January 16th, 1991
Back in the early 1990’s, there was a movement taking place that was shining a light on global warming, pollution reduction, and environmental activism.
The US Government mobilized to develop programs that would influence businesses and consumers to reduce energy and spread the message of energy efficiency. In 1991, the US Environmental Protection Agency created a program that would usher in the modern energy efficiency movement and transform the entire lighting industry.
The program was called Green Lights and was a testament to collaboration between the Government and the business community. In its first year, the program was run on a shoestring (by government standards) budget of $1.4 million with only 2 staffers. In its first few years, the program enlisted over 600 businesses to agree to voluntarily audit their facilities and upgrade their lighting systems.
The success of the Green Lights Program inspired the EPA to create other energy efficiency programs such as Natural Gas Star, AgSTAR, and the massively successful Energy Star Program. In 1995, the Green Lights Program was merged with Energy Star to create the EPA Energy Star Commercial Buildings Program. The program focused on whole building energy efficiency not just lighting.
One thing is certain: while many people in the lighting world don’t remember the original EPA Green Lights Program, our modern lighting business would not be what it is today without that initiative.
Photo Courtesy of ResearchDive.
