The latest lighting technology for parking areas quickly pays for itself and can reap energy savings of up to 70%, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy.
The Department has promoted its Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking (LEEP) Campaign to support participants in their efforts to upgrade and install energy-efficiency equipment and lighting controls in over 540 million sf of parking facilities since 2012. That effort has translated into savings of 137 million kWh a year, or $14.79 million in electricity savings.
LED products have made the fastest inroads in outdoor applications, DOE says, with a penetration rate of 32.5% in parking garages and 26.2% in parking lots in 2016. LEEP is a collaboration between the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA), International Facility Management Association (IFMA), International Parking Institute, and the Better Buildings Alliance, with technical support from the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
LEEP Campaign resources, including tools, case studies, and guidance materials designed to make it easy for facility owners and managers to adopt high-efficiency lighting and controls systems for parking facilities are available at: http://www.leepcampaign.org/
Related Stories
| Dec 27, 2012
Former industrial French city reshapes itself according to ambitious green standards
Nantes has a strong commitment to address challenges such as urban sprawl and carbon dioxide emissions.
| Dec 27, 2012
New York City law tracking building energy use yields surprises
A legally mandated report that tracks the energy use of New York City's largest buildings provides details about which buildings are achieving higher-than-expected energy efficiency, such as the Chrysler and Empire State buildings, as well as those that are performing poorly.
| Dec 27, 2012
New Jersey considers green roof mandate for state buildings
The New Jersey legislature is considering a bill that would require installation of green or blue roofs on state buildings that are at least 15,000 sf.
| Dec 20, 2012
AIA’s Healthier Communities Through Design showcases local policy initiatives
The American Institute of Architects released Local Leaders: Healthier Communities Through Design, a report that demonstrates the power of architecture to improve public health with policies that promote active living, accessibility, transit options, and better indoor air quality.
| Dec 20, 2012
China to build sustainable city for 180,000 from scratch
A 120-million sf urban development in China will be designed according to high green standards for about 180,000 residents.
| Dec 20, 2012
Air duct trade group urges maintenance, restoration professionals to avoid chemical cleaners
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) urges professionals to avoid using chemicals as a method for cleaning and maintaining air duct systems.
| Dec 20, 2012
Valencia College shifts from LEED to Green Globes on new project for more flexibility
The Lake Nona campus of Valencia College in Florida shifted its sustainability standard to Green Globes largely to be able to use a bipolar-ionization system to treat its indoor air -- something LEED didn't allow.
| Dec 20, 2012
LEED-certified schools don’t have to cost more to build, save average of 33% on energy
On average, green schools use 33% less energy and 32% less water than their conventional counterparts, and save $100,000 per year on direct operating costs, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.
