The 350+ competitively selected solid-state lighting R&D projects funded to date have resulted in 480+ patents (applied for or awarded) and a huge industry footprint. More than 360 products can be directly traced to DOE-funded SSL R&D, and millions of LED products on the market today have some DOE R&D inside. Those products have contributed to an estimated 300 billion kWh saved, or $37 billion in energy costs avoided, per year through 2025. DOE SSL R&D funding involves a broad mix of partners—from universities to national laboratories, to big businesses to small businesses, and to familiar names in the lighting industry to new players.
- SSL Patents Resulting from DOE-Funded Projects (Fact sheet, April 2023)
- SSL Commercial Product Development Resulting from DOE-Funded Projects (Fact sheet, April 2023)
But the impacts of DOE’s SSL program go well beyond funding individual R&D projects. DOE’s advanced lighting science and technology research, conducted primarily by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, focuses on next-generation efficiency potential of SSL to deliver the right amount, spectrum, and distribution of light to the right place at the right time. This research focuses on applications where existing lighting energy usage is high or where rapid growth in lighting energy usage is expected.
DOE leadership and technical support assist industry in the development of guidance, metrics, test methods, and tools for SSL.
- ANSI/IES TM-37 details causes of sky glow, evaluation method, and recommendations. Learn more.
- DOE and industry efforts drive development of guidance and tools related to the issue of flicker. Learn more.
- IES TM-30 offers comprehensive system for evaluating color rendition of light sources. Learn more.