Millions of ENERGY STAR LED Bulbs Sold in Groundbreaking U.S. Challenge
The results are in, and U.S. retailers sold over 20 million ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs, in a first-of-its-kind challenge by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Replacing this many traditional bulbs will save Americans more than $118 million each year in energy costs and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 3.5 million vehicles.
“EPA congratulates the many retailers, manufacturers and utility efficiency programs who contributed to a cleaner environment by helping to reach this goal,” said Ann Bailey, ENERGY STAR Labeling Branch Director. “Together with our partners, we are excited about the potential to fundamentally change the way Americans light their homes with ENERGY STAR LED lighting.”
Over the year, between Earth Day 2013 and Earth Day 2014, retailers from across the country participated in the challenge, including Ace Hardware, Best Buy, Costco, Lowe’s, Metro Lighting, Bulbs.com, and The Home Depot, in addition to various electrical distributors and online retailers. They educated consumers about the benefits of ENERGY STAR certified LEDs, promoting their attributes in circulars, online and with in-store displays. In addition, utility rebates assisted in pricing these bulbs competitively, making them a real option for the average consumer. While reported sales reached the 20 million bulb challenge, EPA estimates that total sales of ENERGY STAR certified LEDs topped 45 million last year.
Promoting LED bulbs that have earned the ENERGY STAR is a priority for retailers who want to give customers the very best LED bulb experience. Serving as a government-backed “seal of approval,” the ENERGY STAR label indicates the bulb has been independently certified, undergoing extensive testing to assure it performs as promised, delivering on brightness and matching the light distribution of traditional bulbs.
Cool Facts: ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs use 70-90% less energy and can last 25 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb. A single new light bulb that has earned the ENERGY STAR can save $40-$135 in electricity costs over its lifetime.
Products, homes and buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR label prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency requirements set by the U.S. EPA. From the first ENERGY STAR qualified computer in 1992, the label can now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, with more than 4.5 billion sold over the past 20 years. Over 1.5 million new homes and 23,000 office buildings, schools, hospitals, and plants have earned the ENERGY STAR label.