ENERGY STAR - a snapshot view

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intended to both save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices. The ENERGY STAR label can apply to efficient new homes and other buildings, as well as residential and commercial products.

The LED Benefit: The ENERGY STAR Solid-State Lighting Program launched in September 2008 allows manufacturers to submit products for qualification. Today, only certain LED fixtures may earn the label, including under-cabinet lights, shelf-mounted display and task lights, and recessed downlights, with many others planned for acceptance by 2011.

To qualify, products must have at least a 3-year warranty, a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of at least 75 for indoor products, and a lifetime (based on 70% of initial lumens) of at least 25,000 hours for residential indoor luminaires and 35,000 hours for residential outdoor luminaires and all commercial luminaires. They must also meet specific criteria for Correlated Color Temperature (CCT), Color Spatial Uniformity, Color Maintenance, Color Uniformity, off-state power consumption, power supplies, and outdoor residential luminaire daylight controls.

Because the Solid-State Lighting Program is still in its early stages, you can expect to see an increasing number of products qualifying for the label in 2009 and beyond.

For more comprehensive information:

ENERGY STAR Program for Solid-State Lighting

FAQ about ENERGY STAR for Solid-State Lighting

ENERGY STAR homepage