Energy Star: Lighting Fixtures
Light fixtures that have earned the ENERGY STAR combine quality and attractive design with the highest levels of energy efficiency available today.
- Use 1/4 the energy of traditional lighting.
- Save money on energy bills and bulb replacements, with bulbs that must last at least 10,000 hours (about seven years of regular use).
- Distribute light more efficiently and evenly than standard fixtures.
- Come in hundreds of decorative styles including portable fixtures - such as table, desk and floor lamps - and hard-wired options such as front porch, dining room, kitchen ceiling and under-cabinet, hallway ceiling and wall, bathroom vanity fixtures, and more.
- Deliver convenient features such as dimming on some indoor models and automatic daylight shut-off and motion sensors on outdoor models.
- Can be found at most home centers, lighting showrooms, and specialty stores.
- Carry a two year warranty - double the industry standard.
- Use 1/4 the energy of traditional lighting.
- Save money on energy bills and bulb replacements, with bulbs that must last at least 10,000 hours (about seven years of regular use).
- Distribute light more efficiently and evenly than standard fixtures.
Light Bulbs (CFLs)
An ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.
FUN FACT:
If every American home replaced just one light with an ENERGY STAR light, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars.
Lamps
ENERGY STAR qualified desk lamps or compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) provide high-quality light output, use 75% less energy, and last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs, saving money on energy bills and replacement costs.
Vanity
The bathroom vanity is one of the most used fixtures in the average home.
ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs provide bright, warm light, use less energy, and generate less heat than standard lighting.
Keep in mind that high humidity can shorten the life of CFLs. To avoid moisture problems, control humidity in your bathroom by running your ventilating fan during and 15 minutes after showers and baths.
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fan/light combination units that have earned the ENERGY STAR are about 50% more efficient than conventional fan/light units. This can save you more than $15 per year on utility bills.
Ceiling Fans Performance Components
Motor
Basically, there are two types of ceiling fan motors: those with sealed and lubricated ball bearings and those with bearings that rotate in an oil bath. Lubrication provides smooth operation and contributes to the longevity of the motor. Motors with sealed bearings require little or no maintenance whereas motors with oil baths need occasional service, such as adding oil.
Motor Grade
- Performance Grade fans — Use larger and more powerful motors that are designed for continuous use and quiet operation. These are usually the most expensive models
- Medium Grade fans are suitable for operating 12 hours or less per day.
- Moderate or Economy Grade fans work best in a room with 8-foot ceilings, running no more than 8 hours a day. Least are the most inexpensive ceiling fans
Motor Housing
The housing is the decorative body of the fan that encloses the fan motor. Fans that use heavier materials, such as die cast metals, for housing tend to vibrate less, provide more stability for longer downrods, and provide a good surface for high quality finishes.
Other features that ensure longevity and quiet operation include heavy-duty windings, precision engineering bearings, and shock-absorbent internal components. These features are commonly found in more expensive ceiling fan models.
Blade
Pitch is the angle of the fan's blades, and it's measured in degrees. Higher blade pitches usually move more air, which is given in cubic feet per minute, or CFM. However, blade pitch alone does not determine air movement. Other factors such as the motor design and speed, as well as blade design, material, number, and length can contribute to the amount of air movement. Higher pitch is NOT always better — some models offer a higher blade pitch to compensate for a smaller, less efficient motor.
Blades should be sealed from moisture to prevent warping, bubbling, or peeling. Some manufacturers offer special coatings on metal finishes to prevent scratches or tarnishing.
High quality blades are weighed and balanced prior to shipment and come in factory-matched sets. For this reason, they cannot be switched out with other fans. For flexibility in design, a number of manufacturers offer a variety of blade styles and finishes for a particular fan. However, changing the blade style could affect the performance of the fan.
Controls
Most residential ceiling fans (and all ENERGY STAR qualified fans) feature the ability to reverse the motor and airflow direction, allowing you to operate the fan year-round. This control is usually found on the fan's switch housing.