The US Department of Energy (DOE) has published a report that details the amount of energy saved in 2010 via conversion to LED-based light sources. The research covers 12 specific product types spread over three general categories -- general illumination, outdoor lighting, and consumer electronics displays. The report also projects the potential savings were the applications converted completely to solid-state lighting (SSL).
The report “Energy savings estimates of light emitting diodes in niche lighting applications” was prepared by Navigant Consulting. According to the report, LED conversions in the three application categories saved 3.9 TWh in 2010.
The report focuses on the following categories and specific product types:
General illumination
- PAR, BR, and R shaped
- MR16
- 2-ft by 2-ft troffer fixtures
- General service A-type
Outdoor lighting
- Roadway
- Parking
- Area and flood
- Residential
Consumer electronic displays
- Televisions
- Laptops
- Monitors
- Mobile Handsets
The report states that LEDs in general illumination saved 0.38 TWh in 2010. It projects a potential savings of 133 TWh per year if all of the general illumination product types were converted to “top performing LEDs.”
In outdoor applications, conversion to LED sources saved 2.2 TWh in 2010. A complete conversion to LEDs in the outdoor category could save 131 TWh per year.
In the consumer electronics category, the penetration rate is much higher for LEDs and the power savings are smaller. The savings in 2010 were 1.3 TWh and the potential saving is projected at 30.7 TWh were all displays converted to LED backlights.
Were all of these lighting categories converted 100% to LEDs, the DOE equates the savings to taking 21 million residential households off the grid. And based on the projections for improvements in LED technology for the year 2020, the projection escalates to the equivalent of removing 32 million households from the grid.
