Lighting accounts for about 17.5% of global electricity use and, within the United States, the majority of lighting energy is consumed in commercial buildings.  Recent innovations in lighting technologies, particularly the development of solid state lighting using light emitting diodes (LEDs), hold significant long-term potential for energy savings in the commercial building sector.  According to a new report from Pike Research, LED lighting will become an increasingly important segment of the market, and by 2020 it will achieve a 46% penetration of the $4.4 billion U.S. market  for lamps in the commercial, industrial, and outdoor stationary sectors.

“LED lighting will reach an inflection point in the next five years,” says managing director Clint Wheelock.  “As solid state lighting costs come down and performance increases, LEDs will become a practical option for an increasing number of commercial applications.”  Wheelock adds that LEDs are already widely used in traffic signals and exit sign lighting, and Pike Research anticipates that those markets will become saturated within the next few years.  The outdoor stationary sector will be the next growth area for LED lighting, followed by retail and office/professional and institutional buildings.

However, despite the strong long-term prospects for LED lighting, Pike Research’s analysis indicates that the category still faces a number of technological and economic hurdles.  As a result, while the cost and efficacy of solid state lighting are rapidly improving, it will be a number of years before LEDs lead the commercial lighting market.  During this period of transition, fluorescent T8 and T5 lamps, which offer good efficacy and life at very reasonable prices, will overtake incandescent lamps as the leading technology prior to the coming of age for LED lighting products.

Pike Research’s study, “Energy Efficient Lighting for Commercial Markets”, examines the key technology and market trends that are driving the use of LED and other high-efficiency lighting in the Commercial, Industrial, and Outdoor Stationary sectors.  The report includes a 10-year forecast for lamp and luminaire sales in the U.S. across 10 different lighting technology categories in seven major building types and application sectors.  In addition, the study provides SWOT analyses of 16 key industry players.  An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website. 

Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets.  The company’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Clean Transportation, Clean Industry, Corporate Sustainability, and Building Efficiency sectors.  For more information, visit www.pikeresearch.com.