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The ENERGY STAR® Residential Lighting Program
Lena Nirk
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode 6202J, 401 M Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20460, United States
Abstract
This paper describes the development, launch and implementation of an Energy Star® Labeling Program for residential luminaires in the United States. The Energy Star programs are voluntary labeling efforts developed by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with industry representatives to encourage the production and promotion of energy-efficient technologies that prevent pollution. The goal of these voluntary programs is to recognize the most energy-efficient products in the market with an Energy Star label.
American homes contain approximately 3 billion fixtures and nearly 85% are incandescent. Research indicates that in the United States, barriers to increasing the penetration of energy efficient lighting in the market include consumer dissatisfaction with the quality and reliability of products, the limited experience that lighting specifiers have with successful efficient fixtures, first cost hurdles and little manufacturer incentive for increasing quality and aesthetics.
EPA is attempting to move the lighting market towards efficiency by using a cooperative process to develop the performance specifications for both indoor and outdoor residential fixtures. Specific market barriers must be overcome for successful launch of the program. Strategic consumer education opportunities and training efforts aimed at the variety of specifiers for residential fixtures are emphasized, as is EPA?s general campaign to promote Energy Star label awareness. Finally, potential measures of market impact, lessons learned and possible areas for international collaboration and/or cooperation are presented.
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