Pie chart on the left shows that LEDs were responsible for 71 tBtu of energy savings in 2012. The different coloured segments show what proportion of that figure each technology was responsible for. The graph on the right shows that a further 3,873 tBtu could be saved and what proportion of those savings would come from which types of LED light source
An overnight switch to LEDs could save the US $37 billion in annual energy costs, according to a report by the US Department of Energy (DoE).
The report states 49 million LED lamps and luminaires were installed in nine lighting applications in 2012 and saved $675 million in energy costs across these markets that year. However, the document said if these nine lighting applications began using 100 per cent LEDs overnight, as much as half the country’s total lighting energy consumption in 2012 could have been saved ($37 billion), This equates to annual source energy savings of 3,873 trillion British thermal units (tBtu).
The government department’s report, Adoption of light-emitting diodes in common lighting applications published in April, analysed indoor lamp applications (A-type, directional, MR-16, and decorative), indoor luminaire applications (downlight, troffer, and high-bay) and outdoor luminaire applications (streetlights, parking lots and garages) where LEDs compete with traditional lighting sources such as incandescent, halogen, high-pressure sodium and fluorescent lamps.
Compared to actual savings in 2012, the report said electricity savings of 174 tBtu per year could have been realised for LED directional lamps, if they achieved immediate market penetration. This equates to annual energy cost savings of $1.7 billion.
Similiarly, potential electricity savings of 822 tBtu per year could be realised for LED A-type lamps, if they achieved immediate market penetration. This is the equivalent of annual energy cost savings of $7.8 billion
