Lighting Energy Efficiency
Lighting energy costs may represent as much as 40 percent of your building's energy bill. Investing in more efficient lighting equipment is one of the most cost-effective energy investments available. Here are just a few options to consider:
- Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL). CFLs are available in dimmable canned recessed lights.
- Replace fluorescent tubes and magnetic ballasts with T8 or T5 lamps and electronic ballasts.
- Replace warehouse and other high-bay lighting with HID bulbs.
- Install occupancy sensors in general usage areas and storage rooms to reduce those costs by as much as 40% by maintaining lighting levels only when the area is occupied.
- Replace incandescent exit signs with LED or electroluminescent exit signs.
- Replace channel-sign lighting with LEDs.
A few excellent resources for additional lighting information and Advanced Lighting Guidelines are UC Davis, The New Building Institute, and ALG. For issues regarding color rendering, contact VCREA for a helpful GE Lighting Application Bulletin on Specifying Light and Color.
