PNNL

Thirteen participants were awarded for their exemplary energy saving performance in phase one of the Interior Lighting Campaign. Enlarge Image

On average, 20 percent of the annual electricity consumed by U.S. buildings is from lighting. In June, the DOE's Interior Lighting Campaign (ILC) recognized 13 organizations for leading the way to wide-scale adoption of efficient troffer lighting and controls technology. The ILC is part of DOE's Better Buildings Initiative, working to help U.S. businesses save money by saving energy.

Building owners and managers can save up to 60 percent in energy costs by replacing less efficient troffers with new ones, and up to 75 percent by adding advanced lighting controls. Troffer lights are rectangular lighting fixtures mounted in dropped ceiling grids and are used in offices and many retail buildings.

Kudos from Deputy Assistant Secretary Dr. Kathleen Hogan

Since its start in 2015, the ILC quickly surpassed its initial goal of replacing 100,000 inefficient troffers. The quick success stretched the campaign's goal further—nearly ten times further. The new goal: 1 million high efficiency troffer lighting solutions completed or planned for completion by April 2017.

The ILC participants saved the equivalent energy usage of 12,000 homes. In one year alone, 650,000 new high efficiency troffer system upgrades were planned or completed, equating to savings of 130 million kWh and $13.49 million. With nearly 50 participants and over 130 supporters, the ILC continues to reduce the amount of building energy consumed by lighting nationwide.

On June 27, 2016, Dr. Kathleen Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency for DOE, recognized 13 ILC awardees at the BOMA 2016 International Conference & Expo. Winners ranged from the U.S. Army Reserve and Cleveland Clinic to Target, T-Mobile, and the U.S. General Services Administration.

"The marketplace is seeing a rapid adoption of highly-efficient indoor lighting and green leasing practices, as the price of cutting edge technologies and the risk of creative market approaches continue to decline," said Kathleen Hogan. "This is exemplified by the increasing number of organizations partnering with DOE to adopt the next technology or novel market strategy—and through this, showing the will to push the limits and benefits of energy efficiency in commercial buildings."

On behalf of the Better Buildings Alliance and in collaboration with the ILC organizers, PNNL organized and developed the ILC. PNNL staff also provided participants with technical assistance and provided resources such as Version 5.0 High Efficiency Lighting Troffer Performance Specification developed by PNNL research staff on behalf of the Better Buildings Alliance. A full list of 2016 ILC awardees can be found on the ILC website, along with a more detailed presentation featuring the awardee’s achievements.

PNNL Research Team: Linda Sandahl, Michael Myer, Tracy Beeson, Felipe Leon, and Terry Shoemaker