United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Radiation
6202J
EPA 430-F-92-013
August 1992
Green Lights
Program
A Bright Investment in the Environment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPAs) Green
Lights Program is a breath of fresh air for the nation's environ-
mental health and economic growth. Green Lights, a voluntary
program that encourages the widespread use of energy-effi-
cient lighting, is proving that environment and industry can
work together to create a cost-efficient and environmentally
aware America.
As part of this unique partnership, Green Lights partici-
pants—including corporations, environmental groups, electric
utilities, and state, city, and local governments—have come
together to promote the widespread use of efficient lighting sys
terns that reduce pollution. By investing in these technologies
Green Lights participants realize average returns of 25 percent
with average savings in lighting electricity bills of 50 percent o
more. Through the use of these technologies, partners are reduc
ing emissions of pollutants associated with global wanning, acu
rain, and smog.
As the first of similar market-driven, non-regulatory "green
programs sponsored by EPA, Green Lights is revolutionizing th
way America cleans up the environment.
Energy-Efficient Lighting Prevents Pollution
Increased energy efficiency is the cor-
nerstone of EPA's new pollution preven-
tion strategy. Green Lights encourages vol-
untary reductions in energy use through
revolutionary lighting technologies.
The process by which energy-efficient
lighting reduces pollution is simple.
Lighting accounts for 20-25 percent of elec-
tricity used annually in the United States.
Lighting for industry, businesses, offices,
and warehouses represents 80-90 percent
of tt&al lighting electricity use.
Generating electricity involves the
burning of fossil fuels or running a nu-
clear reactor or hydroelectric plant. These
processes often result in various types of
pollution, including acid mine drainage,
oil spills, natural gas leakage, toxic waste,
and air pollutants.
Energy-efficient lighting can reduce
lighting electricity demand by over 50 per-
cent, thereby enabling the power plant to
burn less fuel. It is estimated that every
kilowatt-hour of electricity avoided pre-
vents the emission of 15 pounds of carbon
dioxide, 5.8 grams of sulfur dioxide, and
2.5 grams of nitrogen oxides. It also
reduces other types of pollution resulting
from mining and transporting power plant
fuels and disposing of power plant wastes.
If energy-efficient lighting were used
everywhere profitable, the nation's
demand for electricity could be cut by
more than 10 percent. This would result
in reductions of annual carbon dioxide
emissions of 202 million metric tons (4
percent of the national total)—the equiva-
lent of the exhaust emitted from 44 mil-
lion cars. Reductions in annual emissions
of sulfur dioxide would total 13 million
metric tons (7 percent of the nationa
total), and reductions in annual emission
of nitrogen oxides would amount t<
600,000 metric tons (4 percent of th<
national total). By the year 2000, Greei
Lights is expected to save 226.4 billioi
kWh, resulting in total electricity deman<
savings of 39.8 million kilowatts.
A Cleaner Approach to Lighting
Conventional lighting produces significantly more poUution than
, more energy-efficient lighting techriotogie*.
Energy-efficient lighting would prevent the annual emission of
202 million metric ens of carbon dioxide, 13 million metric torn
of tuttur dioxide, and 600,000 metric torn of ranogen oxides.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5, Library (PL- 12J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Floor
Chicago, 11 60604-3590
Region 5 Contact: LeeAnnUaae A..HI-,-,
Fax I:
886-9383
(312) 886-0617
-------
Tackling the Barriers to Innovation
A goal of Green Lights is to encourage the widespread use of lighting technologies that
use less energy. In doing so, Green Lights endeavors to reduce air pollution, while redirect-
ing dollars toward profitable investment. Indeed, if energy-efficient lighting technologies
are used nationwide, they will reduce electricity bills by $16 billion per year.
Although the market is encouraging the use of energy-efficient lighting technolo-
gies. Green Lights is designed to tackle the barriers that impede the widespread use of
these technologies.
Common Problems
The Green Lights Solution
Lighting Is a lam Priority - Few organiza-
tions focus on die opportunity to invest
in their own lighting systems.
reen Lights participants see light-
ing as an investment—a source of
profits. Signing the MOU makes
lighting an organizational priority.
Lack of Information and Expertise -
Lighting information travels slowly out- :
side the world of the lighting industry. »
%/ Green Lights provides information-
al tools to help lighting investors
make an informed upgrade decision.
Difficult Financing - Investments in
energy-efficient lighting require up-
front capital.
• Green Lights has developed a reg-
istry of. financing resources avail-
able free of charge to all Green
Lights participants.
