Donation Day – Giving back to our national and local community organizations

Posted on 2011/11/28 by marcom

STANDARD's Donation Day - Giving BackOne of the best ways to give back to those who have helped support us personally or professionally is by investing in our national and local community organizations. Thanks to volunteer groups and non-profit organizations for their committed time and resources to help out in our communities, however they can’t do it all on their own. They need our help. Any support they can get from each of us is valuable and beneficial.

For the last several years, we have actively donated to various national and regional community organizations to help improve the quality of life for people in need. We carry out a donation day initiative whereby a percentage of our sales for that day are given back to the community in the form of various charities with a concentration on diseases and disorders, hospitals and children.

For example, last year, one of the charities we donated to was the “Free the Children: Brick-by-Brick” campaign, a school building program which works with rural indigenous communities that receive little government support and are considered to be the marginalized of the marginalized. Our donation to “Free the Children” has resulted in the building of a new school in Thalahena Sri Lanka. The donation to this charity as well as to the other charities we participated in were all possible thanks to the support of our loyal customers and to our dedicated staff for caring about the difference they are making in their communities.

This philosophy is the foundation of our values and we are proud to be part of helping the less fortunate. We are proud to announce that December 7, 2011 is our Donation Day. We encourage our customers and employees to support this day as your actions determine the success of our gesture.

As successful members of our community, we have a responsibility to help those who are not as fortunate as us and contribute to making the world a better place. Join us in the satisfaction of giving back on December 7th; that pleasant feeling of connectedness and the satisfaction of doing what you can to contribute to the common good of society.

Looking forward to yet another successful Donation Day in 2011.

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Delay in the implementation of Incandescent new efficacy requirements

Posted on 2011/11/25 by marcom

General Service Incandescent Lamp LegislationBack in May we clarified that the buzz going around about the delay of NRCan’s General Service Incandescent lamps legislation was not official. It was in fact at that time a “proposed amendment”. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) was taking the time to gather comments from the public before making a final decision.

NRCan has now published its final decision regarding the delay in implementing the new legislation on general service incandescent lamps. The implementation of the new efficacy levels will be delayed by 2 years. NRCan’s published new efficacy requirements for lamps of 1050 and 2600 lumens (typical wattage but not limited to – 75 to 100 watts) will apply as of January 1, 2014 and for those light bulbs of 250 to 1049 lumens (typical wattage but not limited to – 40 to 60 watts) not until December 31, 2014.

With the goal to encourage the use of more energy efficient lighting solutions, it’s important to note that not all incandescent lamps are affected by the new efficacy requirements. Specialty lamps are exempt from legislation (example: coloured lamps, rough service, explosion-resistant, some globe and chandelier type lamps etc.) however we suggest you check out the NRCan website for full details on the exclusions to the energy efficiency regulations.  Only general service lamps with the following criteria are affected.

  • Lamps with a luminous flux from 250 lumens to a maximum of 2600 lumens
  • Nominal voltage or voltage range which lies at least partially between 100 and 130 volts.
  • Lamps with a medium E26 screw base.

All lamps that do not fall in the above criteria are not affected by the new regulation. For more in depth information on energy efficiency regulations of general service lamps you can check out NRCan’s website.

Though there is a delay by NRCan on a federal level, the situation in British Columbia has not changed.  The standards for general service lamps of 1050 and 2600 lumens remain in effect (since January 2011) and are not impacted by the NRCan’s amendment.  At this point, no decision has been made with respect to the efficacy requirements effective date for the general service lamps of 250 to 1049 lumens in BC.

Once we hear of any updates we’ll let you know. Stay tuned.

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STANDARD presents the $2,500 “STANDARD Recognition of Excellence Award”

Posted on 2011/11/01 by marcom

STANDARD awards the $2,500 “STANDARD Recognition of Excellence Award”: one of 26 EFC Foundation Scholarship Recipients

Every year, Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) and its corporate partners award scholarship funds to students across Canada. This year, out of over 400 applicants, $40,000 in scholarship funds was awarded to 26 post-secondary students in electrical apprenticeship programs and to those studying Business Administration, Computer Science, and Engineering. The recipients of the scholarships were chosen on the basis of several criteria: academic achievement, areas of study, leadership and career interests.

It is with great pleasure that STANDARD, a partner of Electro-Federation Canada, presented Danielle Fleury of Saint Mary’s University, one of the 26 chosen students, with the $2,500 “STANDARD Recognition of Excellence Award”. 

 STANDARD strongly supports the Electro-Federation Canada Foundation Scholarship Program which was established in 1995 in an effort to encourage Canadian students to pursue a career in the electrical, electronics, and telecommunications industries. To date, almost $600,000 was invested in the post-secondary technical training and education of Canadian students through the Scholarship Program created by EFC.

