COST SAVINGS

Lighting use by commercial facilities reflects about 40 percent of total energy costs. Installation of more energy-efficient and cost-effective compact fluorescent lamps can reduce lighting expenditures by more than 70 percent, while producing the same or better lighting quality.

Although the initial cost of a compact fluorescent lamp is relatively higher than that of an incandescent, the cost is quickly recovered. Payback on a high-performance Panasonic Compact Fluorescent Lamp is typically twelve months, based on lamp operation of 8 hours each day at 10 cents kwh. CFLs generate 70 percent less heat than standard incandescents, significantly reducing the cooling load in facilities with air conditioners, achieving further cost savings.

In terms of maintenance savings, upgraded facilities can reduce maintenance costs (labor plus materials) by up to 90 percent due to the 10-fold increase in lamp life of CFLs.

EPACT - THE NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY ACT

Under regulations issued by the Department of Energy pursuant to authority granted by the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), lighting manufacturers are banned from producing light bulbs deemed energy-inefficient. The energy efficiency provision, signed into law on October 24, 1992, targets lamps with poor luminous efficacy. EPACT limits only the manufacturing of poor-performing lamps, not their use. However, using lamps that are illegally manufactured can result in extremely high penalties. EPACT has banned production of the following lamps:

• Eight-foot straight fluorescent lamp with less than 80 LPW
• Four-foot straight fluorescent lamp with less than 75 LPW
• U-shaped fluorescent lamp with less than 68 LPW (or 64 LPW if the lamp is 35 watts or less)
• Incandescent reflector lamps as follows:

  Lamp Wattage	Minimum LPW
  40-50	10.5
  51-66	11.0
  67-85	12.5
  86-115	14
  116-155	14.5
  156-205	15.0

   

EPACT's goal is to promote a cleaner, healthier environment by cutting consumption of electricity and reducing the need to generate power.

EPA GREEN LIGHTS PROGRAM

Launched in January of 1991, EPA's Green Lights Program aims at reducing pollution by encouraging organizations throughout the United States to install profitable lighting upgrade systems that maximize energy savings while maintaining or improving lighting quality. Organizations that sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the EPA, either as a "Partner" or an "Ally", voluntarily commit themselves to upgrading at least 90 percent of their facilities within five years of signing the agreement.

The EPA emphasizes that lighting upgrades should be viewed as smart investment opportunities rather than overhead costs. Green Lights participants achieve an average return on investment of about 40 percent while reducing lighting electricity use by an average of 50 percent. Every kilowatt-hour of electricity not used prevents the emission of 1.5 pounds of carbon dioxide, 5.8 grams of sulfur dioxide and 2.5 grams of nitrogen oxides.

As a Green Lights Ally, Panasonic Lighting is dedicated to manufacturing products that help ensure a beautiful, healthy world for future generations.