Energy Star Program1

At the last month Barack Obama announced his plan to limit US petrol consumption and reinvigorate the domestic motor industry.

In the U.S. market, as President Barack Obama announced stricter environmental requirements for cars sold there.The American president announced plans that would require carmakers to increase the average fuel economy of their full slate of auto models to 35.5 miles per gallon or 15.1 kilometers per liter by 2016. That is 10 miles per gallon more than current regulations require. Passenger cars will have to come in over an average of 39 miles per gallon, or 30 miles per gallon for light trucks.

I think his announcement has several meanings. First in his words, He want to protect american car makers. Second, He emphasize the eco-friendly.

You know, Eco-friendly or Earth-friendly policy come from Reduction of Energy Usages. Many people(NGOs or Business Coporates) made Efforts to reduce energy usages. Especially decades ago, Energy Star program was created in 1992 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in an attempt to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission by power plants.  Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have also adopted the program. Devices carrying the Energy Star logo, such as computer products and peripherals, kitchen appliances, buildings and other products, save 20%-30% on average.[1] However, many European-targeted products are labeled using a different standard, TCO Certification, a combined energy usage and ergonomics rating from the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO) instead of Energy Star.

According to the Energy Star Program, there are some kinds of categories. But Today I am writting about Lighting

Lighting

The ENERGY STAR is awarded to only certain bulbs that meet strict efficiency, quality, and lifetime criteria.

ENERGY STAR qualified fluorescent lighting uses 75% less energy and lasts up to ten times longer than normal incandescent lights.

ENERGY STAR Qualified Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lighting:

• *Reduces energy costs — uses at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting, saving on operating expenses.
• Reduces maintenance costs — lasts 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting and about 2 to 5 times longer than fluorescent lighting. No bulb-replacements, no ladders, no ongoing disposal program.
• Reduces cooling costs — LEDs produce very little heat.
• Is guaranteed — comes with a minimum three-year warranty — far beyond the industry standard.
• Offers convenient features — available with dimming on some indoor models and automatic daylight shut-off and motion sensors on some outdoor models.
• Is durable — won’t break like a bulb.

To qualify for ENERGY STAR certification, LED lighting products must pass a variety of tests to prove that the products will display the following characteristics:

• *Brightness is equal to or greater than existing lighting technologies (incandescent or fluorescent) and light is well distributed over the area lighted by the fixture.
• Light output remains constant over time, only decreasing towards the end of the rated lifetime (at least 35,000 hours or 12 years based on use of 8 hours per day).
• Excellent color quality. The shade of white light appears clear and consistent over time.
• Efficiency is as good as or better than fluorescent lighting.
• Light comes on instantly when turned on.
• No flicker when dimmed.
• No off-state power draw. The fixture does not use power when it is turned off, with the exception of external controls, whose power should not exceed 0.5 watts in the off state.

In detail, Exit Sign

Equipment	Specification
exit signs	Operates on 5 watts or less per sign

For ENERGY STAR Qualified Exit Sings(Version 3.0), Click here EXIT SIGNS

Also We can get the Service & Porduct Providers List in the above linked site.

By doing access to this site, We can get tips for saving our money.