIA), Building Owners and Managers Institute International (BOMI) and US Green Building Council (USGBC). The cost to attend is $75.

NextEnergy is serving as the event organizer, with the support of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and partnering organizations, the Michigan Public Service Commission, the Michigan Solid-State Lighting Association, the Green Team Coalition, the Electrical Industry Training Center, and the Michigan Advanced Lighting Controls Training Program.

Event sponsors include DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58 and the National Electrical Contractors Association of Southeast Michigan. Sponsorship opportunities are still available at costs ranging from $250 to $15,000.For more information on sponsorships, please contact Diana L. Nash, LEED AP, at (248) 763-2275 or diananash@greenteamcoalition.com.

"The influence of information technology, energy codes and standards, and advances in lighting efficiency and flexibility are driving significant changes within the lighting industry," said Thomas Bowes, assistant director, Detroit Electrical Industry Training Center. "This is an exciting time for the industry with a degree of innovation not seen since the days of Thomas Edison and his development of the incandescent light."

For more information about the conference visit www.nextenergy.org/MALC.