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Energy Star Information

What is ENERGY STAR?

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. When you replace light bulbs in your home with ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR, you help preserve energy resources and contribute to a cleaner environment while saving money and time buying and changing lights in your home.

ENERGY STAR qualified lighting provides bright, warm light while it requires 75% less energy than standard lighting, generates 75% less heat, and lasts up to 10 times longer.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

If every household in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing more than 800,000 cars from the road and save more than $600 million in annual energy costs. CFLs provide high-quality light, smart technology, and design, requiring less energy while lasting longer than typical incandescent bulbs.

Earning the ENERGY STAR

• ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs use 75% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent with a 32-watt CFL can save you at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
• ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs operate at less than 100F, they are also safer than typical halogen bulbs, which are frequently used in floor lamps or torchieres and burn at 1,000F. Due to their high heat output, halogens can cause burns and fires. CFLs are cool to the touch.

Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs provide the same amount of light (lumens) as standard incandescent bulbs, but have lower wattage ratings. This means they use less energy and cause less pollution. If you are unfamiliar with the best CFL wattage to use for your lighting needs, always refer to the lumen, or light output on the product packaging as your guide. For example, most 60-watt incandescents provide around 800 lumens, so look for ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs that provide 800 lumens or more. For more information, visit http://www.energystar.gov.

To take the ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World pledge, visit www.energystar.gov/changealight.