On April 21, Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Representative Peter Welch and Representative Emanuel Cleaver to demonstrate new dimmable LED lighting technology in the Rayburn Cafeteria. The new technologies the AOC is using include advanced lighting control management, daylight harvesting, automated solar shades, and LED lighting fixtures. What’s different about this project is the AOC has integrated all of these technologies into one system to save even more energy than by using them independently.  In just a short time, energy consumption in the cafeteria has decrease by more than 70 percent.  
 
“By making the Rayburn cafeteria building the first government facility to combine the energy efficient LED lighting with advanced building controls, total energy savings will reach 80 percent. In making this change, we are flipping the switch on a greener future for Congress and setting the standard for sustainable living nationwide,” noted Speaker Pelosi.

“Over the past several years we have been working to create a healthy and productive workplace where environmental awareness and sustainability are the normal ways of doing business,” said Mr. Ayers. “Our individual actions can add up to a tremendous collective effort to save energy, and as stewards of the Capitol campus, it is vital that we continue to do our part to improve energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of the U.S. Capitol complex.”