Ok, maybe that title is a bit of an exaggeration…but this is still pretty cool.
Starbucks has a company-wide goal to reduce their energy consumption by a whole 25%. In addition to this reduction goal, Starbucks aims to meet certain LEED requirements. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, “LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.” If you ask me, this seems like a huge goal for a company as big as this behemoth. Do you want to know how they’re tackling this challenge? LEDs, of course!Photo Credit: http://www.greenbuildingsnyc.com/2011/11/30/retro-broadway-lighting-at-high-tech-flagship-starbucks-in-times-square-powered-by-leds/
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In order to meet their goals, Starbucks has been working with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the lighting design firm Focus Lighting. The design team chose 73 PAR30 lamps and 55 MR16 lamps from LED Source and Toshiba that result in up to 80% less energy use and can also last 20 times longer than halogen bulbs. The Times Square Starbucks in the photo above is one of the many Starbucks locations undergoing changes to help make this goal a reality. Here’s to meeting your goals, Starbucks. The future of this planet will likely benefit from your energy do-goodings.
Could you use some good karma? Learn more about energy-saving LED options for your projects. – Your fellow lighting enthusiast, Dr. Bulb