DOE Announces Support for Next Generation Lighting
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More than $37 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will go to support high-efficiency solid-state lighting projects, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu announced Jan. 15. The 17 projects include funding for solid-state lighting core research, product development, and domestic manufacturing.
Solid-state lighting, which uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) instead of incandescent bulbs, has the potential to be ten times more energy efficient than traditional incandescent lighting, according to a DOE release.
Lighting accounts for approximately 24% of the total electricity generated in the United States. By 2030, the development and widespread deployment of cost-effective solid-state lighting could reduce electricity use for lighting by one-third nationally, according to the DOE.
“The United States must lead in energy efficiency. These solid-state lighting projects will help us significantly cut our energy use, reduce our carbon footprint, and save money,” says Chu. “This funding will also support the United States as a global leader in this rapidly evolving industry, creating high-tech, value-added jobs.”
This is the sixth round of DOE funding for solid-state lighting core technology research and product development, and the first time that DOE has funded solid-state lighting manufacturing projects. To see the full list of grant selections click here.
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