Home
ENERGY STAR Qualified Lighting
Saves Money with Style
Choosing more efficient light bulbs or light fixtures can make a big difference on utility bills and for the environment. Replacing the five most frequently used light fixtures in a home with ENERGY STAR qualified lighting can save about $65 each year in energy costs.
BENEFITS OF ENERGY STAR QUALIFIED FIXTURES AND BULBS
- Cost Savings. An ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) uses about 75 percent less energy than a comparable standard incandescent bulb. Replacing a 60-watt incandescent with a 13-watt CFL can save more than $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
- Improved Safety. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs operate at less than 100oF and are safer than the halogen bulbs typically used in floor lamps or torchieres, which burn at 1,000oF. Halogen bulbs, when improperly handled, can cause burns and fires due to their high heat output.
- Enhanced Comfort. Compared to standard incandescent bulbs, ENERGY STAR
qualified CFLs generate about 75 percent less heat.
This means they are cool to the touch, help reduce home cooling costs, and keep homes more comfortable. - Durability. ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures and bulbs meet strict
guidelines for longevity. Pin-based fixtures must last 10,000 hours,
about 10 times longer than standard. CFLs must last 6,000 hours. In addition, ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures come with a 2-year
warranty—double the industry standard.
Purchasing Tips
- To save money on utility bills, use ENERGY STAR qualified lighting in high traffic areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, stairs, and hallways.
- Use ENERGY STAR qualified lighting in hard-to reach places as these
products last longer and do not need to be changed as often as
conventional lighting. - Choose “warm” color temperature bulbs (<3200 degrees Kelvin), which are most comparable to incandescent light.
- Look for lumens (light output) on the product packaging to determine appropriate wattage. For example, most 60-watt incandescent bulbs provide around 800 lumens, so look for an equivalent amount of lumens when shopping for a comparable CFL.
ENERGY STAR ADVANCED LIGHTING PACKAGE
The ENERGY STAR Advanced Lighting Package (ALP) designation identifies homes
equipped with a comprehensive set of ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures.
Because these energy-efficient fixtures come in many designs and types,
homeowners have a wide range of choices to create the atmosphere they want for
their home. Below are some examples of the cost savings that can be expected
from ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures over 7 years - the average length of home
ownership.
1. Conventional Fixture = 100 watts. ENERGY STAR Qualified Fixture = 26 watts.
2. Comparisons are based on a qualified fixture’s pin-based bulb’s lifetime of
10,000 hours (about 7 years with an average use of 3.5 hours per day) and an
incandescent bulb’s lifetime of 1,000 hours at $.085 per kWh, $0.50 per
incandescent bulb.
A BETTER FUTURE
ENERGY STAR is a voluntary partnership between the government and more than 9,000 organizations, including more than 3,500 of the nation’s home builders. Together with home buyers and their families, we are working to achieve a common goal—protecting the environment for future generations by changing to more energy-efficient practices and products today.
ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. It
identifies new homes, buildings, and more than 50 types of products that are
energy efficient and offer the features, quality, and performance that today’s
consumers expect. Products that can earn the
ENERGY STAR include windows, heating and cooling equipment, lighting, and
appliances. To learn more about ENERGY STAR, visit
www.energystar.gov.
More About Energy Star
