Impact Data

VentureBeat.com, November 18, 2009,  Camille Ricketts

• Global demand for all energy sources is forecast to grow by 57% over the next 25 years.
• U.S. demand for all types of energy is expected to increase by 31% within 25 years.
• By 2030, 56% of the world’s energy use will be in Asia.
• Electricity demand in the U.S. will grow by at least 40% by 2032.
• New power generation equal to nearly 300 (1,000MW) power plants will be needed to meet electricity demand by 2030.

Approximately a quarter of the total electricity generated in the U.S. is used for lighting, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Lighting in homes represents as much as 25 percent of a home’s electricity use. More than half of energy for lighting is consumed in the commercial sector due to the fact that lighting is used most during periods of peak electrical demand and also contributes to a building's internal heat generation, which then ups air-conditioning load, DOE says.

LED lighting technology is finally a cost-effective investment for ambient lighting applications. If you have fluorescent tubes in your building, you are potentially paying more than 10 times what you should for lighting.

On average, a modern fluorescent tube fixture costs about $100 per year to operate. An LED bulb with the same amount and quality of light would cost only $20 per year to operate. The upfront cost to switch to LEDs is on average $150 per fixture. Since you are saving $80 per year per fixture in energy costs, the payback is less than two years!

While navigating through economic troubles, shifting real estate, and uncertainty for all businesses, commercial property managers and owners have been hard pressed to find cost savings opportunities. Solutions may range from turning off lights at night to reduced landscaping. Cost savings strategies run across the spectrum and can often leave tenants making sacrifices.