January 19, 2007—The Department of Energy (DOE) recently launched an ENERGY STAR program for solid-state lighting, and developed draft technical criteria allowing qualified solid-state lighting devices to carry an ENERGY STAR label in order to provide important guidance to buyers of lighting products.
According to DOE, solid-state lighting promises to be a far more efficient source of light than conventional lighting—potentially reducing US lighting energy costs over the next 20 years by more than $20 billion.
By running an electrical current through semiconductor materials, light can be produced in a wide range of colors and intensities, explains DOE. DOE research efforts have focused on increasing the energy efficiency of solid-state lighting, with a program goal to achieve efficiencies more than twice that of fluorescent lamps, and eight times that of incandescent lamps.
The proposed ENERGY STAR criteria apply to general illumination products, such as under cabinet kitchen lights, outdoor pathway lights, downlights, and task lamps. According to DOE, the first solid-state lighting products to qualify for the ENERGY STAR label will be at least as efficient as fluorescent systems, and later, as the technology improves, qualifying products will be far more efficient than fluorescent systems.
For more information visit DOE’s Solid-State Lighting Web page.
