Join the new lighting standard and save with High-Efficiency ENERGY STAR® Lighting

New Britain, CONN. (Oct. 28, 2013) – Autumn is here and as the days are getting shorter, the lights are going to be on longer. Did you know that lighting accounts for nearly 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill? With daylight-saving time ending, energy-efficient advancements in lighting present an opportunity for consumers to make smart choices to reduce those bills. How can you as a consumer make the right choice?

To start, choosing to install ENERGY STAR®-certified compact florescent lights (CFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs) will provide measurable results. What’s more, there is an energy-efficient bulb for nearly every application in the home. However, there are a number of things to think about such as location, fixture, brightness and color.

The Latest Advancements

LEDs are the latest in energy-efficient lighting technology and are changing the future of lighting in the United States. LEDs can use up to 80 percent less energy and last up to 25 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs.
LEDs are made of durable plastic instead of glass and do not contain mercury or hazardous materials.
LEDs also light up immediately, even in the cold weather and remain cool to touch. Most LED bulbs are dimmable and work well with dimmer switches designed for compatibility with energy-efficient lighting. The color and brightness of the light is now similar to a traditional incandescent bulb – based on the end use, you may want to choose from day light, cool white and soft white options. There are guides to help you choose the right bulb on the package and at most retail outlets.

More LED Features

• Light Source: LEDs are the size of a fleck of pepper, and a mix of red, green, and blue LEDs is typically used to make white light.

• Direction: LEDs emit light in a specific direction, reducing the need for reflectors and diffusers that can trap light. This feature makes LEDs more efficient for many uses such as recessed down lights and task lighting. With other types of lighting, the light must be reflected to the desired direction.

• Heat: LEDs emit very little heat. In comparison, incandescent bulbs release 90 percent of their energy as heat and CFLs release about 80 percent of their energy as heat.

Switching from traditional incandescent light bulbs to CFLs or LEDs is a simple, yet effective way to reduce energy use in your home. Not only will these bulbs reduce energy, they will help save money on energy bills and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change.

To help consumers make the switch to LEDs, discounts are now available through Energize Connecticut,and prices are dropping as the lighting becomes more common. For more information on energy-saving programs and services supported by Energize Connecticut, call 1-877-WISE-USE or visit:EnergizeCT.com.