Module 3: Energy Conservation

Identifying Options

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Stage One: Lighting

Since lighting accounts for almost half of electricity use in office buildings, this is a good place to start. (Recall Figure 3.) Another reason to start with lighting is that more efficient lighting can reduce the heat load in the building, meaning the air conditioning system will not have to work as hard. This is especially important in Georgia!

Lighting 101

Not all lights are created equal. Lighting technology has evolved over the past 100 years, since Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb. Figure 7 shows the different types of lighting technology you might encounter in your office or facility. The bulbs are shown in general order of increasing efficiency, where efficiency means the amount of light output per electricity input (lumens per watt). For more detail on lighting efficiency, see Comparison of Lighting Efficiency.

Figure 7 – Types of Lighting

Not all lighting technologies are appropriate for all situations. Figure 8 shows a general guide for non-incandescent lights:

Halogen	Highlights selected areas. Example of application: Highlighting artwork, important sign or architectural feature.
Compact fluorescent	Uses the same screw-in fixture. Example of application: hallway.
Fluorescent tube	For general lighting.
Metal halide	For white light in high-ceiling areas. Example of application: large public area.
High-pressure sodium	For use outside or where color doesn’t matter. Example of application: outside security.
LED	For exit signs.

Figure 8 – Typical Application for Different Lighting Types

For more on lighting levels, see Lighting Levels.

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