How LED Lighting Can Reduce Your Building’s Carbon Footprint

In 2019, Canada was ranked one of the least effective countries among advanced economies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a study by Climate Transparency. The study graded G20 nations—19 countries with advanced economies and the European Union—on their climate performance. Canada’s rate of greenhouse gas emissions per-capita was the second-highest in the G20, behind only Australia. Canada’s building-related emissions rate (which makes up one-fifth of total Co2 emissions) is more than double the G20 average. The devastating results of climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions include drought, extreme rainfall, food scarcity, and extreme weather that has cost the G20 about 16,000 fatalities and $142 billion per year. Investing in eco-friendly lighting technology can play a significant role in reducing harmful emissions.

LED lighting is different than incandescent bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). LEDs are about the size of a fleck of pepper, and a mix of green, blue, and red LEDs are used to make white light. They emit light in a specific direction, reducing the need for reflectors and diffusers that can trap light. There’s also a significant difference in heat emissions. Incandescent bulbs release 90 percent of their energy as heat, and CFLs release about 80 percent of their energy as heat. By comparison, LED lights release very little heat and use far less energy than incandescent lighting. Widespread use of LEDs over the next few years alone can save as much as the equivalent of the output of 44 large electric power plants in one country alone.