Orion Energy Systems, Inc. (Orion Energy) has received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark office for the energy management company's energy efficient modular lighting platform. The patent was awarded to the company for the modular features of the system, which make initial installation, and the integration of additional energy saving technologies, easy and affordable. The modularity of the Compact Modular system is the 22nd patent for the company.
The modular plug-and-play features of the technology are designed for simple in-field quick change power supply to accommodate the existing branch circuit receptacle, rather than timely and expensive hard wiring. The modularity will also allow users to integrate the InteLite control device to further reduce energy waste by turning off lights that aren’t needed, saving even more energy than with the Compact Modular system alone.
The Compact Modular platform is guaranteed to reduce users’ light-related energy costs by typically 50%, while increasing light levels by 50%. When integrated with Orion’s InteLite wireless control system and direct renewable solar Apollo light pipe, Orion customers are reducing energy consumption for lighting by up to 80%.
The design of the Compact Modular fixture and the reflector are already patented. Orion has 15 patents pending.
“The design of our Compact Modular(tm) lighting system is making it easy for companies to reduce their energy bills, decrease installation and maintenance costs and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Orion CEO Neal Verfuerth. “This patent joins a growing list of other patented technology that has helped our customers save more than $642 million in energy costs, delivered more than 460 megawatts to the electric grid — which is nearly the size of one coal-fired power plant — and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 5.5 million tons.”
Orion’s innovation and technology recently won the praise of President Barack Obama, who applauded Orion in a White House speech promoting clean energy, the creation of green collar jobs and the importance of energy efficiency. Obama challenged Orion and other clean energy companies to “mount a historic effort to end once and for all our dependence on foreign oil.”
Orion has deployed its energy management systems in 4,796 facilities across North America. Since 2001, Orion technology has displaced more than 459 megawatts, saving customers more than $642 million and reducing indirect carbon dioxide emissions by 5.5 million tons. Orion’s technology was recently internationally recognized with a Platts Global Energy Award for the single most innovative and sustainable green technology of 2008.