Every night our skies are lit by thousands of stars brightly shining upon us. Since the dawn of mankind, stars have illuminated our way and guided us to our destinations. Stars have been the compass that guides sailors to their intended destination, to safety and to their homes. Before there were maps and GPS, stars were the principal guiding light for our ancestors as they trudged through the darkness of night. In this age, we have light bulbs that light up our homes and streets. We no longer depend on the stars but rather on these small glass orbs. Most of us no longer look to the skies for guidance and illumination. We now have our own “star” in the palm of our hands.
Light bulbs have been very useful and important in the progress of mankind and definitely transcend into everything we do. The sad thing is, for the environmentally conscious, these small “incandescent” wonders consume large amounts of energy. It has been noted for some time that they emit greenhouse gases through the consumption of fossil fuel. Were we able to see the entire big picture, would the adverse effects outweigh the benefits?
Innovation and mankind’s efforts to save the planet and reduce our carbon footprint has resulted in something that is better for everyone. Nowadays, there is a new “star” guiding us and pointing the way. Where do we find this star? It is the “Energy Star!” An Energy Star compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) is light bulbs that provides excellent light output or lumens without consuming an enormous amount of energy when compared to traditional incandescent lamps. This gives us savings on our energy bills and at the same time reduces greenhouse gases and preserves fossil fuels. An “Energy Star CFL” has also passed the guidelines for efficiency set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Energy Star CFLs use less energy and last much longer – as much as ten times or more longer when compared to incandescent bulbs. It also helps in reducing the cost for home air conditioning as it generates about 80% less heat.
When we find the Energy Star symbol on a product this gives us the confidence that we are buying an energy efficient product without having to compare various product specifications. Energy Star products are generally in the top 20% of products in their class when it comes to overall energy efficiency. So when we seen the Energy Star label, it is much like the star that guides and illuminates our way. Much like the stars that helped guide us through the night. Much like the star that gives us a feeling of warmth. We no longer have to look to the stars in the skies for answers. We no longer have to feel overly conscious that we are using more energy than would otherwise be required. We now have a “light” or “star” to guide us and can avoid being in the dark anymore. Always search for the Energy Star label on CFLs, LEDs, and other types of light bulbs and household products.
Cornelius Vanderkolk having come to Hawaii over 10 years ago, jumped into the lighting industry for his initial career as a consultant in calculating ROI and providing energy efficient lighting solutions servicing home owners, businesses, and commercial properties. In Hawaii where Kwh rate is some of the highest in the nation, he has been instrumental in introducing leading edge LED light bulbs solutions into the markets as they became available and first viable. With the fast evolving developments in LED lighting, he is never short of sharing the fast changing technologies amongst client, colleagues, friends and family and presenting something new that the industry has developed.
Outside his professional interests, he is active in a variety of civic and cultural organizations including Habitat for Humanity, church affiliate welfare programs, and participating in the Hawaii Film Festival. When it comes to outdoor actives, one can often find him climbing trails, swimming, and posting adventures and scenery photos on Facebook.
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