Lighting the LED Revolution

"NC State is embracing LED lighting as an important part of our overall sustainability program. The new LED lights in the Dan Allen parking garage are providing dramatically improved lighting quality while cutting energy use by a third and significantly reducing maintenance costs," said Tom Kendig, director of transportation. "We plan to make energy-efficient LED lights the standard for all new parking decks."

Bragaw roommates Jared Welch and Andrew Wyker are pleased with the new lighting. "The new LED lights look better and save energy. Plus, we can adjust the light levels so we can have full light or significantly less light if one of us is trying to sleep while the other is studying late," Wyker, a sophomore chemistry major, said. "They are bright, but not hot, and they don't break easily. We happened to break a light last year so it's an added bonus."

"I like that fact that we need only three small lights rather than those large old fluorescent tubes to light the whole room," says Welch, a junior who has resided in Bragaw for three years. "It's great that we can be a part of NC State's efforts to save energy and use innovative new technology for better lighting. If it looks better, saves energy and helps the university save money, then it's good for everyone."

Project Highlights

• Half of Bragaw was renovated in the summer of 2008. Those 730 LED lights are providing a 44 percent reduction in energy use, which is significant given that they replaced relatively efficient fluorescent tube lights.
• The remainer of Bragaw was renovated in the summer of 2009 – making it the largest dorm in the U.S. that is lit with energy-efficient LEDs. Go Pack!