WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that Sandia National Laboratory will receive $1.68 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support high-efficiency solid-state lighting research and development projects.
Solid-state lighting, which uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) instead of incandescent bulbs, has the potential to be ten times more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent lighting. Lighting accounts for approximately 24 percent of the total electricity generated in the United States today - by 2030, the development and widespread deployment of cost-effective solid-state lighting could reduce electricity use for lighting by one-third nationally.
"This next generation of lighting is highly efficient and will help Americans cut down on energy costs," said Bingaman, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and is the author of the provision in the 2005 Energy Policy Act that provides the framework by which today's research and development is carried out.
"Sandia National Laboratory has been the leader in developing the cutting edge, energy efficient LED technology that is already producing positive results around the country," said Udall. "This funding will ensure that we continue to build on the advances Sandia has made and save consumers money on their energy bills."
