Commercial Buildings Lighting Energy Usage Drops From 38% In 2003 To 17% in 2012

Commercial buildings have made extraordinary progress in energy efficiency, but most of those improvements have come from advances in lighting technology. In 2003, lighting represented 38% of all electrical usage, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. By 2019, it will represent only 10% thanks to new lighting technologies and changes to lighting efficiency standards.

Now that the electricity needed for lighting has been dramatically reduced, policymakers are shifting their focus to new forms of efficiency standards, targeting other majors sources of electricity use, primarily air conditioning and heating. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy announced new efficiency standards for commercial air conditioners and furnaces. The first phase took effect on January 1, 2018, and increased the minimum efficiency of commercial rooftop units by about 13%. The second phase will be implemented in 2023, requiring an additional 15% increase in efficiency.

One easy way to increase the efficiency of air conditioning is to limit its use as judiciously as possible. Building management systems can automate heating, cooling, and ventilation based on occupancy to achieve optimal use levels — saving money and energy.

As ambitious energy efficiency goals sweep across the globe in the fight against climate change, improvements won’t stop at lighting enhancements. While getting a handle on the massive electrical consumption of lighting has been an important, it’s only the first step. What will your next step be?

Read the full article: https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/reports/2012/lighting/