EPA Energy Star Programs:
Green Lights (page 1 of 2)
HOW IS GREEN LIGHTS MAKING A DIFFERENCE?
Lighting accounts for 20 to 25 percent of all electricity sold in the
United States. Too often, organizations treat lighting as overhead
rather than as an opportunity for investment. By changing this
mindset and joining Green Lights, participants realize average rates
of return on their initial investment of 30 percent or more. They
reduce their lighting electricity bill by more than half while
maintaining and often improving lighting quality.
If Green Lights were fully implemented in all facility space in the
United States, it would save over 65 million kilowatts of electricity
annually, reducing the national electric bill by $16 billion per year.
These savings could then be invested in new jobs and enhanced
productivity. In addition, Green Lights would result in reductions of
carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides equivalent to 12
percent of U.S. utility emissions, curbing acid rain and smog and
helping to slow the greenhouse effect.
WHO ARE GREEN LIGHTS PARTICIPANTS
The Green Lights roster includes all kinds of organizations from all
over the country. In less than 3 years, over 1,150 Partners, Allies,
and Endorsers have joined the program. Partners include corporations
of all sizes, non-profit organizations, and federal, state, and local
government agencies. Health care facilities, universities and
colleges, and restaurants and hotel chains are just a few examples of
the organizations that have teamed up with EPA to upgrade their
lighting systems.
WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS COMMIT TO?
Green Lights asks its members to sign a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with EPA. In the MOU, participants agree to survey 100 percent
of their facilities and, within five years of signing the MOU, to
upgrade 90 percent of the square footage that can be upgraded
profitably without compromising lighting quality. Participants also
agree to appoint an implementation manager to oversee their progress
in the program, and to report at least annually to EPA on their
upgrade progress.
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Last updated December 31, 1995.