Restricted Markets - Low demand for i
energy-efficient lighting technologies :
results in lack of consumer understand- i
ing about potential cost savings and t
enhanced lighting. Prices remain high :;
due to small production runs. t
I/Green Lights promotes energy-effi-
cient lighting technologies as cost-
effective and high-quality products
to consumers, and informs manufac-
turers about benefits of investing in
new technologies.
Split Incentives Between Landlord and *
Tenant - To realize savings from a light- •
ing upgrade, each tenant must xenegoti- -
ate the lease with the landlord. The -
landlord rarely installs energy-efficient I
lighting in new construction, since utility ;
charges are passed on to tenant . : -
•Green Lights is developing stan-
dard lease language that removes
the split incentive barrier between
landlord and tenant.
Success Story: American Express
American Express, a Green Lights Partner since February 1991, upgraded the
lighting at its 1.6 million-square-foot facility in lower Manhattan. More than 17,000
T12 "cool white" fluorescent lamps (the standard "tube" often seen in commercial
lighting) were replaced with the more energy-efficient and superior quality T8 vari-
ety. The building's existing hybrid ballasts were replaced with electronic ballasts that
consume less electricity, weigh less, make less noise, and create virtually no lamp
flicker. Two hundred occupancy or motion sensors were installed throughout the
building, reducing average annual lighting hours from 6,300 to 5,200. Motion sensors
control lighting, depending on the presence of a person in the area.
As a result of the lighting upgrade, American Express has reduced the number
of kilowatts used for lighting by almost 500 per year. Annual savings from the project
are expected to be more than $280,000—with an internal rate of return calculated at
38 percent. The annual pollution prevented is also impressive: 785,000 pounds of car-
bon dioxide, 5,500 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 3,150 pounds of nitrogen oxides.
Giving the Green Light
to Energy Efficiency
Your Part
To become a Green Lights Partner
an organization signs a Memorandum oi
Understanding (MOU) with EPA. In the
MOU, Green Lights participants agree to
survey their facilities and, within 5 years
of signing the MOU, to upgrade 90 per-
cent of their square footage, where it is
profitable and where lighting quality is
maintained or enhanced. Participants
also agree to appoint an implements.; in
manager who oversees participation in
the program. As of August 1992, over 600
organizations have pined Green Lights.
EPA'* Part
The MOU also states EPA's commit-
ment to Green Lights Partners. EPA provides
Partners with the following products,
information, and services:
Decision Support System - a state-of-the-
art computer software package that
enables Partners to survey lighting
systems in facilities, assess lighting
options, and select the best energy-effi-
cient upgrade
Financing Registries - user-friendly com-
puter data bases of every third party
financing program available
Ally Programs - Allies include lighting
manufacturers, lighting management
companies, and electric utilities that
have agreed to educate customers
about energy-efficient lighting.
Endorser Program - Endorsers are mem-
bership associations and other organi-
zations that promote Green Lights.
Public Recognition - Green Lights places
public-service advertising in major mag-
azines, newspaper articles, reports on
new lighting technologies, a newsletter,
and other materials. To encourage par-
ticipants to promote their own Green
Lights activities, EPA distributes ready-
to-use promotional materials.
In addition, EPA contracts and grants pro-
vide the following services:
Lighting Services Group - provides tech-
nical support, including a technical ser-
vices hotline, workshops, and a compre-
hensive Lighting Upgrade Manual.
National Lighting Product
Information Program- P* ®
serves as "consumer
reports" of lighting,
making valuable
product informa-
tion available.
Former* Info
itton, contact* Gram Lights, U.S. EPA, 501 3rd Street, NW (Mail Code \}, Washington, DC 20001
Green Lights Hotline: (202) 7754650, FAX: (202) 7754680
-------
EPA BUILDINGS PROGRAM
The EPA Buildings program is a partnership effort with business to increase
efficiency in commercial buildings and to reduce air pollution caused by power generation.
Expanding on the success of Green Lights and Energy Star Computers1 programs, EPA's
Buildings Program promotes increased efficiency in heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial buildings. Through the Buildings Program,
EPA and its business partners will expand markets for state-of-the-art HVAC technologies,
resulting in increased energy savings, more competitive businesses and a cleaner
environment
The EPA Buildings Program will include a series of technological initiatives, each
aimed at improving the efficiency of a specific part of HVAC systems in commercial and
office buildings. This strategy of staged HVAC improvements is designed to give program
participants a high degree of flexibility in their implementation of the Buildings Program.
EPA's role in the Buildings Program is to help overcome some of the traditional
barriers to investment in higher-efficiency HVAC system components, including first cost,
lack of information and diffuse investment decision-making. For each stage of the
Buildings Program, EPA will work closely with its corporate partners, providing objective
documentation on the technologies, software tools to facilitate building surveys and
investment analyses, and a network of other corporations and other organizations involved
as Partners in the Buildings Program. Expanding the market for state-of-the-art HVAC
technologies will help reduce their first cost, and in some cases partners in the Buildings
Program will also take part in large-scale aggregated purchases to capture additional
discounts.