We would like to congratulate Danielle and wish her continued success in her studies and development.

 For the full list of recipients check out the EFC Foundation Scholarship Recipients story on the EFC website.

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An energy efficient solution for signs: electronic sign ballasts!

Posted on 2011/10/18 by marcom


Everyone knows the biggest advantage of switching from a magnetic ballast to an electronic ballast is energy savings. Well, switching to an electronic sign ballast is no exception! STANDARD has introduced electronic sign ballasts to its product line – ballasts which on average consume 25-40% less energy than magnetic sign ballasts!

Five electronic models operate one to six T12HO lamps totaling 2 to 48 feet in length. The same five models also operate one to six T8HO lamps totaling 4 to 36 feet in length. Not only do these ballasts operate both lamp types, but all models have an input voltage range of 120-277V, meaning they can address more applications with fewer SKUs, reducing your inventory costs.

STANDARD’s electronic sign ballasts are sound rated A, meaning they operate quieter than magnetic ballasts. They are also much lighter in weight than their magnetic equivalents, making them easier to install.

These ballasts also feature instant start parallel wiring. The parallel lamp operation ensures that if one lamp fails, the remaining lamps will continue operating, keeping the sign lit. This also avoids unnecessary lamp replacement costs, as the failed lamp can easily be identified.

STANDARD’s electronic sign ballasts are cUL listed, are reliable in cold weather starting in temperatures as low as -29°C / -20°F, and are backed by a 3-year warranty.

We invite you to check out Choosing the Right Ballast section on our website for more information on selecting the proper sign ballast for your specific sign application. You can also check out the electronic sign ballast literature as well as our e-catalog for more information.

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STANDARD extends its LED retrofit lamp line!

Posted on 2011/09/21 by marcom

STANDARD PAR LED ApplicationsSTANDARD's LED PAR16, B11, MR16 and GU10

STANDARD extends its retrofit LED lamp line with new shapes and beam spreads. The B11 2 watt candle lamp emits a light that delivers ambiance and style at a fraction of the energy costs of its 15 watt incandescent equivalent. This lamp is the perfect retrofit solution for wall scones and chandeliers in reception areas and lobbies of hotels, restaurants and retail establishments.

In addition, we have added a PAR16 shape lamp to the PAR LED line as well as a newer and sleeker looking MR16 and GU10 lamp. These lamps are all available in 3.5 watts, in colour temperatures of 3 000 and 4 000 K and with a beam spread of 38°.

The new additions to this LED line provide long lasting ambient lighting with ideal thermal management to ensure long life and luminous effect. The instant-on lamps also emit a cool light free from UV emissions and mercury. With their long life of 35 000 hours, they significantly reduce energy consumption and reduced relamping costs. These lamps are ideal for offices, commercial, residential and hospitality applications and other in hard to reach areas.

We invite to check out the STANDARD LED Lamp Sales Sheet for more information on the complete line of LED Retrofit as well as go to our e-catalog to view our full product offering.

With our continued focus on providing our customer with a complete LED product selection be sure to stay tuned for all new introductions.

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Come check out our newest Dimmable FlexLED Premium LED retrofit series

Posted on 2011/08/02 by marcom
Retail application for FlexLED lampsFlexLED Premium LED retrofit series
Conference room application for FlexLED lamps

With our continued commitment to providing you with superior quality light, we give you yet another innovative smart choice: the new FlexLED premium LED lamp retrofit series, designed and engineered to deliver the very best in performance and uncompromised quality.
The FlexLED lamps deliver superior luminosity with exceptional thermal management and high CRI for crisp vibrant colours. Not only are they environmentally safe, but with a 50 000 hour average life, they are also an excellent solution for saving energy and for significantly reducing maintenance costs as well as the hassle of repeated relamping in busy areas.

The new FlexLED lamps offer an excellent dimming performance, dimmable in a range of 100% to 10% of full light levels. They have a beam angle of 25 degrees and produce high quality cool light, free of UV emissions, eliminating fading and discoloration of merchandise.

The FlexLED lamps are available in PAR20, PAR30LN, PAR38 and MR16 lamp shapes, in three difference colour temperatures: 3 000K, 4 000K and 5 000K and with wattages ranging from 6 to 18 watts. In addition they are completely certified (RoHS, FCC, cUL, ETL), the PAR shaped lamps are rated for indoor and outdoor fixtures. FlexLED lamps are ideal for accent and architectural lighting and are the ultimate solution for retail and merchandising, hospitality and restaurant applications or wherever superior quality and crisp light is necessary. The FlexLED line is the long life “green” alternative to your traditional light sources.

