LEDs were nearly half of the installed base of lighting products in the U.S. in 2020

Federal government research shows a huge leap in the penetration of LEDs in the lighting market from 2010 to 2020.

In 2010 and 2015, LED installations represented 1% and 8% of overall lighting inventory, respectively. By 2020, LED installed units represented roughly 48% of the installed base in residential and commercial sectors.

The findings on LEDs are part of a new Lighting Market Characterization (LMC) report for baseline year 2020 by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The fourth edition of the LMC report contains summary estimates of installed stock and energy use of various general illumination lighting products.

These reports help DOE and others plan effective lighting research and development programs based on changing needs. Other findings include:

In 2020, residences accounted for 80% of all lighting installations nationwide, at 6.5 billion installed units compared with 1.6 billion lighting installations in commercial buildings.
In both the residential and commercial sectors, the average wattage per installed unit has decreased significantly to approximately 22 watts and 27 watts respectively, with much of the reduction attributable to the continuing decline of incandescent, halogen, CFL, and linear fluorescent lamps in favor of high-efficiency LED replacements.
Of the 244 TWh of electricity consumed by lighting in U.S. buildings in 2020, about 69% was attributable to the commercial sector even though the number of installed units was relatively lower due to higher average wattage and longer operating hours.

The report highlights persistent inequities in lighting upgrades based on building type. For instance, educational institutions lag all other commercial building types in adopting the most energy efficient lighting, and mobile homes and multifamily homes likewise lag other residential building types.