Energy Star
Energy saving lighting uses 50-70% less energy and distributes light more evenly than conventional fixtures. This lowers the cost of lighting in your home and conserves electricity to help protect the environment from air pollution associated with power generation. Energy Star products must meet the strict energy conservation guidelines set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Significant improvements in fluorescent bulbs now allow you to choose your own preferred "color" from warm (2500K-3500K) to cool (4000K) to "daylight"(5000K and higher). Experiment with the effects of these different bulbs on your different interiors to find your favorite for each room. Textured and frosted glass along with the "color temperature" improvements in fluorescent bulbs create outdoor lighting that looks just like incandescent outdoor lighting. The new smaller CFL bulbs (compact fluorescent bulbs) allow for smaller less obtrusive outdoor lights.
LED lights (light-emitting diodes) are more efficient than incandescents, because the bulbs don't use heat to produce light. LED lamps are very good at focusing light exactly where it's needed, plus, they produce light in a variety of colors and last a long time. LED improvements have allowed outdoor solar lighting to finally function at acceptable levels!