Energy Star Lighting – Make a Difference Today

There are very few purchases one can make that truly make a difference in the environment. Hybrid vehicles immediately come to mind, as well as anything made from recycled products – paper and plastic goods especially. Well, there are also major appliances and even lighting fixtures that can make a positive impact on our planet; all you have to do is look for the little blue and white sticker that says "Energy Star."

The Energy Star program was created in 1992 by the EPA as a means to promote energy efficient consumer products in an attempt to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by power plants. Energy efficient computer products were the first to be labeled, with major appliances, office equipment, home electronics, and the topic of this article – lighting – soon to follow.

Energy Star qualified light fixtures, when used with compact fluorescent bulbs, use about 75% less energy than standard light fixtures. This translates into two things – a positive impact on the environment and a lower energy bill to pay each month. To maximize both the energy and money savings, consider replacing the five most used lighting fixtures in your home, or, at the very least, replacing any standard incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents. In most homes the light fixtures with the highest usage are kitchen ceiling lights, living room (family room) table and floor lamps, and outdoor porch lights. If every American home did this, we would save close to $8 billion in energy costs each year while preventing the greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars.

Putting Energy Star lighting in your home used to mean sacrificing style for the energy savings. Not anymore. More lighting manufacturers have started producing Energy Star qualified fixtures in a wide variety of styles and designs as the demand for these energy efficient lights has increased. You can now find Energy Star pendant lights, sconces, chandeliers, and lamps. For a wide variety of Energy Star qualified and solar light fixtures, check out Eco-Lights.com today.