We're working to transform how we light our world. Lighting accounts for nearly 6% of global CO2 greenhouse gas emissions, or 1,900 million tons of CO2 per year—which is the equivalent of CO2 emissions from 70% of the world’s passenger vehicles. We can make a considerable dent in carbon emissions if we make lighting a lot more energy efficient.
Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, combined with smart controls*, can cut CO2 emissions 50 - 70%. LED outdoor lighting also reduces costs, enhances public safety, minimizes light pollution and makes public spaces friendlier at night.
The main barriers to acceptance are skepticism, outdated government policies and cost. We are addressing these barriers head on with a three-part program called LED. First we are conducting a global trial of LED lamps in large world cities to evaluate how newly commercial products actually perform. Next, we will work with these cities to scale up their pilots and further enlist our broader membership as early adopters. Finally, we will work with governments to encourage more friendly LED and smart control policies.
Our goal: to bring LED lamps and smart controls to scale globally.
Our LED program is supported by The HSBC Climate Partnership.
Photo credits: Ryan Pyle.
Tools
LED outdoor luminaires have many advantages over conventional high pressure sodium (HPS), metal halide, and fluorescent lamps. LED chip efficiency has surpassed that of these lamps and keeps improving. LED luminaires direct more light on surfaces where it is most needed. Meanwhile, the marriage of smart controls and LEDs makes dimming easy, so energy isn't wasted at times when lighting is not really needed.
To find out why and more, check out the following:
- LED basics and fact sheets (US DOE)
A comprehensive archive of information on how LEDs work, their energy efficiency, luminous efficiency and color quality. - LED City
An expanding community of municipalities partnering with Cree, a leading manufacturer of LED chips, to evaluate and deploy LED lighting. - LEDs Magazine
An authoritative source of current news on the LED industry, products, and applications. Sign-up to receive weekly email bulletins free. - LM-79
A standardized laboratory test that measures and certifies the most important performance characteristics of LED luminaries. Essential for procurement bids. - Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) LED Program
North America's first electric utility LED streetlight incentive program. The site offers several tools, including a list of qualified products that meet rigorous criteria for incentives.
Partners
A number of prominent lighting and luminaire companies are participating in the global trial phase of LED's. These companies are supplying products for testing, sharing performance data, and collaborating with us to help ensure a robust and objective global trial. They include:
BetaLED, Wisconsin, United States (Ruud Lighting in Canada)
- Comprehensive range of outdoor LED luminaries, including streetlights up to 243 watts
- Products are in the New York FDR Drive, Toronto and Hong Kong trials
Carmanah Technologies, British Columbia, Canada
- Solar LED outdoor products, including street lights
- Products will be tested in the 1,000 Village Project, China
eLumen, Quebec, Canada
- LED street lights up to 100 watts
- Products are in the New York FDR Drive trial
Hiyu, Tianjin, China (in Chinese)
- Comprehensive range of indoor and outdoor LED luminaries
- Products are in the Guiyang trials
King Luminaire, Ohio, United States
- Specializes in post top LED luminaries of classic, vintage style
- Products are in the New York Central Park trials
Kingsun Optoelectronic Co., Guangdong, China
- Full range of LED street light luminaries up to 196 watts
- Products are in one of the Tianjin trials
LED Roadway, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Full range of LED street light luminaries up to 240 watts
- Products are in the New York FDR Drive trials
LSI Industries, Ohio, United States
- Street and parking area LED luminaries up to 135 watts
- Products are in the New York City FDR Drive trial
Neo Neon, Hong Kong, China
- Comprehensive range of indoor and outdoor LED luminaries; street and parking area LED luminaries up to 155 watts
- Products are in the Hong Kong trials
Osram (Sylvania and Siemens)
- LED light engine for retrofit in existing post top lamps
- Products are in the New York Central Park trial
Philips Lumec, Quebec, Canada
- Street and parking area LED luminaries up to 180 watts, as well as LED post top lamps
- Products are in the New York Central Park trial
Sentry, New York State, United States
- Specializes in post top LED luminaries of historic, antique design
- Products are in New York Central Park trials
Thermoking Technology International Corporation, Taipei, Taiwan
- Outdoor and tunnel LED luminaires, including street lights up to 320 watts
- Products are in the Hong Kong trial
Case studies
Pilots of LED outdoor luminaires and smart controls are being conducting worldwide by a wide variety of users and manufacturers. Independent studies that follow a rigorous performance methodology are scarce, however. Our LED program is systematically evaluating the best pilot examples available globally and will post summaries and relevant links in this space soon. In the meantime, authoritative sources of case studies and evaluations include:
- Solid State Gateway Demonstrations (US DOE)
Detailed reports and briefs on completed projects that focus mostly on intensively studied street lighting and parking area pilots in the US. - CALiPER (US DOE)
Detailed reports on laboratory evaluation of LED indoor and outdoor lighting products in nine rounds to date.