Facilities can significantly reduce energy consumption and save money by implementing a "green" lighting program, by making use of natural lighting and replacing traditional incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and other components.
Obviously, the "greenest" form of lighting available is sunlight. Building design, remodeling, and construction projects should maximize the use of natural lighting including the installation of skylights and "moon tubes," reflective cylinders installed in ceilings that amplify natural light.
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Fact: CFLs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs, which burn out faster |
CFLs are the cornerstone of green electric lighting; they last longer than incandescent bulbs and save facilities considerable resources and money over time. However, CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, a toxin that threatens animal and human health. CFLs require careful handling and disposal at a local recycling center at the end of their lifespan. Since CFLs contain mercury, each one should be recycled at a recycling center. Although the amount of mercury in a single CFL is small, improper disposal adds up to significant potential mercury pollution.
Occupancy sensors are another major component of green lighting. Lights turn on when someone enters a room or area and switch off after they leave, saving energy and reducing costs. For maximum efficiency and energy savings, pair occupancy sensors with meters that regulate the intensity of light emitted by the bulb via a dimmer system. When the room is brighter due to more light entering the windows, the light or lumens output from the bulbs is reduced. When more light is needed in the room, output from the bulbs increases.
The 2007 Energy law passed by Congress mandates that CFLs and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) replace incandescent light bulbs by 2014 and that by 2020, all light bulbs be 70% more efficient. Congress estimates that American consumers will save roughly $40 billion in energy costs in the 15 years after incandescents disappear from the market.
Benefits of Compact Fluorescent Lights
Look for compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) qualified by the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, which offers national certification for lighting products. Benefits include:
- Save Energy--Qualified bulbs provide the same light output as incandescent bulbs while using about 75% less energy.
- Save Money-Replacing a 60-watt incandescent bulb with a CFL saves about $30 or more in energy costs over the lifetime of the CFL.
- Reduce Greenhouse Gases--Less energy used mean fewer emissions.
- Save time--CFLs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Longer life means fewer bulb changes.
CFLs use far less wattage to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb. CFL bulbs are significantly more efficient. See comparison chart below.
|
Incandescent (watts) |
Minimum Light Output (Lumens) |
CFL (watts) |
| 40 | 400 | 9-13 |
| 60 | 800 | 13-15 |
| 75 | 1100 | 18-25 |
| 100 | 1600 | 23-30 |
| 150 | 2600 | 30-52 |
Source: Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program
Mercury Levels in CFLs
Because CFLs contain mercury, they must be handled carefully. Mercury is a toxin that threatens animal and human health. The following summarizes mercury content by type of fluorescent light as determined by the Green Purchasing Institute.
|
Fluorescent Light Type |
Lowest Amount of Mercury (mg) |
Highest Amount of Mercury (mg) |
| 4' Linear T8, (Low-Hg) | 3.5 | 31-65 |
| 8' Linear T8 | 3.5 | 31-65 |
| 4' T12 (Low-Hg) | 4.4 | 10 |
| U-bent T8 | 3.5 | 31-65 |
| Compact fluorescent | 1.2 | 11-30 |
| Preheat T8 | 1.4 | 11-30 |
Source: Responsible Purchasing Network Lighting Guide
Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program offers national certification for lighting products. Both Green Seal, an independent non-profit dedicated to safeguarding the environment, and EcoLogo, a Canadian organization that helps people identify environmentally preferable goods and services, offer standards for CFLs. Products that meet Green Seal and EcoLogo standards contain particularly low levels of mercury. EcoLogo's standards also set a higher minimum bulb life of 10,000 hours.
Additional Options for "Green" Lighting Systems
Light-emitting diodes or LEDs are considered one of the most energy-efficient light sources. LEDs last five times longer than CFLs. Although some specialty LED products are currently available at relatively competitive prices, general purpose LEDs may still be cost prohibitive. General purpose LEDs are expected to be available on the mass market within the next 5-10 years.
Delamping - using fewer bulbs in fixtures that rely on multiple bulbs - is an easily implemented energy-saving technique. The amount of light appears the same to the human eye and actually reduces the negative effects that some people report from strong overhead fluorescent lights.
Occupancy sensors are another major component of green lighting. Lights turn on when someone enters a room or area and switch off after they leave. Using occupancy sensors can reduce energy use by as much as 45 percent.
Using natural daylight will further efficiency by reducing dependency on artificial lighting. It also helps support worker productivity. Companies that have invested in natural lighting retrofits have seen worker productivity jump by at least 13 %.
