Energy Focus, USGBC Partner to Retrofit 50 Special Needs Classrooms with Tubular LED Lighting

Energy Focus, Inc., a leader in LED lighting technologies, today announced a project, in association with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), to retrofit 50 special needs classrooms in New York City and the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) with Energy Focus tubular LED (TLED) lighting, free of charge.

The "Change a Light. Change a Life." program will be Energy Focus's first TLED advocacy campaign to support USGBC's Green Apple initiative, which works to create healthy, safe, and efficient learning environments for children across the country.

The "Change a Light. Change a Life." campaign is also the first designed to improve lighting in public school systems through donated TLEDs in special needs classrooms. Transitioning from fluorescent lighting to LED, particularly for the youth demographic who are susceptible to lighting sensitivity and learning disabilities such as autism or dyslexia, can aid in better overall health and learning for students. Studies have shown LED lighting may enhance concentration levels and performance in mainstream classrooms, and provide behavioral improvements to special needs classrooms by eliminating the negative effects of poor lighting.

"As the exclusive tubular LED partner for Green Apple at USGBC, Energy Focus is proud of and passionate about taking proactive steps to positively impact the physical and psychological well-being of students in the classroom," said James Tu, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Energy Focus, Inc. "The 'Change a Light. Change a Life.' campaign is only the beginning of our goal to raise awareness of the substantial, visible and tangible benefits of LED lighting so we can expedite the massive adoption of such revolutionary lighting in schools across the country."

Rachel Gutter, USGBC's senior vice president of knowledge and the director of the Center for Green Schools shares, "Energy Focus is a great addition to our team. As a Green Apple partner, they understand that the quality of our schools has a direct connection to the health, well-being, and success of students. Through the 'Change a light. Change a life.' program, we look forward to seeing more schools realize the benefits of LED lighting."

In support of their joint effort, Energy Focus and USGBC kicked off the program on this year's Green Apple Day of Service, September 26, 2015, at Leckie Elementary School in Washington, DC. Energy Focus donated and installed their industry-leading Intellitube® TLEDs in six classrooms, including special needs and modular classroom spaces, and in hallways.