Energy Efficient Lighting Cuts Energy Use in U.S. Parking Facilities by 90%

The U.S. Energy Department’s Better Buildings Alliance is supporting the Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking (LEEP) Campaign, which to date has helped more than 100 U.S. businesses and organizations with planning or installing energy efficient lighting in their parking lots and garages.

In the past year, these organizations have committed to install efficient lighting across more than 270 million square feet of parking space – cutting energy use by up to 90 percent. Building owners spend more than $6 billion to light their parking lots and garages, and much of this could be saved if parking lots and garages were upgraded to the most efficient lighting solutions. LEEP Campaign participants have upgraded their facilities to high efficiency metal halide, fluorescent, and LED solutions that last three times longer than their previous technology and by using controls are able to reduce energy use when parking facilities are not in use.

The DOE recently joined LEEP Campaign co-organizers, including the Building Owners and Managers Association, the Green Parking Council and the International Facility Management Association, to recognize 12 organizations for leading the way in efficient lighting. Combined, these 12 winners are saving nearly 45 million kilowatt-hours and $4 million per year by upgrading to high efficiency lighting in 500,000 parking spaces nationwide.