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Natural Lighting: Good for School Performance, Good for the Environment Natural lighting seems to positively affect student performance, but no one knows exactly why. Sunlight also improves students' health, behavior, and mood, and has shown to increase alertness. Source: www.pprc.org/pubs/schools/design.cfm |
Currently, nearly 140 manufacturers with over 2,000 products qualify under the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, which offers national certification for lighting products. Energy Star maintains a complete list and searchable database for such products. Qualified bulbs provide the same light output as incandescent bulbs while using about 75% less energy
A diverse stock of compact fluorescent lights is widely available at all major retail outlets in many shapes, sizes, and wattages. The following major lighting brands manufacture Energy Star-qualified CFLs:
- Feit
- GE
- Harmony
- Philips
- Sylvania
- TCP
- Westinghouse
CFLs generally cost more initially than incandescent bulbs, but are a better value over time. Savings are significant when a facility completely switches from incandescent bulbs to CFLs. Replacing a single, 60-Watt incandescent bulb with a 13 watt CFL saves about $30 or more in electricity costs over the lifetime of the bulb. The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, which offers national certification for lighting products, publishes a Lifecycle Cost Estimate calculator to help assess net energy, maintenance, operating, and purchase cost savings.
Occupancy sensors turn lights on when someone enters a room or area and switches them off after they leave. They save costs by reducing energy consumption. The following is a summary of potential reductions in energy use attributed to installation of occupancy sensors.
|
Area Type |
% Reduction in Energy Consumption |
| Locker Room |
65 |
|
Large Work Room |
55 |
|
Rest Room |
50 |
|
File Room |
45 |
|
Small Work Room |
40 |
|
Corridors |
25 |
|
Small Offices |
22 |
Source: Green Seal report on Occupancy Sensors
The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program offers national certification for lighting products. Energy Star and the state of California offer sample procurement language for fluorescent lighting. Consider inserting the following specification language into bid requests for lighting projects:
- All compact fluorescent lighting products, or CFLs, shall be Energy Star qualified.
- All CFLs shall contain no more than 5 milligrams of mercury.
- All fluorescent lamps offered shall be able to pass the U.S. EPA Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure.
- Vendor shall make a full mercury content disclosure for all products.
- Vendor shall make a full lead content disclosure and demonstrate a preference for lead-free products.
- All CFL products should have a minimum rated lamp life of 10,000 hours when possible.
- Manufacturer or vendor will implement take-back provisions to make sure CFLs are disposed of properly.
Sources: Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, State of California lamp contract
State contracts for the purchase and recycling of compact fluorescent lights:
|
Contract |
Contract Type |
Vendors |
| L-290(5) |
Lamps: Fluorescent, Incandescent & HID |
|
| H-79(5) |
Haz Mat: Fluorescent/HID Lamp Recycling & Disposal |
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A statewide list of Minnesota vendors offering energy-efficient products is available online at Energy Efficiency Minnesota.
Energy Star
Washington D.C.
www.energystar.gov
This partnership program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the private sector secures voluntary participation of manufacturers to meet energy conservation standards.
Green Seal
Washington DC
202/872-6400
www.greenseal.org
A nationally recognized nonprofit that certifies environmental products that pass stringent testing standards.
EcoLogo
Ottawa, Ontario
800/478-0399
www.ecologo.org
This site compiles a widely respected certification list of environmentally-sound products.
"CFLs Exchanged with Incandescents in California School Project"
http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2007/
04/cfls_exhanged_w.html
The Energy Blog
April 2007
"Power Switch"
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/01/19/ST2008011901992.html
By Steven Mufson
The Washington Post
January 2008
"Incandescents Gone by 2014: Saving U.S. $40 Billion"
www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1243/
By Hank Green
EcoGeek
December 2007
"Understanding Light Bulbs"
http://video.on.nytimes.com/index.jsp?fr_story=a3df3747120024fb18183b1f11fe4d538f91c299
By Michael Barbaro
The New York Times
January 2007
"Greening the Building and the Bottom Line"
www.rmi.org/images/PDFs/BuildingsLand/D94-27_GBBL.pdf
The Daily Green
2007
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use less energy than incandescent bulbs and help to reduce energy consumption.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, 4/00. The SWMCB includes members from the Minnesota metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington, with ex-officio members from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Last Revised July 17, 2008 - 9:46am