Energy Department Announces $10 Million to Advance Energy-Saving Lighting Technologies
As part of cutting energy waste and doubling energy productivity by 2030, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced nearly $10 million to support research, development, and manufacturing of solid-state lighting (SSL) technologies across the country. This funding is intended to help accelerate the development of high-quality light-emitting diode (LED) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) products with the potential to reduce lighting energy use for American families and businesses by one half and enhance U.S. global competitiveness.
Based on the Energy Department’s recent report on the adoption of LEDs, DOE-supported research and development over the past 10 years has helped accelerate SSL technology deployment, yielding an energy savings of $675 million in 2012. Now, available LED technology is about 150 lumens per watt; the DOE’s target is 250 lumens per watt, a 75% increase. Higher performing LEDS will help further reduce overall costs and increase lighting efficiency.