Overview

The Illinois Residential Lighting Program was a year-round, statewide effort to educate Illinois consumers about the many benefits and advantages of using energy efficient lighting products though a variety of trainings, events and product rebates. The program also connected consumers directly to the major market stakeholders who could provide information about the value and benefits of ENERGY STAR® qualified products.
Program components include:

• Retailer education and training
• Instant rebates and mark downs for seasonal promotions
• Year long mail-in coupon campaigns
• Consumer outreach events
• Torchiere turn-in events
• Lights for Learning Fundraiser™

The year round programs achieved maximum market impact by continually touching base with retailers and consumers so they consistently hear the energy, economic and environmental savings benefits of ENEGY STAR® qualified lighting products.

Implementation

This program was rolled out with two full time field representatives that resided out in Illinois.  It was funded by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and administered by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.  The Illinois Residential Lighting Program was a year-round, statewide effort from 2002 to early 2005. The DCEO saw the market transformation potential with residential lighting and had committed to ongoing program components to support consistent messaging on CFLs for both retailers and consumers. Both MEEA and DCEO felt it was essential to have that continual presence to evoke lasting behavioral changes. Unfortunately, due to state budget cuts, the program ended in early 2005.

Summary of Results

The environmental impact of this program includes avoiding the release of 224,000 lbs of CO2, 116,000 lbs of NOx and 44 million lbs of carbon emissions. The program will also save more than 35 million kWh over the lifetime of the products.
Over the course of 28 months, the program also:
Enrolled more than 300 retailers
Taught 328 formal retailer classes, reaching 966 sales employees 
Processed 70,738 mail-in rebates for ENERGY STAR® qualified CFLs
Leveraged $1,131,881.00 from industry, averaging $2.50 to $3.00 leveraged from industry for every program rebate dollar spent
160,000 CFLs were discounted in the industry incentives component
Performed 54 education and outreach events
Collected 4,200 dangerous halogen lamps and replaced them with ENERGY STAR® torchiere lamps
Rebated more than 10,400 fixtures and ceiling fans