Energy conservation is usually the motivation for entire building upgrades, and rightly so — adopting more efficient lighting technologies can yield substantial savings. Some of these technologies are Energy Star lighting systems, fluorescent lights, Hi-Intensity Discharge, tungsten halogen systems, and LED lights.

In addition to the many electrical lighting systems below, consider adding solar tubes into the mix. Solar tubes are high-performance daylighting systems that use advanced optics to significantly improve the way daylight is harnessed. They are manufactured by solar tube companies that specialize in the technology required to pull light through corners and distances in a building. Read more about solar tubes in the Building Improvements section.

Energy Star ® Energy-Efficient Lighting Systems
Make all of your lighting retrofits meet the minimum standard of Energy Star Energy-Efficient, the federal government set of standards for lighting quality and efficiency. Lighting products that have earned the ENERGY STAR deliver exceptional features, while using less energy. Saving energy helps you save money on utility bills and protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change.

LED Lighting Systems
LED lighting is a rapidly evolving technology that produces light in a whole new way. It is already beginning to surpass the quality and efficiency of existing lighting technologies, such as fluorescent and incandescent — but not all LED lighting is created equal.

ENERGY STAR Qualified LED Lighting:

• Reduces energy costs — uses at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting, saving on operating expenses.
• Reduces maintenance costs — lasts 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting and about 2 to 5 times longer than fluorescent lighting. No bulb-replacements, no ladders, no ongoing disposal program.
• Reduces cooling costs — LEDs produce very little heat.
• Is guaranteed — comes with a minimum three-year warranty — far beyond the industry standard.
• Offers convenient features — available with dimming on some indoor models and automatic daylight shut-off and motion sensors on some outdoor models.
• Is durable — won’t break like a bulb.
• Brightness is equal to or greater than existing lighting technologies (incandescent or fluorescent) and light is well distributed over the area lighted by the fixture.
• Light output and excellent color quality remains constant over time — only decreasing towards the end of the rated lifetime (at least 35,000 hours or 12 years based on use of 8 hours per day). The shade of white light appears clear and consistent over time.

Fluorescent Lighting Systems
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are similar in operation to standard fluorescent lamps but are manufactured to produce colors similar to incandescent lamps. They are available in a range of types and sizes to meet most applications including downlighting, ambience, task and general space lighting. CFLs are about four times as efficient as incandescents and last up to 10 times longer.

Tubular fluorescent lamps are one of the most common sources of commercial lighting and also are among the most efficient. The new generation of small diameter lamps (T-8 and T-10) is still one of the most cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting options.

High-Intensity Discharge (HID)
This category of high output light sources that includes mercury vapor, metal halide, high pressure sodium and low-pressure sodium lighting. As with fluorescent lights, HID lights require a ballast for proper lamp operation. The efficiency of HID sources varies widely from mercury vapor – with an efficiency almost as low as incandescent – to low-pressure sodium which is among the most efficient light sources. Metal halide lamps are strongly recommended (as opposed to high-pressure sodium) for their good color rendering and white light, which provides better night vision.

Tungsten Halogen Systems
Halogen lamps are a type of incandescent lamp that has become increasingly popular in recent years in applications where dimming is important, such as theaters and galleries. They produce a whiter, more intense light than standard incandescents and are typically used for decorative, display or accent lighting. Halogen spotlights also have good focusing ability in small areas. They are about twice as efficient as regular incandescent lamps and last two to four times longer than most incandescent lamps.

Lighting accounts for about 15-20% of energy use in commercial and municipal buildings!  Which means it uses the second largest amount of energy in buildings after HVAC systems.

Here are some real-world applications and benefits of modern lighting systems:

Municipal Administration Offices 
Upgrade interior lighting to Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL)

• Gives off a wider spectrum of light, whiter and closer to daylight
• Uses 30% less electricity with lamps lasting 6,000 hours longer than older lighting
• Interior building lights - replace HID (High Intensity Discharge) lighting fixtures with fluorescent T8 fixtures
• Interior building lights - replace T12 strip fixtures with T8 strip fixtures with reflectors
• Outdoors, upgrade to lights that use less energy or have an extended life, particularly in difficult to reach locations. Installing solar powered systems in the same project can yield even greater savings.
• Parking Lots and high-wattage exterior lights - Upgrade to High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps outdoors, preferably metal halide.
• Use solar panels for park path lighting, area lighting, and signage.

Schools, Libraries and Other Public Buildings 

Lease an energy retrofit for your schools and public buildings to reduce green house gas emissions from county government operations, reduce annual energy costs, and reduce annual energy consumption.

