Reducing light levels creates energy savings Published Oct. 21, 2011 By Cliff Richardson 377th Civil Engineering Division Kirtland Air Force Base -- Approximately 40 percent of the energy consumed in the U.S. today is used for lighting, so energy efficient lighting can have a dramatic impact on a facility's total energy savings. Reducing light levels is an easy conservation measurement. The first step in saving lighting energy is to determine the amount of light necessary for an area. Kirtland Air Force Base has mandatory guidelines for lighting levels, based on an area's primary usage. One method of energy conservation can be simply to reduce lighting levels to the recommended levels by using lower wattage, fewer lamps or lighting-control schemes, such as occupancy sensors. Recent lighting developments include new technology in the form of compact fluorescent bulbs that can replace incandescent bulbs. CF bulbs provide four times the amount of light and last 10 times longer. Always turn off a light when it is not needed. Use label switches to remind occupants to turn off lights. Turn off building lights when an area of a facility is unoccupied. Significant savings can be achieved by simply turning off lights during lunchtime. Another major area of lighting savings comes from proper maintenance of existing lighting. Keep light fixtures clean. Interior building walls should be clean and painted with light colors to reflect light. Make maximum use of daylight by opening blinds, drapes and shades, provided that the sun does not heat up the area during the summer. Keeping blinds open in the winter helps heat the room. In areas where you need bright light, use one large bulb instead of several small ones. This includes task lighting, which uses a lower-wattage bulb closer to the work area, so overhead lights can be reduced. Use exterior lighting only when needed. If we all do our part to turn out the lights, the Team Kirtland community can reduce its energy consumption.