The Green Lights and Energy Star programs set the stage for the Buildings Program,
not only because of their demonstrated track record of success, but also because
implementation of the Green Lights and Energy Star Computers programs significantly
reduces the amount of heat emitted by lighting fixtures and computers, and thereby reduces
the cooling load of office buildings by up to 20 percent
The first initiative of EPA's Buildings Program focuses on improving the efficiency
of air handling systems in commercial buildings, largely through the application of variable
speed drives (VSDs) to fan motors. This application of VSD technology uses currently-
available and reliable equipment to achieve substantial and cost-effective energy savings.
While the number of VSD installations on air handling systems has steadily grown in the
past decade, current applications remain far short of the cost-effective potential. A goal of
the EPA Buildings Program is to expand the market for VSD controls to accelerate the
reduction in the cost of the technology. In addition to developing and distributing
After only a year and a half, the Green Lights Program now has over 640 participants,
representing more than 100 of the Fortune 500*8 listings of the nation's largest
manufacturing and service organizations and over 3% of the nation's commercial floorspace.
The Energy Star Computer Program, launched on June 17, now has 12 partners, accounting
for more than 40% of the personal computers sold in the U.S.
Norcmbcr 14,1992
-------
informational materials and analytical decision support tools, the EPA Buildings Program
will include a strategy to encourage program participants to plan and coordinate mass
purchases of VSDs, in order to receive lower large-volume prices.
SAVINGS FROM VARIABLE SPEED DRIVES
Afar handling accounts tor up to 30% of electricity uae In commercial office building* and, the Electric Power Research
Institute estimate*, over 10% of all the electricity consumed In the commercial lector. For Individual companies the resulting
expense* can be significant. Air handling for a single 100,000 square foot office building can cost $25,000 to $60,000 per year.
Actual air handling needs vary considerably over the day and year as air conditioning needs change. In most older
buildings, the constant speed AC motor* m air handling systems operate continuously at full-speed, regardless of air flow
requirements. This results in large amounts of wasted energy during most times of the year. Moreover, these motors are frequently
oversized, and thus wade energy even OB the hottest days.
Potential energy savings hi ah- handling systems are particularly large because a reduction hi fan speed results In a
greater than proportional energy savings. For example, a 20% reduction hi fan speed results in energy savings of almost 50%. Air
handling systems have been designed to capture some of these potential energy savtaa«~ these are called variable an-volume (VAV)
systems.
The predominant VAV systems use mechanical means (|A, variable Inkt vanes) to control ah- flow to match changing
building requirements and reduce fan energy use. However, VSDs are substantially more efficient than inlet vane controls, using
from 30% to 60% kas energy. For a 100,000 square tool office building, upgrading with variable speed drive* can reduce operating
expense* by between $7,500 and (36,000 annually. Installing VSDs on existing VAV systems will be the first retrofit pursued by
participants In the EPA Buildings Program.
Variable speed drives save energy by constantly adapting fan motor speed to match the actual air flow demands
determined by activity within a building. Under constant voltage, an AC motor's speed fc directly proportional to the frequency
of the supply current VSDs control the motor's speed and energy uae by varying the frequency of the AC current supply, which
i IB tremendous energy savings. VSDs lypkafly pay for themselves in 1-4 years with a cast of conserved energy of U-4e/kwh.
In addition, because fan motors are commonly overslacd, VSDs era reduce peak electricity demand and result in extra
i en utility bills. Even greater peak demand and energy savings are possible when VSDs are installed in conjunction with
high efficiency lighting and office equipment, because these technologies produces less heal, thereby reducing cooling and air
Finally, reduced maintenance costs and extended equipment lifetimes are additional benefits of VSD applications. VSDs
allow for the "soft" start of motors and fans which reduces wear on belts and bearing*.
EPA BUILDINGS PROGRAM: NEXT TECHNOLOGIES
Future phases of the EPA Buildings Program will promote enhanced energy efficiency through
unproved control strategies, high efficiency unitary air conditioners and centrifugal chillers, beat pumps,
waste heat recovery, beat pump water beaters, and toad-reducing building envelope Improvements.
EPA BUILDINGS PROGRAM
EPA GLOBAL CHANGE DIVISION (6202J)
WASHINGTON, DC 20460
CHRIS O'BRIEN (202-233-9146)
FAX (202-233-9578)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5, Library (PL-12J)
S2K n&»12ttl "•»
------- |