We invite to check out our FlexLED Brochure for more information on the complete line of Premium LED Retrofit Lamps as well as our e-catalog. You can also check out the transformer compatibility report for information on the number of LED MR16 lamps which can be operated on various transformers and the dimmer compatibility list for the FlexLED lamps.

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The all new hid lamp and ballast kits: never change a ballast without the lamp

Posted on 2011/07/27 by marcom

Never change a ballast without the lamp
STANDARD's HID Lamp and Ballast KitsSTANDARD introduces its new HID lamp and ballast kits which provide a convenient way to update HID systems. In order to eliminate the guess work, STANDARD has developed a complete lamp and ballast kit specifically designed with the contractor or installer in mind. All the components needed: lamp, prewired ballast, capacitor, ignitor (if required), mounting brackets, and hardware are conveniently packed into one handy box, ensuring the job gets done all at once!

Lamps should always be replaced at the same time as any of the other components in the fixture, thus making this complete HID lamp and ballast kit the perfect solution. Replacing all components at the same time will ensure that the system performs at its very best and will also eliminate the need to re-service the fixture for the duration of the lamp’s life cycle.

The new HID Lamp and Ballast Kits are available in a variety of different lamp options; including probe start metal halide, pulse start metal halide, and high pressure sodium and are ideal for use by contractors or industrial users in warehouses, manufacturing, parking, roadway, and landscape applications.

For more details on the new HID lamp and ballast kits, we invite you to check out the HID Lamp and Ballast Kits section in Product Information or go to our e-catalog and click on “Ballasts”, then on “HID Lamp/Ballast Kits” for the full product line. You can also check out the HID lamp and ballast kits sales sheet.

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Replace your magnetic ballast for the energy efficient T12 electronic ballast

Posted on 2011/06/17 by marcom

T12 Electronic Ballasts by STANDARD

The Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) implemented a standard to increase the efficiency of fluorescent lamp ballasts and as of November 2006, T12 magnetic ballasts were no longer available in new fixtures.

Under the same standard, T12 magnetic ballasts are no longer available as replacement ballasts as of April 1, 2010. Existing T12 magnetic ballasts cannot achieve the required level of efficiency, and therefore, are no longer available for retrofitting existing fixtures.

Whether you need a ballast to run a four foot T12, Slimline, or High Output lamp, the easiest solution is to convert to T12 electronic ballasts. STANDARD offers a full line of electronic T12 ballasts that exceed the OEE performance requirements and can meet all your needs.

Electronic ballasts are reliable and energy efficient, offering up to 30% energy savings over their magnetic equivalents. They are also lighter in weight, allow for more flexible fixture designs, operate quietly (no more humming), and eliminate lamp flickering. They also have longer warranty periods than the magnetic equivalents.

For a full cross-reference showing the legislated magnetic version and its electronic equivalent please click on the following link: Magnetic/Electronic Ballast Cross-Reference.

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STANDARD’s new PAR LED line

Posted on 2011/05/27 by marcom

STANDARD PAR LED ApplicationsSTANDARD's PAR LED Lamp Series STANDARD launches the new PAR LED lamps which provide long lasting ambient lighting with ideal thermal management to ensure long life and luminous effect. The line consists of a PAR20, PAR30LN and a PAR38 with wattages of 5.5 W, 9 W and 11 W respectively, and with a colour temperature of 3 000 K and beam angle of 25 degrees.

In contrast to their halogen counterparts, the amount of heat on objects and merchandise is limited during the operation of the LED lamps and UV emissions are completely eliminated. The new shock and vibration resistant lamps provide instant-on cool light, making them perfect for residential and office spaces as well as for hospitality and retail applications.

With their long service of 35 000 hours, the energy efficient PAR LED lamps are an excellent solution for saving energy and reducing overall maintenance costs without compromising the design of the fixture. And, like all other LED retrofit lamps by STANDARD, they are completely cUL certified as well as RoHS and FCC compliant.

For more information on these lamps we invite to check out the Sales Sheet on our LED Retrofit Lamps by STANDARD.

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Addition of MR16 LED lamps with E26 base

Posted on 2011/05/13 by marcom

STANDARD has introduced a NEW 4 watt energy efficient MR16 E26 based LED lamp, available in 3 000 and 4 200 K colour temperatures. These instant-on lamps provide cool light, free of UV emissions and mercury.

These MR16 E26 based LED lamps are ideal for many different types of indoor applications such as for offices, commercial, residential and hospitality. And they are completely cUL certified as well as RoHS and FCC compliant.

For more information on these lamps we invite to check out the Sales Sheet on our LED Retrofit Lamps.

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