by Brianna Crandall — July 3, 2017 — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) just announced the results of the Better Buildings Alliance’s Interior Lighting Campaign (ILC), recognizing 13 organizations leading the way in efficient troffer lighting and control systems upgrades. Altogether, the ILC partners have exceeded the national goal to replace 1 million troffers and have already upgraded 1.2 million lighting and controls systems for a combined savings of $18.5 million. The Better Buildings Alliance’s ILC is a collaborative program designed to help facilities owners and managers take advantage of savings opportunities from high-efficiency interior lighting solutions.
Lighting accounts for up to 20% of commercial building energy use, and lighting system upgrades often represent some of the easiest, most cost-effective energy-saving opportunities available. It is estimated that building owners and managers can save up to 60% in energy costs by replacing less efficient troffers with new ones, and can save as much as 80% by adding controls such as dimmers, timers, and occupancy sensors.
The Energy Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency Kathleen Hogan stated:
The adoption of advanced interior lighting technologies continues to bring U.S. businesses and other organizations significant energy savings. By investing in more efficient lighting, ILC partners demonstrate how cost-effective measures can make a big difference in a building’s energy consumption.
The following 13 participants are being recognized this year for achieving significant savings by upgrading almost 600,000 troffer lighting systems to high-efficiency systems, which saved $13.2 million dollars.
- Army 88th Regional Support Command
- Baylor Scott and White Health
- Biostar Lighting
- Cleveland Clinic
- Columbia Association
- Divi Energy
- Grace Bible Church
- The Hartford Insurance Group
- Life Time Fitness
- Target
- Tutera Real Estate
- City of Spencer, Wisconsin
- Staples
Through the Better Buildings Alliance, members in different market sectors work with the DOE’s network of research and technical experts to develop and deploy innovative, cost-effective, energy-saving solutions that lead to better technologies, more profitable businesses, and better buildings. The ILC is one of four technology-focused campaigns led by the Department’s Better Buildings Alliance, and is a collaborative effort between the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) of North America, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).
Better Buildings aims to make commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings 20% more energy efficient over the next decade. This means saving billions of dollars on energy bills and creating thousands of jobs. Through Better Buildings, there are now over 900 public- and private-sector organizations across the country working together to share and replicate positive gains in energy efficiency and propel change and investment in energy efficiency.
For more information about the Interior Lighting Campaign, visit the Web site.
