The Energy Policy Act of 2005 called for the highly criticized extension of Daylight Savings in an effort to reduce energy use, particularly the use of incandescent lighting.
Incandescent lamps (ILs) have taken a lot of heat over the past few years across the globe, and are starting to be replaced with newer, more efficient lighting technologies like compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).
Recently, at climate change negotiations in Cancun, Mexico, the United Nations Environment Programme's en.lighten initiative released findings that by replacing these energy guzzlers, the U.S. could save $9 billion and help to avoid approximately 45 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions — the equivalent of removing 11 million vehicles from the road.
Percentage of national savings in electricity consumption obtained from the change of ILs to CFLs
The findings were part of a 100 Country Living Assessment, that assessed the energy, financial, and CO2 savings potential of efficient lighting if utilized in 100 countries that have not yet initiated the transition as of 2010.
Findings for other countries included:
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Mexico potentially saving $900 million, reducing 5 million tons of CO2 emissions
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Indonesia potentially saving $1 billion and cutting 8 million tons of CO2 annually — the equivalent of taking two million cars off the road;
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Ukraine, an economy in transition, potentially saving $210 million with greenhouse gas reductions of 2 million tons of CO2 a year
"A switch to efficient lighting in Indonesia, for example, would avoid the need to build 3.5 coal-fired power stations costing $2.5 billion and similar findings come from other country assessments," said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP executive director.
"Such calculations do not include the wider environmental, health and 'Green Economy' benefits to communities and countries of switching away from, for example, fuels such as kerosene and reducing emissions from sources such as fossil-fueled power stations — an estimated 1.8 million deaths a year are linked with indoor and 800,000 with outdoor air pollution: more efficient lighting has a role to play here, too.”
Steiner also noted larger savings could be achieved if other inefficient lighting technologies are also substituted, such as inefficient tube lights or inefficient halogens.
en.lighten is also convening experts from over 30 countries to develop a draft road map for the global phase-out of inefficient lighting.
It will include policy, technical, and financial recommendations to support this transition and is expected to be tabled for global consultation in the second half of 2011.
Until Next Time,
Angela Guss
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