The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Better Buildings Interior Lighting Campaign (ILC) recently recognized 15 organizations for leading the way in upgrading their interior lighting and control systems. These partners, along with those recognized in the last two years, have newly installed or upgraded more than 2.8 million lighting fixtures and controls system - cutting energy use on average by 54 percent and saving $68 million on energy bills. 

On average, lighting accounts for 15 percent - 20 percent of the electricity that U.S. buildings consume annually, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey. Case studies conducted by DOE over the course of the ILC estimate that building owners or managers can save up to 60 percent in energy costs when replacing less efficient troffers with new ones, and up to 80 percent of lighting energy by adding controls such as dimmers, timers, and occupancy sensors. 

DOE is recognizing the following organizations this year for a combined self-reported $33 million in energy-cost savings by upgrading almost 1.4 million lighting systems to high efficiency systems: 

• Alexandria City Public Schools. Highest annual energy savings for lighting retrofits (medium project). By retrofitting TC Williams High School, Alexandria City Schools achieved 56 percent energy savings, leading to 168,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) saved annually.
• Avibank Manufacturing, Inc., a division of Precision Castparts Corp. Exemplary industrial site. Avibank Manufacturing saved more than 1 million kWh annually at a single site, which is 67 percent of its previous lighting energy use annually.
• Beaumont Health in Texas. Exemplary healthcare site. Beaumont’s efforts related to Royal Oak resulted in more than 2.2 million kWh saved annually at that site—a 52 percent energy savings.
• Four Seasons Family of Companies. Exemplary retail, food service, or grocery site. Four Seasons retrofitted its facility, yielding an energy savings of 48 percent, which translated to more than 1 million kWh savings per year.
• Jewish Community Center (JCC) in San Francisco. Greatest annual energy savings for lighting retrofits (small project). The retrofit of the JCC facility resulted in 74 percent in lighting energy savings and more than 25,000 kWh saved annually.
• Kadena Air Force Base. Exemplary federal site. Kadena saved 73 percent of the lighting energy usage at Kadena Air Force base, leading to 102,000 kWh saved annually.
• Life Time Fitness. Highest percentage of annual energy savings for lighting retrofits (large project). Life Time’s Henderson site retrofit saved 85 percent of the lighting energy usage in the retrofit, generating more than 1 million kWh of savings.
• MGM Resorts International. Greatest annual energy savings for lighting retrofits (large project) and best use of lighting controls in a single building. MGM’s project at Mandalay Bay resulted in more than 3 million kWh savings annually.
• Nellis Air Force Base. Highest percentage of annual energy savings for lighting retrofits (medium project). Nellis’ retrofit resulted in a 77 percent annual lighting energy savings from its retrofit.
• River Trails District 26 – Illinois. Highest percentage of annual energy savings for lighting retrofits (large project). River Trails District 26 saved 80 percent of the annual lighting energy at Indian Grove Elementary School.
• Target Corporation. Largest number of facility projects, greatest portfolio-wide annual energy savings, and greatest annual energy savings for lighting in new construction (large project). Target completed more than 1,600 projects throughout its portfolio, with a standout single project resulting in 47 percent in annual energy savings compared to a typical new construction.
• Thrust IV/Stonebridge Homes. Highest percentage of annual energy savings for lighting retrofits (medium project). Thrust’s efforts resulted in 76 percent annual lighting energy savings at a single site.
• The University of Utah Health. Highest percentage of annual energy savings for lighting new construction (large project). University of Utah’s efforts at the new Patient Care Pavilion resulted in lighting energy savings of 48 percent compared to a typical new construction facility.
• U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Exemplary federal site. GSA submitted six projects, all saving more than 60 percent of the lighting energy usage, with half of the projects savings over 1 million kWh annually each.
• Yamaha Motor Corporation. Exemplary industrial site. Yamaha Motor Corporation’s three retrofits resulted in 62 percent lighting energy savings, resulting in more than 145,000 kWh saved annually.

Better Buildings aims to make commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings 20 percent more energy efficient over the next decade. Through Better Buildings, DOE partners with leaders in the public and private sectors to make the nation’s homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants more energy efficient by accelerating investment and sharing of successful best practices.