Auburn/WA - The supermarket industry in the USA has recently embraced LED technology with research showing they can reduce energy consumption by as much as 60 percent with its implementation. The Marvel Food and Deli which opened its doors early in June 2009, is the first commercial new construction in the U.S. to be outfitted exclusively with LEDs (light-emitting diodes). The 16,000 square foot supermarket and deli is situated on a 43,000 square foot lot and utilized LED’s for both interior and exterior lighting.

“LED is at a stage that the compact fluorescent (CFL) was over 10 years ago and its use is gaining acceptance in the industry as standards are being developed”, says energy conservation consultant Javad Maadanian, president of Collaborative Constructions Consulting Company. “LED offers higher efficiency with no environmental impact during disposal associated with Mercury use as in CFLs, and with maturing technology and reduction of costs, LED presents a strong alternative to competitive technologies such as fluorescent, MH (metal halide) and HPS (high pressure sodium) lighting” he added. The longevity of LEDs is another attractive feature as they greatly reduce maintenance costs over their 50,000+ hour lifetime.

Lighting accounts for 7 percent of energy consumption in the U.S and it is estimated that between 20 and 40 percent of carbon emissions associated with buildings in the United States are directly related to indoor lighting. Jim Brodrick, the light program manager for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) stated in a recent post that government studies indicate a potential energy savings of 25 to 50 percent with solid state lighting at the heart of expected long term improvements.

Meanwhile LEDs are not just changing the face of lighting in the U.S, but are being rapidly embraced in the global lighting market. In addition to installations in several U.S. municipalities, Sherwin Williams headquarters, and US Steel Mills, LED pioneer Clean Light Green Light has provided product for projects in Asia, Russia, Sweden and Mexico. Buckingham Palace has gone LED, the village of Torraca Italy is the first place in the world to be totally illuminated by LEDS, and it is estimated there are now at least 30 other installation like Torraca worldwide. Despite the perceived initial cost barrier, the technology is on a very fast evolutionary curve, and energy experts like John Creyts, an author of the Mckinsey report, predict that the technology could be in widespread use within five years.

Quelle: The Marshall Plan

Zurück