Lighting Research Center

Advancing the effective use of light for society and the environment

Rensselaer Home Page

 

LRC Sponsorship Levels Table


Energy Efficiency and Environmental Issues

Lighting affects the environment in a number of ways, including energy usage, the materials used to produce lighting products, and light's impact on the nighttime sky. For example, energy-efficient lighting demands less electricity, which reduces polluting power plant emissions. Some materials used in lamps, such as mercury, are toxic to the environment and must be handled carefully. Light shining into the sky causes light pollution.

The LRC is working to reduce lighting energy use, toxic materials, and light pollution.


Publications

 

Lighting Patterns for Homes
Click to see this new guide for selecting quality, efficient lighting for homes.

Field Test DELTA: T5 Fluorescent High-Bay Luminaires and Wireless Lighting Controls - The DELTA research team field-tested T5 fluorescent luminaires and wireless motion-sensor lighting controls at a distribution center warehouse in Albany, N.Y.

Comparing Lighting Energy Conservation Measures in the United States and Japan - A report on lighting energy conservation programs related to electronic ballasts and CFLs in the United States and Japan.

The Potential of Simplified Concepts for Daylight Harvesting - Predictions of energy savings for two proposed daylighting technologies, a daylight-sensing switch and an automatic blinds system, which employ simple, inexpensive components and designs.

Reducing Lighting Energy Use In Retail Display Windows pdf icon - A field study using LEDs as colored background lighting for retail window displays in order to reduce accent lighting power by up to 50%.

NLPIP Lighting Answers: Light Pollution - A general guide that discusses the three elements of light pollution (sky glow, light trespass, and glare) and gives examples and recommendations for minimizing or eliminating the undesirable effects of each element when designing and using outdoor lighting.

Lighting Futures: Lamp Disposal Rules Change pdf icon - Newsletter with articles on lamp disposal, recycling, and mercury in fluorescent lamps.

Related Programs



Projects

Light Pollution: Thinking Inside the Box - The LRC developed a comprehensive system for addressing light pollution. This framework, called the "Outdoor Site (Lighting) Performance" or OSP helps individual meet their lighting needs while protecting the intrests of neighbors and society as a whole.

LRC Steers Collaborative Initiative To Achieve Sustainable Lighting in South Asia with LED Technology - The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is steering a major initiative to promote sustainable lighting in South Asia, using light-emitting diode (LED) technology.

Load-shedding Ballast: Reducing Peak Electric Demand Cost Effectively pdf icon - A new ballast designed by the LRC that reduces current supplied to a lighting system via an electronic signal.

Saratoga Energy-Efficient Home - Survey results and a photo gallery of energy-efficient lighting in a showcase home.

Energy-efficient, load-shedding lighting technology: A cost-effective means of reducing peak electric demand! pdf icon - This 2-page flyer (pdf) describes the methods, performance, and test results of the Load-Shedding Ballast developed by the LRC.


Contact Us | Privacy | © 1995-2023 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180 USA - All rights reserved