Green Lights: 5 Years of Profitability & Pollution Prevention

Abstract

EPA's Green Light s program recently celebrated its fifth anniver-
sary . And, after five years, there is a great deal to celebrate. More than
2000 organizations ha ve joined Gre en Lights, r epre senting 5.2 billion
square feet (the equivalent of 1 in every 14 commercial building s in the
Un ited States). Compl eted upgrad es by participants to date are saving
over 2 billion kilowatt hour s of electricity and over $170 million annuall y.
In addition, the pollution that is prevented from the se energy savings is
sign ifican t. The succe ss of Green Lights is proof that voluntary partner-
shi ps can and do work.
Green Lights started in January 1991. EPA launched the program ,
because lighting accounts for about 20% of the energy used in the United
States, and also is responsible for the creation of C02, S02 and NO x and
oth er pollutants associated with electricity generation. Recognizing that
new er , more energ y-efficient technologies could potentially r educe light-
ing ene rgy consumption by 50-75 %, EPA saw an opportun ity for en viron-
mental pr otection and a new way for government to work .
Green Lights was thus launched as a voluntary, market-based pro-
gram , designed to promote the use of more energy-efficient lighting tech-
nologies. Participants benefit from lower operating costs and improved
work space quality. The nation as a whole benefits from cleaner air and a
mor e efficien t use of our resources.
To join Green Light s, organ izations sign a memorandum of under-
stand ing (MOU)) with the EPA to complete lighting up grades in 90% of
the ir facilities within 5 years.