Lighting controls help to save energy. Lighting controls help reduce green house gas (GHG) emissions. In fact, lighting controls present one of the best ways to mitigate carbon emissions associated with climate change.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report in November 2007 which identifies electricity as the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and buildings as the single largest consumer of electricity. This means that cutting electricity usage will likely have a greater impact on reducing GHG emissions over any other measure including improving the fuel efficiency of vehicles.

GHG emissions associated with buildings and appliances are projected to grow faster than those from any other sector. According to the McKinsey report, the building sector’s share of emissions is expected to grow from 33% in 2005 to 37% in 2030.

Independent research on GHG abatement consistently identifies lighting and controls as one of the best investments and with one of the largest impacts on GHG mitigation.

Occupancy sensors have expected marginal cost of -$90.00 per ton of GHG. A negative marginal cost means that investing in these options would generate positive economic returns over their lifecycle. For comparison, other options are listed below:

“Improving energy efficiency in buildings and appliances -710 to 870 megatons” of abatement per year. “This large cluster of negative-cost options includes: lighting retrofits; improved HVAC systems, building envelopes and building
control systems”[McKinsey & Company – Reducing U.S. Greenhouse gas emissions: how much at what cost? page XIV]. This represents 66% of the low-range potentials (negative marginal costs) and 18% of the total US goal by 2030.

Carbon mitigation opportunities include:

Improving energy efficiency in buildings could offset 85% of the projected incremental demand for electricity in 2030, largely negating the need for the incremental coal-fired power plants.

With lighting controls, building owners and operators benefit from a more valuable, efficient facility. Occupants appreciate the enhanced work environment. The environment benefits from fewer construction-related impacts and the decreased ongoing demand for natural resources.