OSA hosts Congressional briefing on the needed switch to LED lighting

November 6, 2009–With energy efficient technology becoming a government priority, cities across the country are investing in greener lighting sources. The Optical Society (OSA; Washington, DC), in conjunction with the House of Representatives’ Research & Development (R&D) Caucus, is hosting a Congressional briefing next week to discuss how solid-state lighting, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), can significantly reduce the amount of energy used for residential, commercial, automotive, and street lighting (see also “OIDA/SPIE hope message “resonates” in Congress” and “OSA members to support research into renewable energy sources“).
Lighting uses 22% of the electricity and 8% of the total energy spent in the U.S., according to government reports. A panel of experts will discuss current and future LED technologies, why municipalities across the country are switching to them, cost savings associated with LEDs, and the role of government in LED-related research. The briefing is free and open to the public.
The Congressional Luncheon Briefing is entitled LEDs: Cities Investing in a Greener Future and will be held at B340 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 on Thursday, November 12, 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.
Speakers include Andrew Brix, Energy Programs Manager, City of Ann Arbor, Michigan; James Brodrick, Solid-State Lighting Program Manager, U.S. Dept. of Energy; and Matthew Sommers, LED Design Manager, GE Lumination. The presentations will be moderated by Alex Fong [Ed: Florida Photonics Cluster President], Senior Vice President, Life Sciences & Instrumentation at Gooch and Housego.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act makes investing in energy efficient technologies and reducing the cost of high-performance lighting products a priority. Continuing advances, with the support of federal funding for energy efficient technologies, can accelerate progress toward creating a U.S.-led market for high-efficiency light sources that save more energy, reduce costs and have less environmental impact than conventional light sources. LEDs use half the energy (or less) and last 10 to 12 years longer than conventional bulbs. Additionally, LEDs contain no mercury, unlike compact fluorescent light bulbs. Studies suggest that a complete conversion to the LEDs could decrease carbon dioxide emissions from electric power use for lighting by up to 50% in just more than 20 years.
For more information, contact Angela Stark at the OSA at astark@osa.org.
Courtesy Gail Overton, LaserFocusWorld