Energy Star Lighting came to be through the partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to save energy. The lighting category was one of the first to be targeted and implemented through the partnership of many organizations; the changes affected lighting fixtures, bulbs and LED lighting.

Energy Star Lighting fixtures use 75% less energy than incandescent fixtures, are cooler than incandescent bulbs and offer a 2 year warranty on their fixtures. There are hundreds of decorative styles of lighting fixtures available in the current market compared to years ago when the only available fixture was the flickering blue light bar over the bathroom sink.

Energy Star fixtures distribute light more efficiently than the traditional light fixtures while consuming only a quarter of the energy. Energy Star fixtures require a compact fluorescent light bulb (or CFL) which lasts up to 10 times longer than a regular incandescent bulb. With CFLs you have an option for your “color” light: soft white is the standard color that incandescent bulbs give off, cool white is brighter and used for work spaces and lastly, daylight, which gives off a natural light that is good for reading. You may be familiar with the spiral-shaped bulb, it’s the most popular type of Energy Star bulb. Energy Star bulbs are available in the globe-shaped style as well for when the bulb is visible to the eye as in ceiling pendants. Globe-shaped bulbs are actually spiral bulbs that have a decorative covering.

LED lighting is the fastest growing lighting technology due to the fact that it uses 75% less energy than your standard incandescent bulb and is much cooler than both the incandescent and the fluorescent bulb. LED bulbs are actually light-emitting diodes, a light source which is created by the movement of electrons through a semiconductor source. LED lighting lasts much longer than other types of bulbs, a minimum of 25,000 hours, and is more durable than standard bulbs as they don’t have the glass covering so they won’t break like your standard light bulb. The use of Energy Star products whether it be fixtures, bulbs or LED lighting saves money on energy bills and bulb replacements, distributes light more efficiently, generates less heat and reduces pollution, all winning strategies for an energy-saving household.

To learn more about LED lighting or lighting design, visit Spotlighting by Bellacor.