We may be making energy-saving headway in the lighting industry, but there are so many options hitting the market that one would never know that bulbs can still differ significantly from one another. Enter lighting labels. Introduced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these labels seem modeled after nutritional labels that appear on food packaging.
The lighting labels detail facts like the brightness, annual cost, life expectancy, light appearance, and energy expended for each bulb. Making the eco-conscious (and wallet-friendly) choice has never been easier -- starting in 2011, at least.
Illuminating Lighting Labels
The Federal Trade Commission Introduces System to Compare Bulbs
Trend Themes
1. Energy-saving Lighting - Introducing lighting labels that enable consumers to compare bulbs based on brightness, annual cost, life expectancy, light appearance, and energy expended.
2. Consumer Education - The introduction of lighting labels presents an opportunity to educate consumers about the differences in bulbs and make informed choices.
3. Sustainable Packaging - Taking inspiration from nutritional labels, lighting labels open up possibilities for other industries to adopt informative packaging to promote sustainability.
Industry Implications
1. Lighting - The lighting industry can leverage lighting labels to showcase energy-saving products and differentiate themselves in the market.
2. Education - Educational institutions and organizations can use lighting labels to teach consumers about energy-saving choices and the impact of different bulbs.
3. Packaging - Packaging companies can explore ways to incorporate informative labels on products to increase consumer awareness and promote sustainability.