Commercial and Industrial Ligthing Program

                    COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL LIGTHING PROGRAM

Energy efficiency is about energy saving. There many different ways to conserve energy like installing different types of controlling equipment or upgrading high energy saving equipment.  Lighting program is one of the way of energy efficiency. This paper talks about aspects, impacts and outcomes of commercial and industrial lighting program. First there is discussion about what is energy efficiency, why it is important and what are the strategies to approach energy efficiency.

What is energy efficiency?

Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory gives explanation about energy efficiency that:

 (http://eetd.lbl.gov/ee/ee-1.html)

“Energy efficiency is using “less energy to provide same service”. The best way to understand this idea is through examples. When you replace an appliance, such as a refrigerator or clothes washer, or office equipment, such as a computer or printer, with a more energy-efficient model, the new equipment provides the same service, but uses less energy. This saves you money on your energy bill, and reduces the amount of greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere. Energy efficiency is not energy conservation. Energy conservation is reducing or going without a service to save energy. For example: Turning off a light is energy conservation.”

Why is energy efficiency important?

After knowing definition of energy efficiency it is also important to know why it is important:

“Becoming more energy efficient is an important first step to reduce our impact on the environment.  Energy efficiency is also a non-controversial issue; improving efficiency means encouraging innovation and technology, creating jobs, reducing our dependence on non-renewable resources, and saving money.” (http://www.networklobby.org/faq/why-energy-efficiency-important).  “US GREEN BUILDIND COUNCIL” states that “energy has emerged as a critical economic issue and top priority for policymakers. Unsustainable energy supply and demand have serious implications for everything from household budgets to international relations.” (http://www.usgbc.org/articles/green-building-101-why-energy-efficiency-important)

“By improving energy efficiency, you can reduce the size and cost of the renewable energy system needed to power. Improving energy efficiency is the first and most important step toward adopting renewable energy. The more efficient use of energy throughout country/region results in less money spent on energy by homeowners, schools, government agencies, businesses, and industries. The money that would have been spent on energy can instead be spent on consumer goods, education, services, and products.” (http://www.solar-estimate.org/showfaq.php?id=36)