Energy efficient lighting could help military save money.

• Author: Insinna, Valerie
• Position: LOGISTICS

* As the defense budget becomes more constrained, the services are eager to cut any low hanging fruit to reap potential savings. Lutron Electronics' lighting technologies could help the military lower energy costs, company executives said.

With a combination of the right strategies-such as dimming control and vacancy sensing-military installations can reduce lighting energy consumption by about 60 percent, said Shaun Taylor, the company's LEED green associate commercial experience center leader.

"That accounts for 39 percent of your overall electric usage in a typical building, and that allows you to save almost one quarter of your electric bill," he said.

Because government facilities operate continuously, light usage is almost nonstop, Taylor said. Switching to energy-saving products is more cost effective and would make it easier for military bases to meet their energy-saving goals.

Lutron devices allow users to control lighting levels in single rooms with dimmers, switches and sensors. These technologies are also available as wireless products, making them less expensive to install in government buildings, said Andy Wakefield, the company's director of government and original equipment manufacturer solutions.

Organizations are often forced to sacrifice the quality of their heat, water and other utilities when they are looking to conserve energy. Lutron products reduce energy without downgrading comfort, Wakefield said.

During a demonstration of the dimming technology, the amount of energy in the lights dropped from 100...