July 23, 2001—A city block in Berkeley, California recently demonstrated a simple way to reduce energy usage by replacing every light bulb in the entire block with the most energy-efficient alternative. The block cut its projected lighting usage nearly in half; 45 percent (or 62,712 kWh/yr) annually.
Lamps of every kind, from common household light bulbs to industrial fluorescent tubes, were replaced with the most energy-efficient options, from compact fluorescent lamps to T8 linear fluorescent lamps. As an example, a Philips Marathon compact fluorescent lamp is claimed to use 75 percent less energy than an incandescent and to save at least $26 in energy costs over the lifetime of the bulb.
Philips Lighting Company and Amtech Lighting first conducted a lighting audit throughout this city block (2350-2392 Telegraph Avenue), which is a mix of offices, restaurants, and residential apartment complexes, to determine the best energy-efficient lighting options available for each building. The two companies then donated their products and installation services to conduct the actual lighting retrofit.
The project was a partnership between Philips Lighting Company, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the City of Berkeley, and local community organizations. Part of a national initiative, this grassroots effort is intended as a blueprint for energy conservation, illustrating how simple changes can result in dramatic savings. For more information about this project and energy-efficient lighting, visit Philips Lighting.
