Energy Star Lighting
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The ENERGY STAR is awarded to select fixture types that meet strict efficiency, quality, and lifetime criteria.
Because LEDs lights are relatively new, there are not many that are Energy Star approved yet.
However LED lighting is an intrinsically efficient lighting technology that is rapidly evolving and improving. LEDs produce light in a new way and many LED lights are already rated higher for quality and efficiency compared with existing lighting technologies, such as fluorescent and incandescent lights.
ENERGY STAR Qualified LED Lighting:
- Reduces energy costs — uses at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting, saving on operating expenses.
- Reduces maintenance costs — an LED lamp lasts 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting and between 2 to 5 times longer than fluorescent lighting.
- LED lamps reduce cooling costs because they produce very little heat.
- Comes with a minimum three-year warranty — far beyond the prevailing industry standard.
Overall Energy Star qualified products are becoming the standard on which a number of energy efficient “Green” standards are built. Energy Star qualified lighting is required for inclusion in Energy Star Homes and to meet National Green Building Standards.
These standards continue to mature and will continue to increase the demand for Energy Star qualified lighting, especially as energy costs continue to increase.
What Does Energy Star Qualified Mean On A LED (Solid State Lighting) Fixture?
The Energy Star logo is one of the most recognizable symbols of quality and performance. Energy Star qualification of LED lighting means the following key features and measurements
General Requirements
To qualify for ENERGY STAR, LED lighting products must pass a variety of tests to prove that the products will display the following characteristics:
- Brightness is equal to or greater than existing lighting technologies i.e. incandescent or fluorescent and the light is well distributed over the area lighted by the fixture.
- Light output remains constant over time, only decreasing towards the end of the rated lifetime (at least 25,000 hours for residential indoor and 35,000 hours for commercial lighting or 12 years based on use of 8 hours per day).
- Excellent color quality. The shade of white light appears clear and consistent over time.
- Efficiency is as good as or better than fluorescent lighting.
- Light comes on instantly when turned on.
- No flicker when dimmed.
- No off-state power draw. The fixture does not use power when it is turned off, with the exception of external controls, whose power should not exceed 0.5 watts in the off state.
- In addition to the tolerance, maximum temperature variances over its lifespan and viewing angle are defined.
- Color Rendering Index – (CRI) shall be a minimum of 75.
Downloads:
Excel list of Energy_Star_Approved_Residential_Fixtures_List_Aug11.xls
PDF list of Energy_Star_Approved_Residential_Fixtures_List_Aug11.pdf
Kichler 12V Outdoor Lighting
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The Kichler Outdoor Lighting range is known for setting lighting design trends with a focus on lighting collections that offer coordinated lighting options to help you bring a consistent landscape lighting theme to a space.
Their outdoor lighting range encompasses a wide variety of lighting types, including path/spread lights, accent and spotlights, plus deck and walkway lights. Kichler say their lighting fixtures “are designed to bring professional interior design principles to the exterior of your home with the high quality fit and finish”.
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Like most manufacturers they are now embracing low voltage i.e. 12V and LED lights, because of the power efficiency they offer, plus they are easier and cheaper to install and maintain.
LED lamps also deliver a quality of light that many people prefer. It is a warm yet bright, white light that enhances the landscape and exterior surroundings.
One of the major benefits of LED lights is that you do not have to replace light bulbs often at all, because LED lights last so long - typically 40,000-50,000 hours, so the requirement for light bulb replacement is virtually eliminated.
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Kichler offer their Design Pro LED lamps which offer electricity savings of nearly 75% over traditional lighting options, so they use only 25% of the electricity used on a traditional landscape lighting system.
Kichler can be contacted at:
7711 East Pleasant Valley Road
P.O. Box 318010
Cleveland, Ohio 44131-8010
U.S.A.
Call - 866-558-5706 - 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM EST, Monday - Friday
www.kichler.com