Schools

• Classroom -For the greatest energy efficiency and best color rendering, school lighting should employ either fluorescent T-8 or T-5 linear lamp technology with electronic ballasts
• Hallways, canopy downlights, utility wallpacks and some types of security lighting - compact fluorescent lamps also may be used for interior and some exterior lighting applications
• Laboratories - fluorescent T-8 or T-5 linear lamp technology with electronic ballasts
• gymnasiums, , pools, and other spaces with high ceilings - the T-5 HO (high output) lighting system is rapidly gaining prominence as the preferred lighting system
• Cafeteria and multi-purpose rooms - T-5 HO (high output) lighting system
• Sports facilities, Parking Lots and high-wattage exterior lights - Upgrade to High intensity discharge (HID) lamps outdoors.

Libraries

• High ceiling areas - the T-5 HO (high output) lighting system is rapidly gaining prominence as the preferred lighting system
• Suspended uplighting, direct-indirect pendant lighting, cove lighting, undercabinet lighting, or in specialized applications - T-5 linear lighting systems may be the best choice

Public Buildings

• Hallways, canopy downlights, utility wallpacks and some types of security lighting - compact fluorescent lamps also may be used for interior and some exterior lighting applications
• Auditoriums and Courtrooms - T-5 HO (high output) lighting system
• Parking Lots and high-wattage exterior lights - Upgrade to High intensity discharge (HID) lamps outdoors.
• Theaters and galleries that require dimming - halogen infrared lamps

Street Lighting, Security, and Outdoor Publics Spaces

• LED Street Lighting - cities and towns or all sizes are setting their sights even higher — they are looking to retrofit street lights with low-energy light-emitting diode lamps, or LED lamps.
  

The future of LEDs is certainly bright:

1. Upgrading your traffic signals to LED lights can conserve both money and energy.
2. LED street lights (both new installations and retrofits) can reduce cut power consumption by 90%, and reduce related energy costs by nearly as much.
3. Produce a brighter, whiter light that improves visibility at night while reducing energy consumption
4. Save money in maintenance costs, as LED lights do not burn out as quickly as other lights.

• Conventional Street, Parking Lot and Security Lighting - continuous upgrades to this ubiquitous and indispensable feature are happening every day all across America. Today's modern fixtures feature vast improvements to virtually every component and technology.

Other popular cost-saving options:

• Upgrade the inside electrical components from Mercury Vapor and Incandescent lighting to High Pressure Sodium lighting.
• Replace old High Pressure Sodium (HPS) with Induction Lighting
• Installation of energy efficient streetlights can make your town eligible for rebates from local utilities.

Maintenance and Publics Works Facilities
Good lighting is essential in making maintenance yards safe places to work.

• Interior building lights - replace HID (High Intensity Discharge) lighting fixtures with fluorescent T8 fixtures
• Interior building lights - replace T12 strip fixtures with T8 strip fixtures with reflectors
• Parking lot lighting - replace old High Pressure Sodium (HPS) with induction Lighting
• Work Yard and truck lot facility lighting -Upgrade to High intensity discharge (HID) lamps outdoors or use induction lighting
• Safety lighting in remote work locations - combine solar panels with energy efficient lighting at water system locations and remote park locations
• Park lighting - replace old High Pressure Sodium (HPS) with Induction Lighting
• You can integrate remote security features like perimeter detection at the fences with automated lighting.

These tips can help you select the right equipment for your facility:

New lighting technologies are many times more efficient than traditional technologies such as incandescent bulbs. Switch from incandescent bulbs to Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), fluorescent tubes, and light emitting diode (LED)bulbs. CFLs use 75 percent less energy and LEDs use 75 to 80 percent less energy.

• Consider the overall energy use of the building, too. When planning full-building upgrades, a lighting upgrade should come early in the process, because it can affect heating and cooling loads and power quality, which can make a significant difference in the specifications for other building systems.

• Design the lights according to the tasks to be performed in the space in question.

• Use reflectors, glass films, and diffusers to prevent glare.

• Use automatic controls to turn lights off or dim lights as appropriate, or to reduce the use of electric lights when daylight is sufficient.

• Use the most efficient light source for the application: high-performance fluorescent systems as the primary light source for most commercial spaces; compact fluorescent lamps in place of incandescent bulbs in most cases; and high-intensity discharge lamps where appropriate.
  
  
• Choose the longest lasting lamps in places that are hard to service.

• Use automatic controls to turn lights off or dim lights as appropriate, or to reduce the use of electric lights when daylight is sufficient.