Giving Your Home the ‘Green’ Light

From the cars we drive to the clothes we wear and even the way we decorate our homes, today’s consumers have embraced green living not as a trend, but as a long-term way of life. According to a recent survey by Information Resources Inc., a leading provider of retail market intelligence, half of all U.S. consumers consider at least one sustainability factor in selecting consumer products, and it appears green living is taking root at home. “Whether they’re motivated by environmental benefits or long-term cost savings, homeowner demand for green products is at an all-time high,” says Jeff Dross, senior product manager at Kichler Lighting who also is a member of the Consortium for Energy Efficiency. “Increased demand means companies are coming to the table with new green solutions for the home every day, leaving consumers with a myriad of innovations from which to choose.” In the sea of green products, one of the easiest places to start and make a real impact is with home lighting. The lighting industry has made significant strides relating to energy efficiency, so much so that today’s green lighting options aren’t limited to compact fluorescent lighting (CFLs) solutions. Light emitting diodes (LEDs)are gaining in popularity as a viable home lighting source. In the past, this energy-efficient, semi-conducting light source was used only in outdoor signage, electronic equipment displays and commercial lighting applications. In addition, the LED lighting of the past was associated with unattractive blue hues and an expensive price tag, limiting its use in the home. Recent strides, however, have created an affordable LED light source in the same bright white color range as incandescent lighting. In addition to a pleasing light source, other benefits of LED lighting include: * Energy/Cost Savings. LEDs not only preserve energy resources and help reduce global warming, they also save money on the electricity bill. LED lighting uses 75 percent less electricity than incandescent light sources. Think of the savings for your electricity bill overtime. * Longer Life. LED products have an average lifespan of 20 years or 40,000 hours of use. A typical incandescent bulb lasts just 750 hours. That means you would have to buy more than 50 regular light bulbs to equal the service life offered by a single LED source. Making energy efficient home improvements doesn’t have to mean sweeping changes. Starting with a simple change in lighting can save time and money and help the environment at the same time. For more on Kichler’s energy efficient lighting products, visit www.kichler.com or call (888) 659-8809.