LED Lighting - Engineering Trial

A majority of the lighting in the University of Adelaide is provided by fluorescent lights. While fluorescent lighting is more energy efficient than incandescent, there are alternatives appearing that consume even less energy. This project is a trial of LED technology in the Mechanical Engineering office and workshops areas, funded through the 2012 Green Project Fund.

Faculty/School/Unit: Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Mechanical Engineering

Project Goals & Objectives

• Reduce the overall electricity consumption from lighting in the Mechanical Engineering main workshop 
• Measure the relative efficiency of using of LED lighting as opposed to traditional fluorescent lighting 
• Understand lighting quality and LED retrofit applications across the University.

Green Project Fund: $14,700
Payback Period: 6 years

This project proposes an LED fluorescent tube retrofit in the Department of Mechanical Engineering workshop and associated office spaces and work areas. LED lighting has a significantly lower running cost compared with fluorescent tube lighting. In comparison to fluorescent lighting, LED tubes are considerably more expensive (approximately $60.00 – as opposed to between $4 and $6 per tube), however, the lifespan of the tube is approximately 3-4 times more than that of a fluorescent tube, saving maintenance costs.

Lead Project Representative: Philip Schmidt

Office of Sustainability Contact: Libby Dowling