DOE publishes major new study on residential lighting use

The DOE has published a collaborative study focused on developing new estimates of residential lighting usage and energy consumption at the national and regional levels. The study, Residential Lighting End-Use Consumption Study: Estimation Framework and Initial Estimates, developed a framework that allows for the estimation of U.S. lamp usage and energy consumption not only nationally and by region, but also by household characteristics, lamp characteristics, and the particular room within a home—as well as limited combinations of these parameters. The framework was designed to incorporate new data collected under similar protocols—for example, by a state or regional organization—which creates opportunities to further improve estimation accuracy.

Several key findings are highlighted in the study's report:
• The estimated daily usage per lamp averaged 1.6 hours for all lamps in the U.S., with regional averages ranging between 1.4 and 1.6 hours. The average estimated hours of use (HOU) per lamp was lowest in Missouri and Virginia (1.6 hours/day).
• Exterior lamps averaged close to 3 HOU/day, while hallway lamps averaged less than 1 hour. Lamps in bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, and kitchens consumed the most energy, on average, of all spaces within a home.
• Massachusetts, New York, and California had the lowest annual household lighting energy consumption, each averaging fewer than 1,500 kWh per home, while Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Missouri, and Arizona had the highest, each averaging over 2,100 kWh—considerably more than the national average of just over 1,700 kWh.
The report, a companion spreadsheet, and an interactive map are available online. The spreadsheet contains the full set of estimates generated by the study, as well as instructions for filtering the set down to specific levels of interest. The map highlights some of the key regional findings.