By Jeff Beiter

With the cost of living and work-related expenses continually rising, both home and business owners have been forced to find new and innovative ways to save money and reduce monthly bills.

As a result of this effort, as well as the growing concerns about global warming, a new wave of conservationism has swept the country that includes the purchase of an ever-increasing array of energy-efficient products that range from cars and heating systems to appliances and lighting.

For instance, in March of 2006 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that more than two billion ENERGY STAR® qualified products had been sold throughout the United States. These findings coincided with others from the EPA in 2005 that found that American awareness for the ENERGY STAR campaign had reached 60 percent nationwide.

Most recently, the EPA also confirmed the program’s value by announcing that Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR products, saved about $12 billion on energy bills in 2005, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions that equaled the exhaust of 23 million automobiles. In addition, the study also cited a significant reduction in 2005 energy consumption totaling 150 billion kilowatt hours (kWh).

So, as efforts intensify and Americans look for ways to curb costs and save energy, professionals across the board should continually explore new ways to include energy efficient products into their building and specification packages. The benefits also include the use of ENERGY STAR qualified lighting, which is available at price points and wide ranging styles and finishes to suit the need and budget of nearly any home or office environment.

In terms of quality, today’s energy efficient lighting rivals and even surpasses its traditional counterparts in many ways. For instance, once known for a green hue and slight flicker, ENERGY STAR qualified lighting is rigorously tested to ensure “no-flicker”, “no-hum” operation, instant starts, warmer color output and substantially reduced internal heat gain. They are also safer and easier to manage since they require less bulb changes, are cooler to the touch and reduce emissions of harmful greenhouse gases.

Still unconvinced? Here are several other reasons why your business should include ENERGY STAR lighting in each and every project.

New Regulations

The Energy Information Administration, a statistical branch of the U.S. Department of Energy, recently predicted that American energy consumption will likely increase 30 percent by 2020 and an additional 6 percent by 2025. As a result, many local, state and federal government agencies have begun to develop and implement mandatory regulations designed to greatly reduce energy consumption and foster higher levels of conservation. For instance, The “Residential Lighting Portion of the California 2005 Building Energy Efficiency Standards,” which is commonly also referred to as Title 24 offers detailed high-efficiency lighting requirements for all projects requiring a building permit beyond October 1, 2005. These requirements also impact the use of lighting in nearly every area of the home ranging from the kitchen and bathroom to the garage and home’s exterior.

Help from the EPA

Introduced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the fall of 2003, the ENERGY STAR Advanced Lighting Package (ALP) provides a voluntary construction option that details the use of ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures in homes. Program participants are then rewarded with a wide array of sales support supplied by the EPA and a new method for increasing sales to home and business owners.

Reduced Energy Costs

Home owners can easily save nearly $35 a year by simply switching the five most frequently used lighting fixtures in their homes to ENERGY STAR® products. This is because ENERGY STAR qualified lighting not only uses less energy to produce the same amount of light as traditional fixtures, it is also guaranteed to last more than 10 times longer.

 Advanced Quality

Companies such as Sea Gull Lighting have worked closely with the EPA and others to advance fluorescent lighting technologies and fixture styles to make the latest ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures virtually indistinguishable from their traditional incandescent counterparts. This is because the ENERGY STAR mark is only awarded to products that meet strict EPA criteria for efficacy, color rendition and temperature.

Improved Characteristics

ENERGY STAR qualified lighting products must prove themselves to be long-lasting, use up to 75 percent less energy than traditional lighting products without sacrificing quality, and offer a two-year manufacturer’s warranty.

More Variety

Recognized with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award, Sea Gull Lighting alone manufactures more than 500 ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures in a wide array of styles and finishes – from chandeliers and bath fixtures to outdoor lighting and ceiling fans.

Longer Lasting

ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures use bulbs that last at least 10,000 hours compared to typical incandescent bulbs that last about 750 hours. Thus, ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures used for an average of three hours per day will not require bulb changes for at least seven years substantially reducing the nuisance of buying, stocking and changing new bulbs.

Less Heat Generation

ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures generate 78 percent less heat than standard incandescent lighting, which can translate into cooler rooms during summer months and additional savings on utility costs for air conditioning.

Less Maintenance

Since ENERGY STAR lighting lasts longer, there is less of a need to change bulbs – a distinct plus for seniors and maintenance personnel alike.

 Ongoing Informational Support

For more information about ENERGY STAR qualified lighting, builder, contractors and other professionals are urged to visit www.seagulllighting.com/energystar or www.energystar.gov regarding new programs and other ENERGY STAR qualified lighting advantages.

About the Author

Jeff Beiter joined Sea Gull Lighting Products, Inc in 2003 as the director of business development for the company’s energy efficient products. He is responsible for the sale, marketing and advancement of Sea Gull Lighting’s complete ENERGY STAR® product line consisting of chandeliers, pendants, ceiling lights and fans, sconces, outdoor lighting and recessed lighting.