I wrote:
> These improvements have been drastic in some cases. LED lighting takes > only about one-fifth of the electricity of incandescent lights. > Illumination is a large fraction of total energy use. See: http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=99&t=3 QUOTE: "How much electricity is used for lighting in the United States? EIA estimates that in 2011, about 461 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity were used for lighting by the residential and commercial sectors. This was equal to about 17% of the total electricity consumed by both of these sectors and about 12% of total U.S. electricity consumption. Residential lighting consumption was about 186 billion kWh or 13% of all residential electricity consumption. The commercial sector, which includes commercial and institutional buildings and public street and highway lighting, consumed about 275 billion kWh for lighting or 21% of commercial sector electricity consumption in 2011. EIA does not have an estimate for only public street and highway lighting. . . ." (Note that high efficiency lighting also improved vehicle gas mileage, since cars and trucks often drive with their lights on.) - Jed
