U.S. Organizations Recognized for Cutting Parking Facility Energy Use by 60 Percent
WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 30, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — As part of the Energy Department’s effort to support U.S. businesses working to save money by saving energy, the Better Buildings Alliance’s Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking (LEEP) Campaign recognized 18 organizations for leading the way in efficient outdoor lighting today. In the past year, these organizations have committed to install efficient lighting across more than 470 million square feet of parking space – cutting energy use on average by 60 percent. Nationwide, building owners spend more than $16 billion annually to light their parking lots and garages, but by improving all outdoor lighting by 60 percent, American building owners could save more than 9 billion dollars annually across the 215 billion square feet of parking facilities.
“It might only take one person to change a light bulb, but it took dedicated efforts by the many thoughtful leaders of LEEP award winners to demonstrate how much can be gained through advanced, cost effective lighting technologies in parking lots and garages,” said Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, David Danielson. “These innovative solutions also enhance safety and improve working conditions for customers, tenants and employees.”
Altogether, 2014 and 2015 LEEP award winners are saving nearly 30 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) and $3 million each year by upgrading to high efficiency metal halide, fluorescent, and LED solutions that last three times longer than previously-used technologies, and by using controls to reduce energy use when parking facilities are not in use. Some LEEP award-winning sites have reduced their energy use by as much as 90 percent. To date, more than 140 U.S. businesses and organizations are participating in the campaign and planning or installing energy efficient lighting in their parking lots and garages.
In addition to the LEEP campaign, the Better Buildings Alliance spearheads a number of technology campaigns including theInterior Lighting Campaign (ILC), focused on high efficiency indoor troffer lighting solutions, and the Advanced Rooftop Unit Campaign, which supports building owners who are replacing or retrofitting aging rooftop heating and cooling technologies in U.S. commercial buildings.
As a cornerstone of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, Better Buildings aims to make commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings 20 percent more energy efficient over the next decade. This means saving billions of dollars on energy bills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating thousands of jobs. Through Better Buildings, public and private sector organizations across the country are working together to share and replicate positive gains in energy efficiency and propel change and investment in energy efficiency.
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