For one writer the answer is yes. Switching to LEDs can mean the demise of nuclear power plants in the U.S., according to Michael Kanellos, a contributor for Forbes. Kanellos reasoned nuclear power plants only generate 19 percent of electricity in the U.S. equivalent to the power consumption percentage by lighting. In other words, by simply retrofitting light bulbs with LED, the need for nuclear plants is wiped off the table.
The U.S. net electricity generation by energy source. Information is from May 2013 statistics released by DOE/ EIA. (LEDinside/ U.S. Nuclear Reactor Commission)
Moreover, the costs for a simple switch to lighting is much more cost effective than investing more than US$ 105 billion into nuclear power plants that may take decades to construct, Kanellos argued. Citing U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) statistics, there are roughly 6 billion bulbs in U.S. households. On average these are 46 watt bulbs that consume about 25 percent of light electricity. The swap to 11-watt LEDs that cost US$ 10, would cut overall power consumption by 15 percent.
Paired with smart controls, the LED lighting can further save energy and “nearly whacked out the entire nuclear fleet,” wrote Kanellos. Networked controls can help save another 80 to 90 percent of power, equivalent to another 35-40 percent reduction in nuclear power plants. For further details please see link.
