It’s such a shame when good green intentions leave consumers frustrated with the results. Have you been hearing from people in your community that energy efficient bulbs may not be all they’re cracked up to be? Some people have said they bought a CFL or LED and it just didn’t perform. It makes them want to shift back to energy-wasting incandescents, just so they can have reliable light. Plus, they end up telling their own communities about their negative experience. One bad egg spoils the whole bunch, except this time, it’s a bad bulb!
Why exactly does this happen? As with all consumer products, the label makes a big difference—bulbs that have earned the EPA ENERGY STAR save significant amounts of energy and money because they are independently certified to save energy, undergoing extensive testing to ensure high quality and the performance you expect. Most people who go shopping for an LED probably look for the words “energy saving,” which any company can slap on any bulb. What they really need to be looking for is the ENERGY STAR label.
LED bulbs offer one of the most effective and affordable ways we can save energy and money. The best LEDs are those that have been independently certified to meet ENERGY STAR criteria to deliver the high quality and performance consumers want and have a right to expect. The best, most reliable LEDs bear the ENERGY STAR label. Here are specific reasons why it is important to encourage consumers to purchase ENERGY STAR-labeled LEDs.
FIRST, WHY SHIFT TO LEDS?
Making the shift to energy-efficient lighting offers big benefits for people, the planet, and our pocketbooks.
PEOPLE – LEDs help reduce air pollution, making the air healthier to breathe for kids and others who suffer from asthma, heart disease and many respiratory ailments.
- Reduce air pollution – Most household energy still comes from coal-burning power plants. About 25% of the energy we use at home powers our lighting – from ceiling fixtures and under-counter lights to table and bedside lamps. An LED uses 75% less energy than a standard bulb, limiting the need to burn that much more coal.
PLANET – Speaking of energy, if every household replaced just one light bulb with one that has earned the ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light three million homes for a whole year.
- Reduce climate change – We would also prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 800,000 vehicles. LEDs are a terrific solution to climate change.
POCKETBOOK – Any time we save energy, we save money. Though an LED bulb costs a little more up front, it saves a whole lot more during the life of the bulb.
- Save money – According to ENERGY STAR, a single LED bulb can save $80 in electricity costs over the lifetime of the product.
PLUS – LED technology is so efficient, one bulb can last as long as 20 years or 25,000 hours. That’s particularly convenient for hard-to-reach places like ceilings and outdoor fixtures.
WHY PREFER AN ENERGY STAR LED? BETTER QUALITY, MORE SAVINGS!
Some LEDs claim to save energy but fall far short when it comes to what they actually deliver. ENERGY STAR means high quality and reliable performance, particularly in the following areas:
- Long Lasting: ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs are put through rigorous long term testing to simulate real life use and carry a minimum 3 year warranty. That’s why one LED bulb can last more than 20 years!
- Energy Savings: ENERGY STAR certified LEDs use 70-90% less energy than standard bulbs, and last up to 25 times longer.
- Money Savings: A single LED bulb can save $80 in electricity costs over the lifetime of the product. That means you’ll save $80 on every LED you install.
- Light Distribution: LED bulbs that have earned the ENERGY STAR will match the light distribution of the incandescent bulbs they advertise they are replacing.
- Color Quality: 6 different color metrics are used to make sure that consumers get the best color quality from the first day of purchase to after years of use.
- Dimmability: All ENERGY STAR certified bulbs must indicate on the front of the package whether or not they are dimmable. If they are, a list of compatible dimmers must be provided.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR AN LED TO GET ENERGY STAR CERTIFIED?
- All ENERGY STAR certified lighting products are subject to thorough testing and review before they can bear the label, including:
- Verified compliance with more than 20 separate industry standards and procedures
- Third-party testing of products off the retail shelf
- Rapid cycling of bulbs thousands of times to find early failures
- Testing to stress the products in operating environments similar to how you will use the product in your home
With 70% of U.S. light sockets still containing inefficient bulbs, there is huge potential for American consumers to find lighting options that save them energy, money and help protect the environment from climate change. LED bulbs are quickly gaining steam as the most innovative and long lasting alternative to incandescent bulbs.
The great news – ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs are experiencing dramatic changes in price! At some stores you can now buy an ENERGY STAR LED bulb for as low as $5 with in-store rebates. But remember, even if the bulb costs $10, it will save you $80 in reduced electricity costs over its lifetime.
ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that has been helping businesses and individuals save money and protect our air and climate through superior energy efficiency for over 20 years.
To learn more about ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs, visit www.energystar.gov/lighting
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