2005

RELEASE: Immediate, October 5, 2005
CONTACT: Colleen Ryan, NYSERDA
(518) 862-1090, ext. 3359 or cqr@nyserda.org

First-of-its-kind Lighting Lab and Showroom Unveiled at Curtis Lumber
Interactive, State-of-the-Art Lighting Technology Now On Display

Ballston Spa, NY- Every New Yorker has an instant opportunity to reduce electric bills by simply changing incandescent light bulbs to high efficiency compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs. To kick-off the "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center (LRC) joined Curtis Lumber Co., Inc. to unveil a lighting lab and showroom that feature energy-efficient lighting in a home setting and interactive displays that allow customers to see firsthand the quality illumination and design of energy-efficient lighting.

The unveiling at Curtis Lumber is also part of a collaboration between NYSERDA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy in the national ENERGY STAR^® "Change a Light, Change the World" Campaign, being launched nationwide today. The Campaign is a national initiative created to encourage every consumer to switch to light fixtures or bulbs that have earned the ENERGY STAR label-designated products that reduce energy consumption by meeting strict energy efficiency criteria.

"With this new lighting lab and showroom, homeowners, contractors, and builders now have the opportunity to see how compact fluorescent lighting, ENERGY STAR^® fixtures, and light emitting diodes (LED) can illuminate and beautify a home with proper design," said Peter R. Smith, president of NYSERDA.

The lighting lab and showroom are a unique alternative compared to other lighting showrooms. Here, advanced ENERGY STAR lighting products and fixtures are matched side by side with conventional lighting and can be turned on and off, or dimmed all by an interactive

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kiosk display. The result is a clearly demonstrated advantage for ENERGY STAR lighting products and fixtures where better color, fewer shadows and far less glare bring a new level of quality to home lighting. The payback on this lighting is phenomenal, as compact fluorescent lighting lasts up to ten times longer and uses two-thirds less energy than incandescent lighting.

"We want to show that the new lighting technologies are just as practical and stylish as standard lighting, but operate at a fraction of the cost," Smith continued. "With Governor Pataki proclaiming today as "Change a Light, Change the World" Day in New York State, we thought it would be the ideal time to unveil an innovative project that shows how well energy-efficient lighting works with proper design. I want to commend Curtis Lumber and the Lighting Research Center for their efforts on the lab and showroom."

The Lab is fully functional and covers multiple areas throughout the home, including a kitchen, bath, and living room. In addition, multiple surfaces are used from polished granite to soft fabric to show the effects different styles of lighting can have on particular surfaces in homes. Energy consumption is low as is heat buildup, which is an important additional factor.

"Consumers are largely unfamiliar with the benefits of energy-efficient lighting," said Mark Rea, LRC director. "They often make choices based on first cost rather than the total cost of lighting which, in fact, is dominated by the cost of electricity. As consumers have the opportunity to learn more about lighting, including proper selection and placement, they will undoubtedly be better satisfied with their home environments and, in the end, have more money in their pockets."

Properly designed lighting incorporates a great deal of energy saving fluorescent lighting. As scientific and industrial advances allow, we will see more light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, which is already demonstrated in portions inside the lighting lab. NYSERDA provided more than $140,000 to support the lighting lab project while the LRC designed the lab and Curtis Lumber constructed the facility. The lighting showroom was funded and designed by Curtis Lumber.

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