Lighting solutions have been developed and analyzed for five types of retail stores--big box, small box, grocery, specialty market and pharmacy--and solutions for other sectors are planned. DOE officials say the solutions--complete with lighting layouts, specifications, daylighting design, control schemes and commissioning guidance--meet or exceed the savings levels to qualify for Energy Policy Act tax incentives.

The site offers a choice of several design vignettes and lighting control strategies that suit parameters users input for their project. A solution can be implemented as shown or used as a starting point for a design refined to serve particular corporate brand, architectural objective or business need. The tool is free to use.

Lighting is typically the biggest energy expense for small retailers and offices, representing about 26% of total energy costs, statistics show. But new technologies can help cut costs, including solid-state lighting (SSL), which uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes, or polymer light-emitting diodes as sources of lighting rather than traditional electrical filaments or gas. "SSL creates visible light with less heat generation than traditional lighting, which results in less energy usage," the DOE notes. "Additionally, SSL is more resistant to damage and will last longer than conventional lighting."

Other options include:

• Spectrally enhanced lighting, or lighting with higher color temperatures. Lamps with higher CCT appear brighter than those with lower CCT, so the wattage can be decreased without affecting perceived brightness.
• Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which produce less heat and last longer than standard incandescent bulbs.
• High-efficiency T8 and T5 fluorescent tubes which last up to 16 years because the use electronic instead of magnetic ballasts.
• Occupancy sensors and dimmers in break rooms, restrooms and conference rooms.