Building Science Projects

LED Lighting Analysis

Fluorescent lighting dominates in public facilities and commercial buildings because it is relatively efficient and widely available. Yet LED (light emitting diode) lighting is even more efficient: converting a T8 fluorescent lamp (pictured left) to an LED can save upwards of 40% on energy.

With the rapid growth in LED products and manufacturers, facility managers choose from more than 7,000 LED models currently on the market. This project helps Alaskans make informed decisions about lighting upgrades that will save money for both private businesses and government. This project includes four stages: an evaluation of the current LED market, testing and analysis, economic analysis, and reporting.

With the rapid advancements in technology, the lighting in many of Alaska’s public buildings is outdated and inefficient. The state spends an estimated $115 million on lighting its public buildings every year. While lighting is approximately 10% of a public building’s total energy use, it accounts for nearly 20% of the total energy cost.

Alaska’s current economic recession calls for quick, common-sense methods to save public funding. Replacing inefficient lighting provides a straightforward path for energy and financial savings for the state of Alaska.

This project produced a report and snapshot on the performance and economics of switching to LEDs.

Resources

TitleTypeResource Link
LED Report: Economic Analysis of Replacing Fluorescents with LED LampsReports

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Lighting Snapshot–Replacing Fluorescents with LEDsSnapshots

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