The Development and Reform Commission of China, in conjunction with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Commerce, the People's Bank of China, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Energy Administration, has issued the "Guiding Opinions on Coordinating Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction and Recycling, and Accelerating the Updating and Transformation of Key Area Products and Equipment.” These opinions have clarified the work objectives for updating and transforming lighting equipment, requiring that by 2025, the market share of high-efficiency, energy-saving lighting equipment with energy efficiency levels of energy-saving (efficiency level 2) and above should be further increased.
Work Objectives
In the use of general lighting equipment (excluding specialized lighting and lighting for special purposes), the proportion of products that reach an advanced level of energy efficiency (efficiency level 1) and above should be increased to 20%, and those that reach energy-saving levels (efficiency level 2) and above should be increased to 50%. This is expected to achieve an annual electricity saving of about 100 billion kilowatt-hours, equivalent to an annual energy saving of about 30.19 million tons of standard coal, and a reduction of about 58 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The opinions also call for the orderly implementation of energy-saving and carbon reduction transformations for lighting equipment in use, supporting industrial parks, public institutions, urban roads, large public buildings, rail transit, airports, stations, ports, and other areas to carry out lighting equipment updates and transformations according to their actual situations, promoting the use of lighting equipment that meets or exceeds energy-saving levels (efficiency level 2). The opinions also encourage public institutions, central enterprises, and state-owned enterprises to take the lead in using lighting equipment with an advanced level of energy efficiency (efficiency level 1).
Role of Public Institutions in Leading Energy Conservation
The opinions specifically emphasize that public institutions should lead by example in the use of lighting equipment that achieves an advanced level of energy efficiency (efficiency level 1). At present, after more than a decade of popularization and application, LED lighting fixtures are considered by most to be the most energy-efficient option available. However, in reality, LED lighting fixtures such as LED downlights, LED panel lights, LED bulbs, LED street lights, LED tunnel lights, etc., all have energy efficiency standards and energy efficiency level marks. The energy efficiency levels of these LED lights are also divided into levels such as level 1, level 2, and level 3, with level 1 being the highest in energy utilization efficiency, and level 3 being the minimum entry level, with relatively lower energy utilization efficiency. There is a significant disparity in energy utilization efficiency among these LED light sources. For instance, for LED panel lights with a correlated color temperature of greater than or equal to 3500K, the requirement for level 3 energy efficiency is 70lm/W, while for level 1 energy efficiency, the requirement is 120lm/W. Currently, some LED light fixture manufacturers are producing LED panel lights with an energy efficiency of more than 160lm/W, surpassing level 1 efficiency. A theoretical comparison of energy utilization efficiency data reveals that lighting fixtures with efficiency above level 1 can save more than 50% electricity for the same lumen output.
Public Awareness and Market Status
Currently, the general public's understanding of lighting is still at the stage of merely fulfilling the function of illumination, and the majority of lighting fixture manufacturers, in an effort to reduce costs, produce LED lights that at best meet level 3 energy efficiency. Therefore, compared to the commonly used lighting fixtures in the market, light sources and fixtures that achieve level 1 energy efficiency or higher can reduce power consumption by more than half for the same brightness, achieving energy savings of over 50%.
Energy Conservation Pathways for Public Institutions
The technical pathways for energy conservation in public institution lighting are twofold: one is to replace all existing light fixtures with LED fixtures that meet the first level of energy efficiency; the other is to implement intelligent control and management. Smart lighting control is an emerging method for energy-saving renovations in building lighting. By introducing a smart lighting control system, the brightness of lighting equipment can be automatically adjusted according to actual needs, achieving precise illumination. The smart lighting control system can also enable functions such as photoelectric and micro-motion sensing switches, which automatically turn off lighting equipment when natural light is strong and when office personnel are not present indoors, further improving energy-saving effects.
Advantages and Implementation of Smart Lighting
The application of smart lighting control systems is not limited to energy savings and consumption reduction; they also enhance user experience. Through the smart control system, different lighting modes can be preset to adapt to various work scenarios and times of the day. For example, during the day, a natural light mode can be used to reduce the use of artificial lighting; in the evening, brightness and color temperature can be adjusted according to actual needs to create a comfortable work environment. In addition, smart lighting systems have features such as remote control, automatic adjustment, and timed switches, making lighting management more convenient and efficient.
Continuous Advancements in LED Lighting Technology
The rapid development of LED technology also provides technical support for achieving high-efficiency lighting. In recent years, the luminous efficacy of LED chips has been continuously improving, and the performance of the driving power supply has become increasingly stable. This allows LED lighting devices to maintain high brightness while significantly reducing energy consumption. At the same time, the design of LED fixtures is becoming more diversified, meeting the needs of various scenes and applications.
Promoting the Integration of Policies and Market Demand
The government's energy-saving policies provide strong support for the updating and retrofitting of lighting equipment, but changes in market demand also play a role in driving progress. With the enhancement of environmental awareness and the clarification of energy-saving and emission reduction targets, more and more businesses and consumers are paying attention to the energy efficiency of lighting equipment. High-efficiency lighting devices not only reduce operating costs but also enhance the corporate social responsibility image of enterprises. Therefore, the demand for high-efficiency LED lighting equipment in the market is also continuously increasing.
Case Analysis of Lighting Equipment Update and Retrofit
Some public institutions and enterprises have begun to implement the update and retrofit of lighting equipment and have achieved significant energy-saving effects. For example, a large office building in Beijing replaced all traditional lighting equipment with first-level energy-efficient LED fixtures and introduced a smart lighting control system, successfully achieving an annual electricity saving of more than 30%. Additionally, an airport comprehensively upgraded to high-efficiency lighting equipment in its terminal building and optimized lighting management through a smart control system, saving a significant amount of electric power resources each year.
Conclusion
In summary, public institutions should take the lead in using high-efficiency LED fixtures and actively introduce smart lighting control systems for energy-saving in lighting. This can not only significantly reduce energy consumption and improve energy utilization efficiency but also set an example for energy-saving and carbon reduction in other sectors. Through a series of energy-saving measures and technological innovations, we can achieve the goals of energy-saving and carbon reduction and lay the foundation for a more efficient and environmentally friendly societal development. Under the guidance and support of national policies, all types of public institutions, enterprises, and individuals should work together to promote the update and retrofit of lighting equipment, moving towards green and sustainable development.
