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Deploy LED Lighting

Scientific Reports

Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APEngineering

This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Project Drawdown
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What it is

  • This interactive report from Project Drawdown details how replacing inefficient light fixtures with LEDs can lower energy use in buildings and act as a climate mitigation solution.
  • The report lays out the current rate of LED usage, a map of global adoption, how effective this action is as a climate solution over time, the costs associated with this solution, and the benefits of increasing the use of LEDs.

Teaching tips

Positives
  • Students will appreciate the definition pop-ups that appear when hovering over highlighted terms.
  • The report includes a variety of charts and graphs that help show the information clearly, such as how LEDs compare to other light solutions.
Prerequisites
  • Students should understand climate change and the role of electricity generation in creating greenhouse gas emissions.
Differentiation & Implementation
  • Using this report and other resources, students can create a guide for homeowners, detailing how to make their homes climate-friendly.
  • Teachers can pair the report with this video and discuss how students can take actions inspired by the interviewee and supported by the knowledge they gained from reading the report.
  • To make connections to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, teachers can point to the fact that there are health-related co-benefits, making this solution one that will address both SDG 13, Climate Action, and SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being.

From the scientist review

This resource discusses the adoption of LED lighting as a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This resource is well-sourced, citing many peer-reviewed sources, and key vocabulary is defined in the text. A key reinforcing interaction is highlighted, that LED lights produce less heat than incandescent, and thus can reduce cooling energy requirements in warm climates. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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