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Illuminating Energy-Efficiency Options
Fluorescent Lighting
 

High-efficiency lighting systems and lighting controls can offer significant cost benefits and energy savings in commercial and industrial applications. However, implementation has been hampered by technological and market limitations, resulting in a lack of customer demand.

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE), conducted extensive research to identify and to seek ways of reducing the barriers limiting the wide acceptance and use of energy-efficient lighting systems. This research focused on dimming controls, including load-shed dimming and photosensor-activated daylight dimming, and automatic shut-off controls, including occupancy sensors and time clocks. (Architectural dimming in conference rooms and multi-function rooms was not included in this study.) Barriers to widespread use of whole building lighting control systems also were investigated and the progress in this area was reviewed. Finally, as part of this project, the LRC developed solutions to some of the identified barriers.

The LRC/U.S. DOE project, Reducing Barriers to the Use of High-Efficiency Lighting Systems, focused specifically on the barriers found in commercial and industrial applications that employ fluorescent lamp technologies. This focus was chosen because of major energy-savings opportunities that can be found in commercial and industrial sectors and with fluorescent lamp technology.

Learn more:

  • Barriers to Implementation
    What overarching problems exist that hinder widespread use of lighting controls?

  • Technology Transfer Model
    What path must a lighting technology product follow for success in the marketplace?

  • Recommended Solutions
    What new technologies, application tips and research data are available that can help?

  • Resources
    Where can I find out more?
Full project reports:
  • Final Report: Year 1 (PDF 1665K)
    Discussion of tasks and findings conducted during Year 1 of the LRC/U.S. DOE project
  • Final Report: Year 2 (PDF 2582K)
    Discussion of tasks and findings conducted during Year 2 of the LRC/U.S. DOE project
  • Final Report: Year 3 (PDF 450K)
    Discussion of tasks and findings conducted during Year 3 of the LRC/U.S. DOE project

This project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies (BT) Program and the National Energy Technology Laboratory through its competitive research and development (R&D) program. The goal of the DOE/BT's Lighting R&D Program is to develop viable technologies having the technical potential to conserve 50% of lighting consumption by 2010. The Program partners with industry, utilities, universities, and research institutions to create energy efficient lighting technologies in pursuit of this goal.
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