Navigant Consulting Delivers Two Studies That Estimate Significant Savings from Solid State Lighting

Business Wire, Nov 13, 2003

Energy Editors/Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 2003

Navigant Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:NCI) delivered two studies to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today that analyze and estimate energy savings from solid state lighting - light emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) -- in niche applications today and general lighting applications in the future. This research, funded by DOE, found that energy savings to date from LEDs exceed the power produced from one large electric power plant -- more than 8 billion kilowatt-hours. If solid state lighting achieves its price and performance targets, over the next two decades more than 30 percent of the estimated lighting energy consumption will not be needed, representing billions of dollars of savings for consumers.

"Today's energy savings from LEDs are significant -- and we expect to see continuing progress in energy and cost savings over the next 20 years," commented Michael Rivest, a Managing Director at Navigant Consulting who directed the two studies. "If solid state lighting achieves the projected price and performance targets, our model estimates that 3.5 quadrillion BTUs of energy could be saved - more than three times the total annual energy consumption of the state of Oregon."

The study titled "Energy Savings Estimate of Light Emitting Diodes in Niche Lighting Applications" found that LED traffic signals use only 10 percent of the electricity consumed by the incandescent lamps they replace. In other words, 90 percent of the electricity bill that municipalities pay can be eliminated. Moreover, LED signals last several times longer, allowing for additional savings through reduced maintenance costs. Exit signs are identified as another important niche application, where an estimated 80 percent of the U.S. installed base of exit signs is now LED.

LEDs have also made inroads into mobile applications such as brake and signal lights on trucks, buses and automobiles. In the report, the energy savings of these applications are reported in gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel because the electricity is generated on-board. To date, 41 million gallons of gasoline and 142 million gallons of diesel fuel are saved annually because of LED use on these vehicles. If the entire fleet of automobiles, trucks and buses were to convert to LED lighting, 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline and 1.1 billion gallons of diesel fuel could be saved each year. In gasoline, that is the energy equivalent of 30 days of oil flow in the Alaskan pipeline at full capacity; and, in diesel, that represents 12 days of national consumption.

The study titled "Energy Savings Potential of Solid State Lighting in General Illumination Applications" estimated energy savings potential if solid state lighting can achieve certain price and performance criteria. The report considered two scenarios - one where the technology receives a moderate national investment of $50 million per year and an accelerated scenario based on an investment of $100 million per year. Solid state lighting achieves different cost, efficiency and durability targets under each scenario.

Under the moderate investment scenario, in 2025 the energy savings associated with solid state lighting will total approximately 114 billion kilowatt-hours, or the equivalent electrical output of about 14 large power plants. Under the accelerated investment scenario, in 2025 the total energy savings is nearly three times that - reaching 326 billion kilowatt-hours, representing more than 40 large power plants. Over the analysis period of 2005 to 2025, the cumulative energy savings under the accelerated investment scenario total nearly 1,850 billion kilowatt-hours, which equates to more than $120 billion in electricity bill savings for the United States over that time period.

Copies of these reports, Energy Savings Estimates of Light Emitting Diodes in Niche Lighting Applications and Energy Savings Potential of Solid State Lighting in General Illumination Applications are available on the Internet under the publications section of http://www.netl.doe.gov/ssl

About Navigant Consulting

Navigant Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:NCI) is a specialized independent consulting firm providing litigation, financial, restructuring, energy and operational consulting services to government agencies, legal counsel and large companies facing the challenges of uncertainty, risk, distress and significant change. The Company focuses on industries undergoing substantial regulatory or structural change and on the issues driving these transformations. "Navigant" is a service mark of Navigant International, Inc. Navigant Consulting, Inc. (NCI) is not affiliated, associated, or in any way connected with Navigant International, Inc. and NCI's use of "Navigant" is made under license from Navigant International, Inc. More information about Navigant Consulting can be obtained on the Company's website address, www.navigantconsulting.com.