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Switch and save

Academic institutions would always rather spend their money on high-tech kit rather than mundane things like lighting. Now a programme launched by US LED manufacturer Cree offers universities a way to save money and protect the environment by switching to LED lighting.

The LED University program is an international community of universities working to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient LEDs. So far, four US universities have joined the LED initiative - North Carolina (NC) state, Marquette, University of California Santa Barbara, Arkansas - while Tianjin Polytechnic in China has also signed up to the initiative.

According to the US Department of Energy, 22% of all the electricity used in the US powers lighting. The hope is that the deployment of LED lighting will reduce energy usage, protect the environment, reduce maintenance costs, and provide a better quality of light for improved visibility and safety.

Each of the participating universities is conducting feasibility studies to determine the cost and environmental benefits of switching to LED lighting in campus applications. The University of California Santa Barbara has installed 23 LED streetlights on a campus road and reports that, compared to its traditional streetlights, it is achieving a 44% reduction in energy use as well as better light distribution and colour rendition.

Other installations include recessed lighting in the chancellor’s office and a dormitory in NC State University, while the University of Arkansas has installed the first set of what it plans will be approximately 1700 recessed LED lights in university buildings. Meanwhile, Tianjin Polytechnic University has installed 1500 LED streetlights designed by its graduate students on the campus’ main roadway.

“Lighting is a significant energy drain worldwide and if we can significantly reduce the amount of energy used for lighting, we will make a dramatic contribution to protecting our resources and environment,” said Pingjuan Niu, a professor at Tianjin Polytechnic University. “Tianjin Polytechnic University is proud to be among the first to join this important lighting and energy conservation initiative.”

Posted by Marie Freebody on April 30, 2008 2:44 PM | Permalink