“If each household in the U.S. switched the lighting in just one room to Energy Star, we’d save enough energy to light more than 34 million homes and prevent one trillion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions,” says U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acting administrator Marianne Horinko.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acting administrator spoke at the launch earlier this year of the the government’s 2003 Change a Light, Change the World campaign, which encourages Americans to switch to bulbs and fixtures that have earned the Energy Star label, to save energy, money, and protect the environment.

By replacing the five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs at home with models that have earned the Energy Star, “a household can save more than $60 a year in energy costs while enjoying the latest in style, design, convenience and efficiency,” Horinko said.

Energy Star lights include compact fluorescent light bulbs. The EPA says that if every household in the United States replaced one light bulb with an Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent bulb, it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the road.

There are also Energy Star rated fixtures that can now be found at most home centers, lighting showrooms, and specialty stores. These fixtures must last at least 10,000 hours and some last up to 20,000 hours. This means that with regular use – 3.5 hours a day – the bulbs will last for at least seven years.

Energy Star qualified fixtures can be torchieres, under and over cabinets in the kitchen, ceiling mounted lights, wall sconces, suspended fixtures and outdoor lighting, including motion sensor fixtures.

The EPA, working with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), began the national campaign with an energy efficient lighting makeover at the Thomas Edison Winter Home in Fort Myers, Florida.

The home’s outdoor lamp posts and porch lights are being changed to bulbs and fixtures that have earned the Energy Star. This change coincides with the upcoming 125th anniversary of Edison’s own light bulb invention.

Energy Star qualified lighting lasts six to 10 times longer than traditional lighting, and operates on two-thirds less energy.

Lighting products that have earned the label generate about 70 percent less heat than incandescent lighting, which means they are cool to the touch and help reduce energy costs associated with cooling the home.

During October and November, EPA and DOE are partnering with hundreds of manufacturers, retailers, state governments, utilities, and regional energy efficiency organizations throughout the United States to make finding and buying energy-efficient light bulbs and fixtures easier.

Local, regional, and national activities include lighting change out events and special offers from participating retail, manufacturer, and regional utility partners to help consumers save on light bulbs and fixtures that have earned the Energy Star.
Provided by theEnvironmental News Service.