RTI International’s NLITe™ Technology Wins the Energy Institute’s 2012 Innovation Award

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – RTI International’s nanofiber lighting improvement technology (NLITe™) won the Energy Institute’s 2012 Innovation Award. The Energy Institute awards recognize individuals and organizations in the global energy industry for setting new standards of excellence and innovation.

NLITe™ is an innovative technology platform for the lighting industry that enables substantial energy savings and produces aesthetically pleasing light.  The technology has been validated in the marketplace and at third party testing labs where it has been shown to improve light output by as much as 40 percent in common lighting fixtures.  

The Energy Institute is the professional body for the energy industry and supports roughly 15,000 individuals and 250 companies across 100 countries.

“The Energy Institute’s Innovation Award recognized the potential of NLITe™ to transform the way we light our homes and businesses, as well as its potential to generate enormous energy and cost savings for families, businesses, and governments the world over, “said Lynn Davis, Ph.D., director of RTI’s Nanoscale Materials Program. “We are very proud to have been recognized by the Energy Institute and particularly excited that the award acknowledges the impact of NLITe™ on the overall energy sector.”

Energy efficiency is a major global issue with implications for national security, economic growth and prosperity, sustainable jobs creation, and climate stability.  Lighting drives roughly 20 percent of total energy demand. To improve efficiency and lower global energy demand, the lighting industry is largely focused on improving the efficiency of light sources (bulb, lamps, etc.).  By contrast, NLITe™ focuses on the reflective surfaces of luminaires.  As a result, it dramatically improves efficiency, complements other efficiency advances and can be applied to all lighting types, from standard fluorescents to LED-based energy efficient lighting.

“Although it is easy to think of NLITe as impacting the lighting market, its true value lies in its disruptive effect on building design and energy demand,” said Galen Hatfield, vice president of the Commercial Programs Division, Engineering & Technology at RTI.  “NLITe™ provides a disruptive step-change in lighting efficiency, especially for indoor settings like offices and schools. Because NLITe™ reflective technology dramatically improves light output and energy efficiency; it allows builders, architects, and lighting engineers to alter their lighting designs to reduce installation costs while lowering operating and maintenance costs.”